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Real students, science, and success Even more dance at All Saints Alex Shepherd
For many science students, working in a lab with beakers, centrifuges and mysterious vats of bubbling chemicals is a goal, or a dream deferred until university. But thanks to the Sanofi BioGENEius program some high school students are able to work in a real lab, doing real experiments surrounding real issues. The BioGENEius program pairs Grade11 and 12 students with doctors, or PhD students in an actual lab where they do legitimate research which is then presented before a panel of judges. Some even have their work published. At All Saints Catholic High School, the program is organized by the head of the science department, Shawn Sutcliffe. “I started the program as a coordinator and, almost by default, people were coming to me for help on their proposals and language, and so I took on a mentorship role,” he said. Students submit a research
proposal to the competition. If the proposal is approved, the student is matched with a mentor in the same field. They work on a project and present the findings. “We’ve had 15 competitors and six publications: six high school students with their names in journals. Pretty impressive for a teenager,” says Sutcliffe. “The best thing about the program is the exposure to high-end science.” Competitors work in high-end labs with all the best equipment. As Sutcliffe points out, “Usually in high school you know what the answer is going in. Here you don’t know until you plug in the microscope.” Students get to experience what he calls “the real mystery, the real discovery side of science.” The program does have its shortcomings, however. It can be challenging to find someone to mentor students given the few labs in Ottawa and the competition from other, more experienced university students.
“Every year I’ve had between five and 18 people interested,” says Sutcliffe, “but only about one to five actually find a mentor.” Sutcliffe proposes compiling a list of mentors that are available, with lab space, and then the student can actually look at the mentor list and choose a lab that’s doing something interesting to them. Then they can design a proposal around what being done in the lab. Still, Sutcliffe and all of the students think the process is worth the effort. The program offers experience and essential lab skills, but also the opportunity to gain contacts in the world of science. The competition is a national event. People do take note. Sutcliffe’s advice to future applicants is to be persistent. “It’s tough,” he says, “but you get to make a difference. Virtually every discovery our students have made had added to the base knowledge of science. How many people can say that when they’re 17?”
Alyssa Grégoire
All Saints Catholic High School is home to many sport teams, clubs and committees. Thanks to the new dance teacher, Sarah Hopewell, and dedicated high school students, a new team has been born: the high school Dance Team. This team is a student-led group of approximately 11 students who love dance. They meet every Wednesday at lunch to practice their routines. Hopewell, who started dancing in high school in genres like jazz and tap, says, “I would have loved a dance team when I was in high school.” Physical expression was, and stillis,herpreferenceandpassion. All Saints already had a grade 7 and 8 dance club but nothing more for the older students than the course and Hopewell saw a need. See STUDENTS, page 44
ALYSSA GRÉGOIRE
Sarah Hopewell is organizing a new team at All Saints Catholic High School with the help of passionate Grade 12 students Kali Dalton and Chloe Cooke. From left are Hopewell, the dance teacher, Nikita Sabourin, a new member, and Chloe Cooke, a choreographer.
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Monday, June 15 Audit Committee 9:30 a.m. Champlain Room Ottawa Board of Health 5 p.m., Champlain Room
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Arts, Culture, Heritage and Recreation Advisory Committee 6:30 p.m., Champlain Room
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