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New Science

to foster innovation in Canada, plans for the first NRC-CU
Biotechnology Internship began to form.
“They were especially interested in finding ways to reach Degree Program
out to undergraduate students,” says Mullally, “so we came
up with the idea that a group of undergraduates could
spend a week at the NRC learning about what the scientists Brings Technical
there do.”
In addition to complementing course-work with practi-
cal experience, the internship provided the opportunity for Understanding and
students to meet entrepreneurs, business developers, com-
munications specialists, and bench-top scientists in the bio-
technology field. “I hope it [helps] them to see the range of Applicable Skills
careers available to a person who has a degree in science,”
says Mullally, adding that “...the networking may also lead to
future co-op positions or employment.” By Joseph Mathieu

It gives students the opportunity arleton University has officially launched its
new Interdisciplinary Science and Practice
to experience biotech from an equips graduates with expertise they need to succeed in
C(ISAP) program in the Bachelor of Science that
applied perspective. the real world. The degree program provides students
with a broad-based science education combined with
practical skills like science communication, knowledge
translation and data analysis.
When asked what motivated them to spend Fall Break “Far too often, students graduate with degrees in
at the NRC, some students expressed an interest in one science lacking the professional skills in demand by
day starting their own biotechnology firms, while others employers,” says Prof. Steven Cooke, director of the
said they were curious about how government and busi- program. “ISAP is focused on giving students the skills
ness interact. But ultimately the consensus was to discover they need to be immediately employable, such as how
new ways to innovate in their fields, as it could allow their to interact with stakeholders, communicate findings,
research to have a greater impact — and even save lives. synthesize evidence and navigate the science-policy
Co-organizers Twine and Fulton say the internship interface.”
program has received overwhelming support from their Along with taking specialized courses cementing
colleagues at the NRC. “We always aim to give real-world professional skills, students are required to take a
insights into the world of biotechnology and possible career minor in a scientific discipline such as food science,
paths,” adds Fulton. “We’ve been able to do this by partner- chemistry or physics. A second minor (from any faculty
ing with the Carleton University biotech program.” including science) is encouraged.
The internship will run again this year with a fresh set of Armed with both an intensive science background
25 biotechnology students. and a workplace skill set, ISAP graduates will be pre-
pared to tackle major societal issues like food insecurity,
climate change resiliency and cybersecurity.
The program was specifically designed to prepare
students for workplace demands and to fulfill the
needs of current employers. “We spent a lot of time
listening to government officials and industry partners
while creating this program,” says Cooke. “These are
the skill sets students need to succeed.”
The program also doesn’t close the door to further
opportunities in science education in graduate school.
The science courses are as rigorous as any other
offered in the faculty.
“The challenge was not creating a program that was
‘science lite,’ where you water down so much that they
actually don’t know the science either,” says Cooke.
“We think we’ve struck a really good balance there.”

To learn more about ISAP, visit carleton.ca/isap

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