The student ambassador program enlists high school students from around the world to give presentations about dynamic biotechnology topics in their communities and school to inspire others to get involved. In 2015, each science center had a rigorous application process to select their ambassadors, some ranging from presentations in front of a panel of judges to written essays about biotechnology. Students selected for the program chose a specific biotech topic that interested them, ranging from agriculture to medicine. Ambassadors were matched with mentors who guided them through research and communication. In the process of preparing their topics, many of the ambassadors were able to:
- Meet and interview researchers, scientists, journalists, Biogen employees, and museum staff members
- Tour research laboratories
- Participate in professional science communication training
- Design and execute experiments
- Meet with policy makers at the European Parliament and Commission
- Organize science workshops and pop-up labs at schools and community centers
- Exchange ideas and experience with ambassadors from other international sites
During World Biotech Tour science festivals, the ambassadors played a key role in facilitating the Lab-in-a-Box activities and presenting their biotech topics to the public. At the end of the year, an ambassador was selected based on their active participation throughout the year and/or their biotech presentations to travel to Tokyo, Japan in 2017 to represent their science center in the project at the Science Centre World Summit (SCWS2017). Meet the 2015 ambassadors below and learn more about them by hovering over their names (the selected ambassador for SCWS2017 from each science center is indicated in yellow)
Pavilion of Knowledge
Lisbon, Portugal
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Ana Raquel Saramago
Ana often participates in scientific stages and school activities such as science clubs, science days and open laboratories. It was through these activities that she became aware of her ability to communicate to audiences of various ages. Ana practices ballroom dancing and in her free time she also likes to enjoy nature and to visit museums and historical places.
WBT topic: Recombinant proteins
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Beatriz Barata
Beatriz founded the Association of Ecological Students for the Environment (AEEA), which promotes environment-related actions and the Eco Schools project. She loves science because it allows her to understand how the world works. In her free time, Beatriz practices ballet and contemporary dance. Beatriz advocated for the WBT at the EP and EC in March, 2015
WBT topic: Biopolymers for biodegradable plastics
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Filipa Melo
Filipa considers Biotechnology one of the most important and fascinating scientific fields. She has already participated in several projects related to science, such as the Radiation-Environment project, and the Olympiads of Biology, Physics and Chemistry. Filipa is a federated competitive swimming athlete and also plays tennis.
WBT topic: Biopolymers for biodegradable plastics
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Francisco Marques
Francisco is very interested in the field of technological innovation and also likes to communicate science. He has already participated in several scientific stages aiming at secondary education students. In his free time, he likes to play sports (tennis, cycling, running), to read, to computer programming and to watch TV series. Francisco advocated for the WBT at the EP and EC in March, 2015
WBT topic: Liposomes for drug delivery
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Jéssica Soares
Jéssica considers herself curious and persistent, and wants to be a researcher. She participated in EUSO - European Union Science Olympiad, in Athens. She often participates in science clubs and scientific stages. In her free time, Jéssica likes to read and to play sports.
WBT topic: Plant DNA extraction and electrophoresis
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João Peralta
João has a great interest in Biotechnology, but also in Mathematics and Physics. He participates in the projects Delfos and Quark!, which are, respectively, the schools of Mathematics and Physics from Coimbra University (Portugal). João plays football in Sport Clube Beira-Mar (Portugal) since he was 6 years-old and, in his free time, also likes to play chess.
WBT topic: Bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical and ecological application obtained from marine organisms
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Maria Margarida Brites
Maria considers scientific research a fascinating activity and has a passion for science. She frequently participates in scientific stages and summer schools. Maria also likes theatre and reading.
WBT topic: Nano-alchemy in Biotechnology
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Marisa Ferreira
Marisa loves to research and to develop experiments in the laboratory. She also enjoys team work. Marisa had already participated in environmental clubs and science competitions. She is in a school theatre group and in her free time also likes to dance.
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Tomás Velez
Tomás loves science and enjoys triggering in other people the interest for this field. He believes that science and Biotechnology can contribute to a better Portugal. Tomás often participates in science championships, from Mathematics to Astronomy. In his free time, Tomás likes to visit museums and science centres. Cooking is one of his favourite hobbies.
