HealthFest 2002 - Interactive Biotech at the Ontario Science Centre, Toronto

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 21, 2002) - On Saturday, June 1, 2002, at the Ontario Science Centre, the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) will host HealthFest 2002, a free, one-day event designed to help families experience the benefits of biotechnology. Admission to the Ontario Science Centre and to this fun, educational, event is free. HealthFest 2002 is the first interactive event in Canada that enables the public to experience biotechnology first hand.

Through interactive exhibits staffed by biotechnology and health experts, HealthFest 2002 will demonstrate “The Science of Healthy Living,” and give area residents and their families a look at the science that forms the basis for good health.

Where else but HealthFest can participants have their hemoglobin screened for anemia, view fluorescent DNA under a microscope, help build a model of a healthy bone structure, extract DNA from an onion cell, and talk to John Davison, author of Jesse’s Journey? In addition, some of the Ontario Special Olympic medalists will stop by to show their medals.

After exploring HealthFest 2002, visitors can also enjoy some of the more than 800 interactive exhibits and demonstrations at the Science Centre.

HealthFest 2002 participants include the Canadian Medical Discoveries Fund, Aventis Pasteur, BIO, BIOTECanada, the Council for Biotechnology Information, the Anemia Institute for Research and Education, and the Research Hospitals of the University of Toronto.

HealthFest 2002 is sponsored by Aventis Pasteur, the Canadian Institutes
of Heath Research, BIO, the Council for Biotechnology Information, and VWR CanLab, and is part of BIO 2002, the world’s largest biotechnology conference, which is taking place June 9-12 at the Toronto Convention Centre. For more information on HealthFest 2002 and BIO 2002, visit BIO’s Web site at www.bio.org or the BIOTECanada Web site at www.biotech.ca.

BIO represents more than 1,000 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology center and related organization in all 50 states and 33 other nations. BIO members are involved in the research and development of health-care, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.

The Ontario Science Centre delights, informs, and challenges visitors through engaging and thought-provoking experiences in science and technology. The Ontario Science Centre transforms the way in which people see - and think about - the world around them. Everyday, staff hosts demonstrate the wonders of science - in electricity (a hair-raising experience), papermaking, chemistry, a starlab, a foundry, and seasonal nature walks. Entertaining scientific fun is explored in more than 800 exhibits within 13 exhibition halls.

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