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Genome BC bringing education outreach to region
Genome British Columbia (Genome BC) will be visiting residents and secondary school students in the East Kootenay over the next couple of weeks as they bring their community engagement and student outreach programs to the area.
Over the next couple of weeks over 750 secondary students in Cranbrook, Fernie, Kimberley and Jaffray will be getting a unique and rare experience inside the world of genomics and genetics. Genome BC’s Geneskool will be running 32-hour-long classroom workshops at five secondary schools where students will be introduced to realms of science not currently encompassed in their ongoing curriculum. Scientists will lead students through hands-on, tailor-made experiments and activities exploring genetics, inheritance, mutations, DNA structure, function and extraction and DNA gel electrophoresis.
Students will learn what a genome is: an organism’s complete set of DNA – basically a blueprint for an organism’s structure and function. They will also learn what genomics is: the science that aims to decipher and understand the entire genetic information of an organism (i.e. plants, animals, humans, viruses and microorganisms) encoded in DNA. The Genome BC Geneskool volunteers, scientist presenters from UBC’s Let’s Talk Science program, are often MSc and PhD candidates who share their motivation and passion for science with the students.
“Molecular biology is an integral part of our natural world,” says Sally Greenwood, vice-president, Communications and Education at Genome BC. “The Genome BC Geneskool program offers students a chance to use advanced laboratory technology and techniques to see the tiny world that exists at the molecular level while learning, having fun and garnering a greater appreciation of the world around us.”
Bringing Genomics Home Public Talk
On March 2, beginning at 6 p.m., Genome BC will be back in Cranbrook to host a public talk ‘Your DNA: A blueprint for better health,’ part of the Bringing Genomics Home series.
Returning for its sixth consecutive year at the College of the Rockies, community members are invited to attend this free and informative talk on the role of genomics in medical diagnosis and treatment.
Topics and speakers are:
A Wave of Change: Implementing precision medicine in BC: Dr. Catalina Lopez-Correa, Genome BC
Curbing Infections: How drugs and virus genetics have drastically improved treatment in HIV and Hepatitis C: Dr. Richard Harrigan, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
Direct-to-Consumer Genomic Testing: All it’s cracked up to be?: Dr. William Gibson, UBC Child and Family Research Institute.
“Genomics is going to transform healthcare over the next 20 years, particularly how we monitor and treat disease,” says Dr. Alan Winter, President and CEO of Genome BC. “This exciting area of medicine is still in its early stages but we are delighted to be bringing these experts together in Cranbrook to share their significant insight and knowledge of the opportunity for genomics and precision medicine.”
Genome British Columbia leads genomics innovation on Canada’s West Coast and facilitates the integration of genomics into society. A recognized catalyst for government and industry, Genome BC invests in research, entrepreneurship and commercialization in life sciences to address challenges in key sectors such as health, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture, agri-food, energy, mining and environment. Genome BC partners with many national and international public and private funding organizations to drive BC’s bioeconomy.
In addition to research, entrepreneurship and commercialization programs, Genome BC is committed to fostering an understanding and appreciation of the life sciences among teachers, students and the general public. In the last five years Genome BC has engaged over 24,000 BC students in 191 schools and 81 communities through its outreach activities. www.genomebc.ca
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