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CBS Prof Named Distinguished Mentor
Biologist recognized for volunteer work with award-winning science fair students
BY ANDREW VOWLES
He caught the science bug as a high school student. And now he's passing it on to another generation — something that hasn't gone unrewarded. For his volunteer work with two award-winning science fair students, Prof. Ian Tetlow, Molecular and Cellular Biology, was named a distinguished mentor in this year's Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge.
A project on plastic-making bacteria by two Centennial CVI students captured a gold medal at the Wellington-Waterloo Science and Engineering Fair in April. The students also showed their project at the Sanofi-Aventis national competition held in early May.
In their award nomination letter, Grade 12 students Boxiao Hu and Yi Kang cited Tetlow's advice on project design and his ability to involve other researchers in the project.
The Centennial duo had originally planned to use genetically engineered plants to make biodegradable plastics. Explaining that that approach would be too lengthy and complex, the U of G biologist suggested they use bacteria.
“We had the equipment and expertise in the lab to do the bacterial work,” says Tetlow, referring to the science complex lab where he studies starch production in plants.
From a colleague at the University of Florida, he obtained genetically engineered bacteria needed for the project. The students also got help from U of G chemistry professor Marcel Schlaf.
They spent three days a week in Tetlow's lab, working with technician Amina Makhmoudova to grow the bacteria and measure how much lactic acid they made.
Tetlow believes it's important for researchers to share their fascination with non-scientists, particularly young people.
“It's partly our duty, and it's good public relations for the University,” he says, recalling that he got hooked at 16 when his school class attended a lecture by a plant biologist. “You feed off of their enthusiasm as much as they feed off of your help.”
Last month, he visited his daughter's Grade 2 classroom to discuss how plants make food. He also hires high school students for summer jobs collecting plants and extracting materials in his lab.
Tetlow studies how plants regulate starch production. He belongs to the BioCar Initiative, a multi-university project led by U of G to develop biomaterials for making car parts.
Two other Grade 12 Centennial students mentored by Prof. Gopi Paliyath, Plant Agriculture, entered this year's Sanofi-Aventis competition with a project on “anti-aging” snapdragons. They also won medals at the regional science fair.
Colin Perkins and Isdin Oke tested a compound that slows normal aging in flowers. Greenhouses routinely use the substance, which blocks a hormone promoting senescence, to nearly double the shelf life of cut flowers. It's also used to preserve fruits and vegetables.
At the Department of Plant Agriculture's Vineland Campus, tree fruit specialist Prof. Jay Subramanian, his post-doctoral researchers and technician Glen Alm mentored the science projects of three students from St. Catharines schools: Subramanian's daughter, Varsha, a Grade 6 student; Grade 12 student Bindu Kovvuru; and Grade 10 student Supritha Nilam. The three received a total of eight awards at the Niagara Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Nilam's project, which focused on honey composition and its antibacterial properties, was selected to compete at the Canada-Wide Science and Engineering Fair, where it earned a bronze medal in life sciences.
“It's a very satisfying and rewarding experience to get these kids interested in plant science,” says Subramanian.