New Grant Launched to Help Ontario Secondary Schools Purchase Science Equipment
Toronto, November 24, 2011 – The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) has announced a new funding program to cover the cost of laboratory equipment for secondary school science classes.
The OGI Genomics Equipment Grant awards $3,000 to cover the cost, or assist with, the purchase of new laboratory equipment, as well as $1,000 to cover the costs of consumables for the equipment. The grant is open to all grade 11 and 12 life sciences teachers and departments in publically funded Ontario secondary schools.
“OGI wants to expose students to information and activities that introduce them early on in their academic careers to the power and influence of genomics research in meeting some of the modern-day challenges we face like climate change, crop shortages and health conditions,” commented Dr. Mark Poznansky, President and CEO, OGI. “We want the Genomics Equipment Grant to bridge the gap between resourced and under-resourced schools and make genomics education, with all its emerging equipment and technology, accessible to more students throughout the province.”
The recipient of the grant will also benefit from OGI’s assistance in helping develop the schools curricula in the genomics area. The grant builds on OGI’s existing Genomics Teaching Award that was launched in 2007. That award recognizes outstanding high school teachers who have demonstrated novel and solid approaches to teaching genomics in the classroom.
“OGI’s commitment to assisting with the education of tomorrow’s pioneers is yet again proven with the launch of this equipment grant,” commented Glen Kim, science teacher at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario, and the recipient of the 2010 OGI Genomics Teaching Award. “Science and research is moving so quickly nowadays that keeping abreast of the latest thinking and technologies is a constant challenge to educators, yet imperative in continuing to develop future scientists. This equipment grant goes a long way to helping schools stay up-to-speed with the progression of scientific research methods.”
Application packs can be downloaded from the OGI website: http://www.whygenomics.ca/equipment-grant. The deadline for applications is the beginning of March.
-30-
About OGI
The Ontario Genomics Institute (OGI) is a private, not-for-profit corporation focused on using world-class research to create strategic genomics resources and accelerate Ontario’s development of a globally-competitive life sciences sector. Through its relationship with Genome Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI), and other private and public sector partners, OGI works to: identify, attract and support investment in Ontario-led genomics research; catalyze access to and the impact of genomics resources; and, raise the visibility of genomics as well as its impact and associated issues.
For more information on OGI, please visit www.OntarioGenomics.ca
OGI media enquiries:
Alastair Harris-Cartwright
Corporate Communications Manager
T: +1 (416) 673-6582.
C: +1 (416) 884-6542
