19th June 2009

Science will be stripped to its bare essentials when the master of DNA fingerprinting joins forces with the Naked Scientist at BioCity Nottingham to reveal their passion for innovation and the thrill of scientific discovery. Forensic fun is guaranteed for over 100 young science sixth formers as they attend the ‘Evolution East Midlands’ conference on Wednesday 24th June, part of the continuing drive to nurture the next generation of world-class scientists.

In the first conference of its kind, young delegates can look forward to the explosive combination of Leicester-based Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys, father of genetic fingerprinting, zoologist and Naked Scientist Ben Valsler, stem cell expert Lorraine Young and bioscience entrepreneur Stefan Ogrodzinski through a day packed with lectures and lab-based workshops. From GM crops to astrobiology, with bird flu and stem cell research added for good measure, both students and teachers will gain a better understanding of what it feels like to follow a fascinating and varied career as a scientist.

Devised by BioCity Nottingham with the support of the bioscience knowledge exchange bioKneX, Nottingham Science City, Nottingham Trent University and the East Midlands Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Partnership, the event also features a competitive poster session, the familiar feature of many technical conferences when individuals or teams get the chance to shine in their subject. Two prizes of book tokens worth £100 each sponsored by Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham Science City will be awarded at the close of the conference by Potter Clarkson.

CEO of BioCity Nottingham Dr Glenn Crocker says: “There is a fantastic line up of speakers at this conference, which is certain to inspire the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs attending the day. I see events like this as a fundamental part of BioCity’s role at the forefront of driving Nottingham to be one of the world’s leading science cities.”

Sally Baker of bioKneX is looking forward to sharing the day with the young delegates: “I am delighted that so many science and bioscience experts are giving their time to run sessions for us. The variety of lectures and workshops are testament to the strength of this sector in the East Midlands.”

Andrew Morgan, Skills and Communities Director at East Midlands Development Agency (emda) - which funds the East Midlands STEM Partnership through its £9m STEM programme, said: “This exciting event will help inspire budding scientists to continue their studies and pursue a career in science, helping the East Midlands to become a flourishing region”.

ENDS
Media contact:
Louise Third, Integra Communications
T: 0115 912 4350
E: louise@integracommunications.co.uk

NOTES:
‘Evolution East Midlands’
Date: Wednesday 24th June 2009
Time: 09:15 – 18:15:
Venue: BioCity Nottingham

School and colleges booked to attend:
The Beckett School, Nottingham
Bilborough College, Nottingham
The Bluecoat School, Nottingham
Nottingham Girls’ High School
The Redhill School, Nottingham
High Pavement (NCN) Nottingham
The Emmanuel School, Nottingham
Christ the King, Nottingham
Toot Hill, Nottinghamshire
Worksop College, Nottinghamshire
The Brunts School, Mansfield
The Grove School, Newark

Loughborough High School for Girls

Heanor Gate, Derbyshire
Derby College
Joseph Wright 6th Form, Derby

Twycross House School, Leicestershire

About BioCity Nottingham
BioCity Nottingham Ltd develops and operates bioscience and healthcare related incubation and innovation facilities. The first facility was opened in Nottingham in September 2003 and Phase 3, in the form of grow-on space, opened in October 2008. The 129,000 sq ft award-winning facility is currently home to 60 fast-growing companies, including R&D and business support services.
BioCity was founded by Nottingham Trent University, the University of Nottingham and East Midlands Development Agency.
For more details visit www.biocity.co.uk

About bioKnex

bioKneX is the East Midland Bioscience Knowledge Exchange funded by Nottingham, Nottingham Trent and Leicester Universities, BioCity Nottingham and emda (East Midlands Development Agency).  bioKneX aims to promote the region's excellent innovation, research and commercial assets on a regional, national and international basis.
For more details visit www.bioknex.org
About Nottingham Trent University
Scientific research at Nottingham Trent University has led to groundbreaking advances in areas such as cancer diagnosis and therapy, with some 90% being judged in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) to be of international quality, of which 20% is rated as world-leading . As a result, the university was among the top 15 universities in the country - and first in the East Midlands - for research in the RAE unit of assessment covering ‘Allied Health Professions and Studies’.

About Potter Clarkson
Potter Clarkson LLP is a leading European firm of patent and trademark attorneys based in Nottingham, UK. The company advises clients worldwide on patents, trademarks, designs and related aspects of intellectual property (IP). Potter Clarkson works with start-ups and early-stage companies to multinationals, turning lab-based inventions into commercial products which benefit mankind.
The biotechnology and chemistry sectors are covered by 23 Potter Clarkson patent experts, most of whom hold a PhD in a relevant biological or chemical discipline and have research expertise in the pharmaceutical industry or academia.
Potter Clarkson is committed to supporting science in the local community. It is a founding sponsor of BioCity and holds free IP clinics there every month.
www.potterclarkson.com

About Nottingham Science City
Nottingham was designated as a Science City in 2005 in recognition of its rich scientific heritage, industrial base and role as a leading research centre. Nottingham has since embarked on a wide range of business, property, knowledge transfer and educational initiatives (www.science-city.co.uk) in order to build on its growing reputation as an international centre of scientific excellence.

About the East Midlands STEM Partnership
The East Midlands STEM Partnership - the voice of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the region.  Through its members, the Partnership provides the stimulation, skills and support for STEM professionals of the future.  Coordinated on emda’s behalf by The Marketing Division (TMD), it aims to:
Join up regional STEM activity across schools, further and higher education
Work on the solutions for gaps in provision
Promote opportunities and programmes to the STEM education and business audiences
Present a model of best practice to other regions

For more details visit www.emstempartnership.org.uk

About emda:
East Midlands Development Agency (emda) is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England, set up in 1999 to bring a regional focus to economic development.
Ten years on, independent evaluation shows emda has:
Had a significant impact on the region’s economy
Generated economic benefits that substantially outweigh its overall costs
Put back over £9 of economic output (or GVA) into the regional economy for every £1 it spends
Produced more than £1 billion in economic benefits per year
A wider impact on people, places and businesses in the East Midlands that cannot be captured by figures alone
emda is committed to supporting the region through the current downturn and has put in place a range of measures to provide real help during these challenging times.
Over the long term, emda’s aim is to deliver the 2006 Regional Economic Strategy (RES) by working in partnership with public, private and voluntary organisations.  The RES highlights the themes of productivity, sustainability and equality and sets out key priorities until 2020 to ensure the vision for ‘a flourishing region’ can be achieved.
For more details visit www.emda.org.uk