Industrial biotech applications have led to cleaner processes that produce less waste and use less energy and water in such industrial sectors as chemicals, pulp and paper, textiles, food, energy, and metals and minerals. For example, most laundry detergents produced in the United States contain biotechnology-based enzymes.
International BioGENEius Challenge Process
What is the International BioGeneius challenge?
The International BioGENEius Challenge encompasses ten (10) U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge finalists, two (2) Canadian Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada finalists and two (2) Western Australia BioGENEius Challenge finalists. Each finalist will compete in the International BioGENEius competition held in Boston, Massachusetts, (June 2012), in conjunction with the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) Annual International Convention. Finalists will present their research poster and oral presentations to a panel of expert biotech judges and display their projects to approximately 20,000 convention participants.
NOTE: Canada and Western Australia conduct separate competitions. If you are selected as one of the top 2 winners of the Canada or Western Australia BioGENEius competition then you will be sent to the International National BioGENEius Competition held in Boston.
Program Overview
The International BioGENEius Challenge is the premier competition for high school students that recognizes outstanding research in biotechnology. In order to participate as a finalist in this competition you must compete and rank in various levels of BioGENEius Challenge events. Below is a step-by-step analysis of what steps must be taken in order to advance to the International BioGENEius Challenge for cash prizes totaling more than $20,000.
REGIONAL/STATE FAIRS
Students should apply to their nearest regional science fair and follow all of the directions for participating in that fair. Your project must have been completed within the last year and include a scientific experiment on an application of biotechnology. For the purposes of this competition biotechnology is defined as using knowledge of biological systems to advance the production of goods and services. After participating in your regional science fair you must apply to the appropriate Local or At-Large BioGENEius Challenge.
LOCAL BIOGENEIUS CHALLENGE
Students should visit the Biotechnology Institute’s website to view the Local BioGENEius Challenge(s) located all over the United States. If you live in an area where there is a Local BioGENEius Challenge, you should apply to the appropriate challenge. (Example: I am located in Philadelphia, PA. I will apply to the Pennsylvania BioGENEius Challenge.) Complete an online application. Please check the appropriate BioGENEius Challenge webpage for application submission deadlines.
NOTE: If there is no Local BioGENEius Challenge located in your area please apply to the At-Large BioGENEius Challenge.
Please view the list below to choose the appropriate Local BioGENEius Challenge in your area. Current Local BioGENEius Challenges, as of August 2011, consists of the following states:
Additional Local BioGENEius Challenges are TBD in January 2012. Please check back to view additional information about each Local BioGENEius Challenge.
After applying for the Local BioGENEius Challenge you may be selected to provide your project to compete and/or present at the Local BioGENEius Challenge provided in your area. Up to 2 students are selected from each Local BioGENEius Challenge. The selected winners of each Local BioGENEius Challenge will join the 15 At-Large BioGENEius Challenge winners to present their research poster and oral presentations at the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge, which will be held in June 17, 2012 in Boston, Massachusetts.
AT-LARGE BIOGENEIUS CHALLENGE
Students should visit the Biotechnology Institute’s website to view the Local BioGENEius Challenges located all over the United States. If there is no Local BioGENEius Challenge located in your area please apply to the At-Large BioGENEius Challenge. The At-Large BioGENEius Challenge is a competition available to students who are not in areas from which the local competitions draw. These students will apply directly to the Biotechnology Institute through the online application process. Complete an online application. Submissions must be completed at this site by April 15, 2012.
After completing your application for the At-Large BioGENEius Challenge you are automatically selected to provide your research project for a virtual competition. The Biotechnology Institute will convene a panel of judges to select 15 additional student delegates. The selected 15 students will join the winners of the Local BioGENEius Challenge(s) to present their research poster and oral presentations and advance to the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge. The U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge will be held in June of 2012 in Boston.
U.S. NATIONAL BIOGENEIUS CHALLENGE
Students can not apply for the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge. The U. S. National BioGENEius Challenge is a competition in which selected winners of both the At-Large and Local BioGENEius Challenge(s) compete and present their research posters and oral presentations in front of a panel of biotech judges. Each student will compete with more than 35 students for a chance to advance to the International BioGENEius Challenge.
The panel of U.S. National BioGENEius judges will select the top ten (10) winners of the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge to advance to the International BioGENEius Challenge. Selected finalists/winners of the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge will be announced at the U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge Awards Banquet held in Boston, Massachusetts.
INTERNATIONAL BIOGENEIUS CHALLENGE
The selected ten (10) U.S. National BioGENEius Challenge winners will join two (2) Canadian, Sanofi BioGENEius Challenge Canada finalists and two (2) Western Australia BioGENEius Challenge finalists at the International BioGENEius Challenge held in Boston, Massachusetts on June 18-19, 2012, in conjunction with the BIO Annual International Convention.
The total of 14 students (10 U.S., 2 Canadian, 2 Western Australian students) who advance to the International BioGENEius Challenge will be presented with awards at the Keynote Plenary held during the 2012 BIO Convention. The first place winner receives a $7,500 cash award. Other awards include $5,000 for second place, $2,500 for third place, and $1,000 for fourth place. Each remaining finalist will receive a $500 Honorable Mention Award.
For more information on the BioGENEius Program please contact biogeneius@biotechinstitute.org.
