This webinar was offered by The Biotechnology Center of Excellence on Jan 27th 2016, and can be accessed from their website

Genes in Space & Science Entrepreneurs

The science of DNA has enhanced our society in unprecedented ways; it has been used to improve crops and help feed a hungry world, solve crimes with unparalleled accuracy , and devise groundbreaking medical treatments.  Ironically, most of us have had no firsthand experience with DNA technologies because they are usually complex and expensive.

Our speakers, Ezequiel (Zeke) Alvarez-Saavedra and Sebastian Kraves, co-founded miniPCR, a company dedicated to making DNA technology simple and accessible to everyone, everywhere. They discuss the journey from their Kickstarter campaign to enabling cutting-edge DNA in every classroom. miniPCR and their partners have also created Genes in Space, a free science contest where students and teachers can design DNA analysis experiments for space exploration. Winners experiments are sent to the International Space Station where they become part of actual research programs.

Explore the Genes in Space program and hear the story of miniPCR’s impact in the classroom and beyond, including miniPCR’s role during the Ebola campaign in Sierra Leone. These technologies can greatly enhance learning in genetics, agriculture, forensics, and environmental sciences; you can be a part of it!

Hear about the Genes in Space competition where students in grades 7-12 are invited to design DNA experiments to be performed on the International Space Station.

You will also have the opportunity to hear about science entrepreneurship from Ezequiel (Zeke) Alvarez-Saavedra & Sebastian Kraves – who founded the company miniPCR.  miniPCR technology will be used to conduct winning Genes in Space PCR experiments onboard the ISS.