Above: BC Innovation Council's Innovation Exploration Program at the Vancouver Aquarium on October 17, 2009 in Vancouver, BC.
BCIC's Innovation Exploration (IE) program concluded another successful year of giving young scientists and innovators the opportunity to meet and network with leaders from BC's science and technology community. IE recognizes winners of regional science fairs who represent BC at the national Canada-Wide Science Fair and international science fairs. The annual three-day event during National Science and Technology week focuses on ideas, education and career development. From October 17-19, students participated in activities at BC post-secondary institutions, research institutions and industry facilities; and also attended BCIC's Connect '09.
This year's program included tours of three innovative facilities and participation in interactive workshops:
- The Centre of Excellence for Surgical Education and Innovation (CESEI) organized five hands-on workshops demonstrating the use of advanced technology in medical education. From the basics of how patient simulator programs are designed to re-enacting an emergency situation on a state-of-the-art simulator, the students were shown how many disciplines are integrated at this top level centre for medical education created by the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver General Hospital.
- The BC Institute of Technology's Aerospace Campus hosted a networking luncheon with staff and students, as well as a tour of the Honeywell Aerospace Education Hanger, which houses 20 training aircrafts including a Boeing 737-200. The tour also featured BCIT's unique labs and classrooms with the latest in smart technology and cutting-edge training equipment, including the massive Air Traffic Management and Integrated Security Simulation Laboratory.
- The Department of National Defense, Maritime Forces Pacific hosted an exclusive tour of the frigate, HMCS Regina, which was docked at Canada Place. Conceived as an anti-submarine frigate, the ship's engineering and state of the art technology makes her one of the most capable multipurpose platforms in the world. Officers and crew of the Regina provided a tour of the ship operations including navigation, engineering systems and crew quarters. The ship had been in action a few days before, taking control of a boat of illegal migrants entering Canadian waters.
On October 19 at Connect '09, Taneille Johnson, a Canada-Wide Science Fair Team student representative addressed an audience of over 650 guests, providing remarks on her journey through the science fairs and aspirations to become a university professor and an oncology specialist. Through the BC Science Fair Alumni Mentorship Program, Taneille was mentored at the University of Northern British Columbia where she conducted research on possible cancer therapies; and she has continued her research at the University of Calgary. She is the BC Provincial Executive member and chair of SMARTS, a national program mentoring other students interested in furthering their science curiosities.
For more information about BCIC's IE program, visit our website.
