The 2010 regional competition took place April 16. Find out who won this year's competition! For SABC photos make sure to visit our Flickr stream.

Each year, the Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge (SABC) is held in 14 regions across Canada by local biotech and educational organizations in partnership with universities, colleges, government and industry.

Having started in the Toronto area in 1994, the SABC intends to raise awareness among students, educators and the public about the emerging science of biotechnology and its applications in health care, agriculture and the environment. The supporting organizations hope to encourage more students to pursue studies and careers in biotechnology, an industry currently contributing $78.3 billion to our economy every year.

Each SABC features the outstanding work of high school students who have been paired with a mentor and have conducted research projects of their own design in some area of biotechnology.

Many student participants have secured summer positions with their mentors and gone on to complete more intensive research and studies in the field. In many regions, including Southwestern Ontario, a lecture series on various aspects of biotechnology is also offered to local participants as part of the Regional Competition.

Locally, a total of $7500 in cash prizes is awarded to the top five student teams and their schools based on the recommendations of judges from the scientific community and the biotechnology industry.  In addition, winning student teams have the opportunity to receive scholarships to partner universities.

The Southwestern Ontario region also boasts the Beakers for Teachers program, an incentive program designed to encourage teachers to promote participation in the SABC among their students.  The program functions around a point system where teachers with participating students are awarded science-related classroom equipment and resources based on the number of projects they are supervising. Since the program’s inception, the Southwestern Ontario SABC has donated nearly $150,000 worth of laboratory equipment and supplies, including interactive activities, field trips and computer equipment, to the supervising teachers of SABC students. 

For more information about the program, visit the SABC Southwestern Ontario Region website or contact Allison Fisher at 519.858.5059 or allison [dot] fishertechalliance [dot] ca.