Saskatchewan’s bioscience community celebrates 2017 Global Biotech Week
September 19, 2017
It's time to celebrate the incredible contributions that Saskatchewan's bioscience researchers and entrepreneurs have made to our province and, indeed, the world.
The Government of Saskatchewan and the cities of Regina and Saskatoon have proclaimed Sept. 20 to 27 as Biotech Week. Ag-West Bio, Saskatchewan’s bioscience industry association, coordinates events throughout the week with the help of a local organizing committee.
“Ag-West Bio has been a proud participant in Biotech Week for many years. Biotechnology is an important part of Saskatchewan’s economy, advancing our agriculture, health and environmental sectors. Hardier crops, healthier livestock, vaccines, insulin, bioremediation – even beer making – are made possible thanks to biotechnology. Biotech Week gives us an opportunity to showcase Saskatchewan’s bioscience strengths,” says Wilf Keller, Ag-West Bio President and CEO.
Biotechnology is defined as “the use of biological processes, organisms, or systems to manufacture products intended to improve the quality of human life.” Modern biotechnology provides breakthrough products and technologies to combat debilitating and rare diseases, reduces our environmental footprint, and helps secure a sustainable food supply and natural resource management, providing cleaner energy and more efficient industrial manufacturing processes.
- Global Biotech Week kicks off on Sept. 20 at Innovation Place with the Saskatchewan Taste of Innovation brunch, prepared with interesting and delicious made-in-Saskatchewan food ingredients, like high-Omega 3 eggs, non-browning Arctic® apples, a vegetarian ‘ginger beef’ made from plant protein, and more!
- Also on Sept. 20, in Regina, a free outreach event called Biotech on the Road will take place at Connaught and Glen Elm branches of the Regina public library.
- On Sept. 21, 80 high school and Saskatchewan Polytechnic students will join forces to participate in the Amazing Biotech Race at Innovation Place, where teams will move from one checkpoint to the next, competing in “lab challenges,” answering skill testing questions, and gathering more clues until they complete the race.
- A science Trivia Night will take place at Louis’ Pub (University of Saskatchewan) at 7:30 pm on Sept. 21st. The event is free, and open to anyone who would like to attend.
- A special Café Sci, a talk called “Why Plant Sex Slows Agriculture,” will be presented by Tim Sharbel of the Global Institute for Food Security on Sept. 26 downstairs at Winston's Pub, in Saskatoon.
For a full list of Saskatchewan events, please visit the event website.
Originating in Canada in 2003, Biotech Week is now recognized around the world as Global Biotech Week. Events scheduled throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and Canada highlight the innovation and creativity of life science researchers. BIOTECanada spearheads Global Biotech Week in collaboration with partners from across Canada.
To learn more about Global Biotech Week around the world, visit globalbiotechweek.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Jackie Robin
Ag-West Bio
jackie.robin@agwest.sk.ca
(306) 668-2656
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