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A science/law student from The University of Western Australia will be one of the first competitors outside the United States to take up the international challenge to be named a BioGENEius and win US$10,000.

Bindhu Holavanahalli who joined the BioGENEius Challenge in her final year at Shenton College has been under the Young Scientist mentorship program of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology (PEB) at UWA.

"The Young Scientist Program in which Bindhu is involved aims to link students with researchers who will mentor them in all aspects of biotechnology applications and skills," said Professor Jim Whelan, Chief Investigator of PEB.

Under the mentorship of Dr Aneta Ivanova at PEB, Ms Holavanahalli was able to complete a project which used cutting edge biotechnology to investigate the effects of post harvest treatments such as sulphur dioxide on table grapes (Vitis vinefera).

"This study was able to give new information to the scientific community and table grape industry on the effects that these treatments have on a molecular level of the grape," said Dr Ivanova.

"This project could see new and alternative treatments being used to trigger a grape's defence mechanisms against environmental stresses and disease and deliver grapes with a higher nutritional value."

Chosen as one of two winners for the West Australian Challenge, Ms Holavanahalli will now fly to the US to compete in the final stage of the sanofi-aventis BioGENEius Challenge in San Diego at the Bio2008 Conference in June.  She will present her findings to some of the world's leading biotechnology executives.

Ms Holavanahalli said that taking part in the Young Scientist program and competing in the BioGENEius Challenge has been a great experience.

"Being able to experience first hand what cutting edge science has to offer and being mentored by some of Australia's best scientists played a big part in my choice to include science in my future career," she said.

Young Scientist program coordinator Yvonne Van Der Ploeg said the program developed strong links between research facilities, the community and partner universities to inspire a new generation of scientists.  Introducing high school students to biotechnology is a challenge for scientists and we have seen such a wonderful evolution of science communication here in our laboratories.  Bindhu has been such a pleasure to work with and Dr Ivanova has done an outstanding job taking Bindhu from high school level science to what effectively is a post graduate level project."

"We are confident Bindhu will stand up as one of the first shining examples of what Australia's future scientists have to offer to the world."

For further information about the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology go to: https://www.plantenergy.uwa.edu.au/

For further information about the BioGENEius challenge go to: https://www.biotechinstitute.org/programs/biogeneius_challenge.html

Media references

Yvonne Van Der Ploeg 61 8  6488 4481  /  0410 689 758
(Education Officer, ARC Centre for Excellence in Plant Energy Biology)
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  61 8  6488 5563  /  0432 637 716