UBIC Holds Awards Ceremony for 3^rd National Biotech Essay Contest

The Uganda Biosciences Information Center (UBIC) held the awarding ceremony for the 3^rd National Biotechnology Essay Writing Contest on October 8, 2015. This year's contest attracted close to 200 submissions from 40 secondary schools and tertiary institutions. The theme for this year's contest was Biotechnology: Addressing Climate Change Challenges. This was a timely theme, considering the current increasing deaths from famine and drought-induced starvation, especially in parts of Northern Uganda.

The Awards ceremony took a new twist with the top three students each in secondary and tertiary institution categories making oral presentations to defend their written essays. They took questions from the audience and were accordingly evaluated. Winners received varied prizes including laptop computers, and a one-week internship for the top six. UBIC also produced a compendium of the best essays from the first contest held in 2013 to 2015, for use as reference material for intending participants in future contests.

The Awards ceremony was attended by students, teachers, Miss Uganda 2015, NARO staff, representatives from UBIC/NARO partners, media, political leaders and officials from the Ministries of Education and Agriculture.

The Chief Guest- Hon. Sandy Steven Tickodri-Togboa, Minister of State for Higher Education, stressed the importance of demystifying relevant science technologies that can be used to improve food productivity for a healthy and prosperous population. He applauded UBIC for interesting students to engage in discussing some of these technologies and for "helping to create a critical mass of scientists and technologically literate citizens who can spearhead national development."

For more details about the event, contact Anita Tibasaaga at atibasaaga@gmail.com.