Media tips & leads

$25,000 Donation Helps Aboriginal Students

Aboriginal students attending the University of Victoria will be the beneficiaries of a $25,000 donation from HSBC Bank Canada.
HSBC Bank Canada President and Chief Executive Officer Martin Glynn will be on campus to present the funds at a reception June 28th, 10-11:00 am at the Campus View Room in the Cadboro Commons Block.
The funds will be used for bursaries to be made available to aboriginal students entering or continuing their studies at UVic.
"In the last few years we encountered First Nations students who required emergency financial assistance because their own sponsors had curtailed funding" said UVic Aboriginal Liaison Officer Bill White. "These bursaries are a start toward alleviating difficulties for aboriginal students in need." Media Contacts:
Bill White, Aboriginal Liaison Officer (250)721-6326 or wmwhite@uvvm.uvic.ca
Marnie Coulter, Development & External Relations Officer (250) 732-6257 or mcoulter@uvic.ca

Human Genome Map Is Only The Beginning

Completing the first draft of the human genome is "a truly amazing event" but much work still needs to be done before we have a full picture of human genetics, says UVic biologist Dr. Ben Koop. He was one of hundreds of scientists around the world involved in the human genome project, which announced today that it has mapped the three billion bits of genetic code that define the human organism. "Now the real challenge is to find all of the genes and and what each one does," says Koop, whose contributions to the project included identifying genes that recognize and destroy foreign invaders such as viruses, bacteria and cancer cells. Proteins are the real key to how our bodies work, he says. "Genes tell proteins what to do and what their characteristics will be. Proteins are the workhorses, genes are the brains behind them." Media Contacts:
Dr. Ben Koop (biology) at (250) 472-4071.

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