#837: iGEM: Secret To iGEM Success At ULeth

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For the last few years, Dr Hans-Joachim Wieden has been the guiding light for students entering the iGEM competitions to build genetically engineered machines.  

Dr Wieden is a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Lethbridge.  

His teams have used  synthetic biology to develop award winning projects focused on a wide range oF topics, from tailings ponds to pathogen detection in emergency vehicles.

Here’s how he explains the secret to success in working with his iGEM students.

DR. HANS-JOACHIM WIEDEN:    One of the key things is ownership.  The students are the source of the projects.  It’s not me telling them, you know this year we are going to do this. So everybody has ownership of their project.  And they pick topics of social relevance or that are relevant to them or  their communities.   I mean, when you are looking at the emergency vehicle thing, that affects everybody,   Like, you know, everybody has a connection to this. When you are looking at the tailings ponds, and anything that has to do with major sources of the economy, the students are really invested into these projects.  So I think they have all ownership and they really want to do their best.
  
Dr. Hans-Joachim Wieden says the iGEM teams have formed three companies to further develop their inventions in synthetic biology.

Thanks today to ALBERTA INNOVATES

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I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

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Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded Corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance our well-being through research and innovation. 

The Alberta Innovates system has roots stretching back almost 90 years

In March, 2016 the consolidation of Alberta Innovates was announced and on November 1, a single, integrated innovation powerhouse, Alberta Innovates, was formed. Two applied research subsidiaries – Innotech Alberta and C-Fer Technologies –  serve public and private sector interests.

The Alberta Innovates system was first created in January 2010, as part of an overall innovation framework developed within the Alberta Research and Innovation Act. At that time, four corporations were established:

  • Bio Solutions
  • Energy and Environment Solutions
  • Health Solutions
  • Technology Futures.

The Alberta Innovates system has a 90-year legacy. Our expertise is built on the successes of:

  • Alberta Institute for Agriculture
  • Forestry and the Environment
  • Alberta Agricultural Research Institute
  • Alberta Forestry Research Institute
  • Alberta Life Sciences Institute
  • Alberta Ingenuity
  • Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
  • Alberta Research Council
  • iCORE
  • nanoAlberta
  • Alberta Water Research Institute (AWRI)
  • Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI)
  • Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA).

 

Program Date: 2017-01-12