ARCHIVED - Saskatoon high school student wins top honours in national biotech competition

April 27, 2010 — Ottawa, Ontario

A groundbreaking study by Grade 9 student Rui Song has earned top national honours among 14 regional entries in the 2010 Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge (SABC). 

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour, and Mike Lake, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry congratulated the student teams from across Canada at the national awards ceremony held today at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). 

Rui Song of Saskatoon's Walter Murray Collegiate Institute won the top $5,000 national prize today with her search for an early way to tell apart two strains of a crop-killing fungus, one strain of which can wipe out half a farmer's lentil harvest if left unrecognized and untreated.  She is the youngest-ever finalist in the event's 17-year history. 

In addition to their Canadian prizes, 1^st place winner, Rui Song, and the national 2^nd place winner, Brian Krug of Guelph, Ontario, will compete for Canada at the International BioGENEius Challenge in Chicago, Illinois, May 2-4. 

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to congratulate all of the regional Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge award winners for their outstanding research projects," said Parliamentary Secretary Mike Lake, on behalf of Minister Clement. "Canada is fortunate to have so many talented young people. Our government will continue to support and invest in the next generation of world class researchers and scientists." 

The Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge is an annual competition intended to raise awareness among students, educators and the public about the emerging science of biotechnology. 

"We encourage you all to consider pursuing a career in science to push the frontiers of knowledge," said NRC President John McDougall. "Congratulations to all of the young scientists participating in this year's SABC national competition." 

NRC is a partner in the national competition with lead supporters, Sanofi-Aventis and Sanofi Pasteur Limited, and BioTalent Canada. 

The top national runners-up: 

Commercial prize ( $1,000): Emma Graham, Ottawa, Ontario

The 16-year-old Grade 10 student of Lisgar Collegiate Institute was awarded a special prize for having the project with the greatest commercial potential. Emma used Indian dill oil to create a more environmentally-friendly insecticide to combat potato beetles. 

2^nd place ($4,000): Brian Krug, Guelph, Ontario

Brian, a Grade 11 student at John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute in Guelph, Ontario, won for his project, which found a green tea extract that offered a new potential treatment for ovarian cancer. 

3^rd place ($3,000): Tanielle Johnson, Fort St. John, British Columbia

Tanielle, 17, is a Grade 12 student at North Peace Secondary School in tiny Fort St. John.  She won for her project deciphering DNA mutations that may lie behind an early aging disease. 

4^th place ($2,000): Alexandre Lemieux and Reda Bensaidane, Ste-Foy, Quebec

The two 16-year olds won for their project showing how a coffee extract offers a potential new treatment for Alzheimer's disease.  Alexandre is a student at Externat Saint-Jean-Eudes and Reda attends École Secondaire Les Compagnons-de-Cartier. 

5^th place ($1,000): Binudith Wanakulasooriya, Winnipeg, Manitoba

This is Binudith's second consecutive year as a national SABC prizewinner.  A Grade 12 student at Fort Richmond Collegiate, his project unlocked the DNA of flaxseed to create potential for healthier food.  

About the National Research Council of Canada

Recognized globally for research and innovation, Canada's National Research Council (NRC) is a leader in the development of an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.

- 30 -

Enquiries: Media relations
National Research Council of Canada
613-991-1431
media@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca