DNA Day Essay Contest and Symposium
Sponsored by: Q Health Connections; Concordia University, St. Paul; and the Science Research Institute
High school students, college students and adults from the community are invited to Concordia University on Saturday, April 25 to attend the DNA Day Symposium. The afternoon event will feature speakers, including researchers focused on DNA-related projects, the director of the DNA forensics laboratory at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and essay contest winners. In addition to the speakers, students will be engaged by poster presentations highlighting the impact of the study of DNA by students who have participated in DNA-based research, biomedical industries, and local health-related organizations. Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in hands-on DNA-based laboratory activities, such as isolating DNA, analyzing gel electrophoresis results in a forensics simulation and constructing a phylogenetic tree using DNA sequence data.
Essay Contest: The winners of the High School Essay Contest are Josh Wareham (Recombinant DNA Technology and Human Society), Matthew Kamman (Solution for Global Warming), and Beth Knier (DNA-Genetic Engineering Impact). The College Essay Contest winner is Carleen Ebert (Human Genome Project). We look forward to hearing the esssays on April 25th.
DNA Day Symposium Schedule
12:30 pm Registration
1:00 pm Welcome
1:10-2:00 pm MS. Ann Gross, Director of DNA Laboratories, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
2:00-2:15 pm Winning Essay Contest Presentations
2:15-2:30 pm Break, refreshments
2:30-3:20 pm Dr. Milton English, Medical Scientist and Research Associate, National Institutes of Health
3:20-3:35 pm Winning Essay Contest Presentations
3:40- 4:40 pm Hands-on Activities for Students and Roundtable Discussions for Adults
4:45-5:00 Closing Remarks
