This one-week program provides motivated students with an opportunity to conduct real experiments in a real lab at a local university in one of the participating cities. Participants will solve a mystery with their new-found knowledge and skills throughout the week.

Some of the activities we’re doing:

-       Micropipetting

-       Blood spatter analysis

-       Fingerprint lifting

-       Polymerase Chain Reaction

-       DNA Gel Electrophoresis

Dates:

Vancouver (UBC & Science World) – July 5^th – 9^th, 2010

Kamloops (Thompson River University) – July 19^th – 23^rd, 2010

Prince George (University of Northern BC) – August 16^th – 20^th, 2010

Langley (Trinity Western University) – July 12^th – 16^th, 2010

Eligibility:

-       Completed Grade 9 Science

-       Cost $275 (bursaries available)

Contact Us:

www.geneskool.ca

Email: geneskool@gmail.com

Phone number: (604) 675-1021

But I digress…

January whisked by so quickly that I barely even noticed that it has already been almost a month since school started. Students at UBC are in full swing. Everyone’s already stressed & working diligently. I feel surrounded by youthful enthusiasm and zeal for academia! At least that’s how I perceive things (especially when in class).

Every day I’m constantly awed by the wealth of knowledge and experience my professors have to offer. Somehow their world in research still seems abstract and distant for me. I find myself thinking, “I’ve had some lab experience & it’s already my 4th year in university, shouldn’t this seem ordinary to me now?”

Anyways, back to studying for me.

I’ll leave you with this TED Talk given by Anthony Atala that simultaneously intimidates and draws me to research even more. Can you imagine printing out an organ with an ink jet printer? Check it out on the VodPod.

- Vinci

—

I’m surprised to see that the UBC IKB Library has not been abandoned at the beginning of the year, in fact, it’s packed (except for the Ridington Room). I guess many of the students have resolved to study harder for Term 2.

As for the rest of you still snapping out of “holiday mode”, here’s a little something I found from PZ Myer’s blog Pharyngula, to get you into “nerd mode” again à la Krispy Kreme:

Cellular Mitosis by Kevin Van Aelst

I hope that your courses have been as interesting as mine have. Sometimes it’s easy to lose focus because you’re stressed or you’re under a mound of homework and readings but don’t worry and hang in there! I’m constantly reminding myself of how awesome and amazing science is. Sometimes it makes me want to break out into song and dance…

Ok, maybe not but I’m sure some people want to sing about it like the band “They May Be Giants”. They have a new album out called “Science Is Real” Check it out:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty33v7UYYbw

Back to more cool science readings!

Here at Geneskool we’re working hard on a few projects. We hope that you had a great summer!
School’s starting soon and that’s why we’re not updating as often. Enjoy the rest of your summer break.

Cheers,

Geneskool Team

Our Facebook group “Geneskool” is now open to the “Global Network” so everyone can join. Speaking of which, we would like YOU to help us make our Facebook group beter. Give us suggestions by commenting on this post or let us know that you want to help (by emailing geneskool@gmail.com or just telling us during camp). =D We need your help!

Much thanks, Vinci

Geneskool participants,
 

We’re having a 5K run on October 18th, 10 am at Science World. To participate, contact geneskool@genomebc.ca or join our Facebook event called “Geneskool Fun Run (5K)”

If you want a great running podcast to run to, please ask one of the instructors for more information. It’s a time interval training and it’s quite fun/easy.

P.S. The photo is of the PMC Sierra Fun Run, not the Geneskool Run.

Cheers – Vinci

 You need to do DNA Gel Electrophoresis to create a DNA fingerprint in order to find the culprit. Careful not to make a mistake.

Is this what you expected? I was a bit surprised that people changed their mind after our short discussions.

Here’s another game for points that’s relate to Fingerprinting (for 5 points).

Tell us who the robber is from the Whodunit game.