WBT topic: Somatic embryogenesis in Pinus pinaster – cloning agriculture that have huge ecological and socio-economic impact
Tomás will represent Pavilion of Knowledge at SCWS2017!
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Ana Sofia Correia
Ana Sofia loves Biotechnology and also Genetics. She had already participated in the Olympiads of Biotechnology, Biology and Mathematics. Sofia is in a youth music association from Vila Real (Portugal) and also practices swimming and plays the piano.
WBT topic: Myocardial and bone regeneration
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Miraikan - The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation
Tokyo, Japan
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Mao Hattori
Mao is a second year student in high school. She has learned classic ballet since she was four, so her standing posture is beautiful! Recently her science activity is extracting Penicillin, an antibiotic from blue mold.
WBT topic: Relation between enteral (intestinal) environment and our heath – How do the kinds of foods we eat affect our intestinal health?
Mao will represent Miraikan at SCWS2017!
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Masanobu Higashino
Masanobu is a second year student in high school. He belongs to the chemistry club and researches water and atmosphere. Recently he is very interested in food additives, railway technology, and forest dams. He loves not only science but also playing guitar. He is really full of curiosity!
WBT topic: Functional effect and new usage of tea catechin (an ingredient in tea) to benefit health
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Tomoe Kaba
Tomoe is a second year student in high school. She is a big fan of rock music. She is also concerned about food problems. Each country has own food problem, some countries have nutritional deficiency; others have lifestyle-related disease.
WBT topic: Producing fertilizer from algae and euglena to help solve food problems in places like Africa.
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Yuki Yanagida
Yuki is a second year student in high school. He is very interested in science communication, so he started as a Miraikan volunteer last year. He is researching vaccines so as to be able to talk with the public about its efficacy and safety. He is also adept at drawing illustrations of prehistoric life.
WBT topic: Communication on information about influenza vaccine – Speaking to the public about its efficacy and safety.
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Yusuke Aketa
Yusuke is a university freshman. When he was in high school, he tried to purify water with euglena. He was so creative that he tested many kinds of purifying systems. At the university he studies engineering so he can create his original purifying system. He loves riding a road bike.
WBT topic: Seawater purification using Euglena, a type of algae.
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Technopolis
Mechelen, Belgium
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Clara Samyn
Clara wants to study bio-engineering at university. She is very interested in health and nutrition. Teamwork is a favourite of hers. Apart from science she loves art, music, and food.
WBT topic: 3-D bioprinting
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Francois Grimaldi
François has been fascinated by nature and science for as long as he can remember. Since Santa brought him a laboratory kit at the age of 6, he’s been experimenting with everything from molded bread to blood drops, and he firmly believes science can contribute to solving many world problems. In his free time he takes drama and diction, and he currently trains to be a youth leader with “Nature & Science”, a youth organization which aims to bring youth and science closer together.
WBT topic: Genetically modifying algae to produce biofuel
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Freja Vandeputte
Freja has a great interest in science and mathematics. She loves to travel and discover the world. In her free time, Freja likes to read and play theatre. She also plays the flute, solo and in an orchestra, and she has been practising volleyball since she was 6 years old.
WBT topic: Lab-on-a-chip
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Gilles Verbinnen
Gilles feels that biotechnology will become one of the most important sciences in the future. He doesn’t only love science but also kayaking, because he can empty his head and forget everything. He has so many books that his mother is afraid that the ceiling is going to collapse.
WBT topic: Antibiotic resistant bacteria
Gilles will represent Technopolis at SCWS2017!
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Lise Cleys
Lise has a broad interest in anything biology-related, including plants, animals, … She is very crafty and loves to draw, and spends many hours watching YouTube documentaries.
WBT topic: Spirulina: superfood and biological purification
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Stina Van Huffel
Stina is currently finishing her last year of Technical Sciences. She is extremely curious, loves to read, and practices both athletics and cycling. Apart from sports, she also has a strong interest in science, more particularly biology, the workings of the body and genes, and biotechnology.
WBT topic: Gene doping
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Willem Volckaert
Willem has a big interest in all branches of science. He loves to find answers to questions in science, learn about new discoveries, and debating about them. Willem also breakdances, which taught him that with the right amount of power and the correct technique, you can achieve things that looked impossible at first.
WBT topic: Algal biofuel
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