Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, Quebec Final 2015 - Olivier Cloutier Won First Place

GATINEAU, QC, April 19, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Olivier Cloutier, 18 years old, student at the Cégep de Rimouski was awarded the Hydro-Québec First Prize, the highest distinction available at the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, Quebec Final. Thanks to his project CHIA : Une cure précolombienne, he received a cash prize of 1 500 $, a trophy, and a trip to James Bay.

CHIA : Une cure précolombienne

Thanks to a masterful experimentation project in medicinal chemistry inspired by evolutionary medicine, Olivier Cloutier convinced the judges of the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, Québec final 2015, to award him the highest honors. Model of perseverance, it was Olivier's fourth participation in the science fair!

Guided by scientists from the region, Olivier initially selected varieties of chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) and isolated polyphenolic compounds following a complex cycle of extractions, filtrations and concentrations on a rotary evaporator to obtain a homogeneous mixture and eventually a solid residue containing the active compounds.

Then, the extracts were redissolved and tested in vitro on adenocarcinomic colorectal cancer cells. After 48 hours of incubation, he counted the number of viable and dead cells. Result? An inhibitory effect was observed on the growth of colorectal cancer cells proportional to the concentration! Olivier now requires further purifying and characterizing the active compounds and repeating the experiment on systems more complex than isolated cells. But he has time: he is still young...!

In addition to the Hydro-Québec First Prize, le winner was also awarded the following prizes:

• Expo-Sciences International (ESI) in Brussels, Belgium, July 2015
• Participation in the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton, New-Brunswick, from May 9 to 16, 2015
• Médaille d'or du Réseau CDLS-CLS, catégorie senior (accompagnée d'une bourse de 500 $)
• Prix du réseau de l'Université du Québec (Frais de scolarité d'un baccalauréat, d'une maîtrise et d'un doctorat dans un établissement appartenant au réseau de l'Université du Québec
• Prix de reconnaissance Francis-Boulva pour ses quatre participations à la Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, finale québécoise (bourse de 250 $)

The hard work of many other participants was also rewarded at the award ceremony, where nearly 250 000 $ en cash prizes, bursaries and participations in higher fairs, were handed out.  In addition, 40 of these students were selected to make up the Quebec delegation for the Canada-Wide Science Fair, in Fredericton, New-Brunswick, from May 9 to 16, 2015, sponsored by Merck Canada Inc. Three exhibitors were also selected to participate in MILSET International Science Fair in Bruxelles, Belgium, in July 2015. They will be joining the five students selected at the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, Quebec Final 2014.

A photo of the winners of the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, Quebec Final 2015, as well as a summary of their projects, is available at exposciences.qc.ca, in the Awards and Winners section.

For more information about the Hydro-Québec Science Fair

For a preview of the projects that will be presented at Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, Quebec Final, a detailed schedule of the event or to learn more about the Hydro-Québec Science Fairs, please visit exposciences.qc.ca. The Science Fair also on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you to the Science Fair's partners

The Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec is an event organized by the Réseau CDLS-CLS in partnership with the Conseil du loisir scientifique de l'Outaouais, the École polyvalente Nicolas-Gatineau and the Commission scolaire des Draveurs.

A lot of partners take part in the success of the Hydro-Québec Science fair. They are made possible thanks to the support of our presenting partner Hydro-Québec. This project is also financially supported by the Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et des Exportations through the NovaScience program. Other national partners are: Merck Canada Inc. for the support of the experimentation side on the Science Fairs, the Alcoa Foundation, and the Science fair media partner La Presse +.

Thank you also to our regional partners : Table Jeunesse Outaouais, Université d'Ottawa, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Ville de Gatineau, Commission scolaire des Hauts-Bois-de-l'Outaouais, Commission scolaire des Portages-de-l'Outaouais, Commission scolaire au Cœur-des-Vallées, Clubs optimistes de l'Outaouais et Brookfield. Also thank you to Le Droit, 94,9 Rouge FM & NRJ 104,1, our regional media partners.

About the Réseau CDLS-CLS:

Through the nine regional Conseils du loisir scientifique, the Réseau CDLS-CLS is present everywhere in Québec and offers the following programs : Science Fairs, the Défis technologiques, the Super Expo-sciences Hydro-Québec, 2015 Québec Final Club des Débrouillards and Les Innovateurs à l'école. The Réseau CDLS-CLS also provides educational science kits to primary and high schools.

About NovaScience program :

This program is designed to improve the understanding of science and technology by the youth and the public at large as well as to promote the emergence of the new generation of scientists.

 

SOURCE RÉSEAU CDLS-CLS

Maude Péloquin, Communication officer, Tel : [phone] ext. 3895 / Mobile : [phone], [email protected]; Andrée Peltier, Press officer, Tel : [phone] / Mobile : [phone], [email protected]