At Mini Science Night, you'll learn about the latest in leading-edge health research.
Event Poster | Meet the Faculty

Curriculum

Thursday, May 4, 2023 | 6:00 - 7:30 pm | Castlegar Public Library

5:30 pm - Registration & Refreshments

A selection of meat/vegetarian lasagna, caesar salad/garden salad, garlic toast and a light dessert will be available for participants. 

Mini Science Night is not a nut-free event. We cannot guarantee that there will be no cross-contamination by catering. Participants with any food allergies or dietary restrictions are asked to bring a snack. We apologize for any inconvenience.

6:00 pm - Research Presentation #1

The microbiome: Your gut bugs and you

Listen to your gut! You are what you eat! Have you ever heard those phrases? Did you know there are over 39 trillion (about 5,000x more than the number of people in the world!) little voices in your gut sending you messages? That your food can determine what these messages are and, in effect, who you are? Behind these voices are microbes and all their DNA, commonly known as the gut microbiome; they play an essential role in almost every aspect of our lives. From the good to the bad, join us to learn how these little critters shape our health from the inside out and how to better listen to your gut!

Presented by Courtney Hoskinson, Doctoral Student, UBC Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Turvey Research Team, BC Children's Hospital

6:15 pm - Research Presentation #2

BC Children’s Hospital Research: How can we improve optimal cognitive and social outcomes for children and their families?

Immerse yourself in the world of research and discover how newly published studies are being used to improve cognitive and social outcomes in children and their families. Uncover key topics such as: second language exposure, weight stigma, prenatal maternal depression and antidepressant treatment, prenatal alcohol exposure, adolescents with a transplant experience, children with autism spectrum disorders, and the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health for youth and teachers in the Greater Vancouver area.

Presented by Dr. Sarah Hutchison, Sunny Hill Child Development and Rehabilitation Research Manager, BC Children’s Hospital

6:30 pm - Research Presentation #3

Induced pluripotent stem cells: A cellular crystal ball

Sometimes, it is hard to study diseases because we can't get the cells we need from people. Therefore, scientists generate special cells called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to experiment on. iPSCs can be made from any cell in the body, like skin cells or blood cells and then change them into the cells that need to be studied, like a brain cell or a heart cell. It's like they create a tiny model of the disease in a dish! Join us as we explore how this helps scientists understand how diseases work, finding new treatments and what happens to the cells when someone gets sick.

Presented by Dr. Glen Lester Sequiera, Postdoctoral Fellow, UBC Department of Medical Genetics, Pouladi & Hayden Research Teams, BC Children’s Hospital

6:45 pm - Question & Answer Period

Participant questions for our Mini Science Night faculty. 

7:25 pm - Closing Remarks

Participants will at dismissed at 7:30 pm. After dismissal the Mini Science Night Faculty will be available to network one-on-one with interested participants. 

Interested in Participating? 

Registration for Mini Science Night is open to everyone in the community. This includes students, teachers, parents, seniors and local healthcare professionals. Admission is free but space is limited to 50 participants. 

Learn how you can participate in Mini Science Night

 

Do you have additional questions? Contact researchevents@phsa.ca.