By Megan Lambert (The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: July 15, 2015
UFV chemistry student Kevin Kobes is headed to a forum for promising young scientists in London, England.
The London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF), held from July 22 to August 5, selects students from about 60 countries after an audition-like process. Those shortlisted present research projects before a panel, and Kobes was one out of five candidates chosen to attend.
“I did [my presentation] on regenerative medicine, so it’s more like stem cell research which is being done in modern medicine,” he says.
Kobes’ presentation outlined the research he’s done at UFV in the Dean of Sciences Dr. Lucy Lee’s lab, where they studied the impact of insecticides on fish cells.
Stem cell research is the focus of this year’s LIYSF conference, which aligns with Kobes’ interests. Accepted early into UBC Medicine, Kobes is interested in surgery and regenerative medicine.
“I’m excited,” he says. “It’s kind of like a dream come true.”
The keynote speaker at LIYSF is Professor Fiona Watt, who is the director of the Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine at King’s College in London.
“The science aspect of it is going to be amazing; I’m going to tour facilities like the Oxford Biomedical Research Lab, it’s super cool.”
The conference also places an emphasis on cultural diversity, bringing students from around the world and ending the forum with an international cabaret one night of the trip. More than that, Kobes says the forum allows young scientists to connect.
“On the Facebook group, I already have friends from Israel or from Italy, France, all kinds of places all over the world,” he says.
Kobes will be running a blog during the conference on the UFV Faculty of Science website.
