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| > Sophie Roy, 1977 |
| > Marc Ouellet, 1980 |
| > Sabrina R. Perri, 1991-1996 |
| > David Laflamme, 1996-2000 |
| > Frédérick Moreau, 1997-2000 |
| > Francis Boulva, 1997-2001 |
> Alexis Lussier-Desbiens,
1997-2001 |
| > Romina Perri, 1998-2001 |
> Alexandra Sorocéanu,
1998-2001 |
> Marie-Claude Bilodeau and
Sébastien B.Bergeron,
1999-2000 |
| > Cédric Houdayer, 1999-2000 |
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Marc Ouellet, 1980 Science Fair |
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The following information is taken from Portraits
de lauréats created by the Conseil du loisir scientifique
in partnership with the ministère de la Recherche, de la Science
et de la Technologie du Québec.
 |
Marc Ouellet,
1980 Science Fair |
When Marc Ouellet was young, he dreamed of becoming
a wildlife filmmaker and working outdoors. The only work that he found
stimulating enough to keep him indoors was laboratory research. This
trained biochemist is now 39 and has been working for Merck Frosst
as a research biologist since he completed his studies in 1992. He
is passionate about his research and likes to explain what he does.
His work is essentially the same as when he joined the Merck Frosst Centre
for Therapeutic Research in Kirkland. He studies cyclooxygenase enzymology.
"Enzymes produce the initial reaction that leads to the production
of a family of molecules, the prostaglandins, involved in causing inflammatory
reactions and protecting the stomach lining."
In the course of his work, Marc is also required to test new products.
The types of products vary depending on the programs. He had been
working on an anti-inflammatory product that the company introduced
on the Canadian market four years ago. "I am very happy to have
contributed to the quality of this product," he stated proudly.
According to Marc, the Merck Frosst Centre for Therapeutic Research "is
an ideal place for researchers." He is thrilled to be able to conduct
experiments in a state-of-the-art laboratory and, as he states quite simply,
"play with test tubes!"
He advises young people to be patient. "Courses at school may
not be all that exciting, but if you get the chance to work on an
experiment as part of the Science Fair, you'll see just how exciting
and interesting science can be." Although Marc recognizes that
being a teacher is not that easy, he encourages teachers to take the
time to cultivate young people's interests. "Encourage those
who volunteer for the science clubs or who supervise related activities;
they're successful because the students who participate are really
interested in what they're doing."
A mind-opening experience
Marc discovered the science club at the Polyvalente de Pointe-aux-Trembles
at age 16. He signed up immediately. He and three of his friends prepared
a project that they presented at the Montreal Regional Science Fair
in the spring of 1980. At the time, four participants could team up
to present a Science Fair project.
The four teenagers described how the nuclear power plant at Gentilly
worked. "We had the chance to visit the power plant and to get
a close-up look at the reactor, which was not operating at the time."
In conjunction with the Science Fair and as part of a promotional
tour, the power plant had set up an information booth at the fair.
Employees were on hand to explain the principles of nuclear energy
to the public. "Visitors of the Science Fair told us that they
understood our explanations better than the ones offered by the Gentilly
staff," recalls Marc. "It was very flattering."
Learning English
Marc completed his college studies in pure and applied science at
Cégep de Maisonneuve in 1984. He then registered for
the Katimavik program, but had to wait a few months before the program
got underway. Not wanting to waste any time, he completed one semester
at Université du Québec à Montréal
in biology.
Oddly enough, his first assignment with Katimavik was in Gentilly,
where he helped renovate the church sacristy. Three months later, he went
to Sussex, New Brunswick, where he and his friends did park and building
maintenance for the city. His final rotation led him to Sudbury, Ontario.
He manned an atmospheric science information booth, explaining to visitors
how the various meteorological devices worked.
He returned from his Katimavik adventures quite thrilled and decided
to pursue his science studies at Mount Allison University in Sackville,
New Brunswick. "I was looking for a small English university
where I could learn English, which is definitely the language most
commonly used in science." Instead of taking a biochemistry course,
he did a research project, for which he received an award of distinction.
His eyes sparkle when he describes the project. "A study had
revealed that certain enzymes were controlled by their distribution
within a cell. This distribution, which takes place in a solution
or in a cell membrane, changes depending on whether the animal is
active or resting. My project consisted of measuring the activity
of five enzymes—in the membrane state or in a solution—in a turtle
that was spending most of its time under water over the course of
a week (resting model) and a trout that I chased with a stick for
a period of two minutes (active model). My results did not correspond
to those of the initial study; I found absolutely no correlation between
the distribution of enzymes and an animal's state of activity."
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| Marc
Ouellet |
A B.Sc. opens doors to a variety of disciplines, including biology. Experience
in biology can lead to a job as a teacher or a university laboratory researcher,
or work in quality control for the food, pharmaceutical or beauty care
industry. Marc's project encouraged him to do a Master's degree. "I
decided to do a Master's degree in science at McGill University with a
specialization in neurology because the person that I wanted to work with,
a very enthusiastic researcher, was teaching in that department."
During his M.Sc., he worked on an important regulation process in the
human body, protein phosphorylation. After obtaining his initial results,
Marc determined that they did not correspond to those of another researcher.
He doesn't hide the fact that he was quite thrilled to make such a discovery
at the Master's level, proving that science is a creative process that
makes it possible for theories to evolve.
A judge at the Science Fair
Even though he participated in only one Science Fair and didn't
receive an award, Marc has fond memories of his experience. "The
Science Fair cultivates resourcefulness and natural curiosity. I appreciated
meeting and talking to scientists and other participants. It was a very
gratifying experience." He developed two very important skills while
doing research: the ability to work in a team and to keep an open mind
"especially with regard to the judges."
He has judged 50 or so Science Fair projects since he first participated
in 1992. "The first time, I agreed to participate out of curiosity.
Now, I go back every year to see just how much the students will astound
me. With some participants, I even discussed patents and the possibility
of publishing in scientific journals. At the Bell Super Science Fair,
there are no bad projects. They're all incredible"
What's the biggest improvement that Marc has seen at the Science
Fair? The judging now takes place without the public being present. "I
want participants to know that the judges are just as nervous as they
are, but after about 30 seconds, the nervousness disappears. As a judge,
I prefer an informal exchange to an extremely well-prepared presentation
that doesn't allow enough time for questions or discussion."
Marc believes in encouraging the next generation of scientists. He
even corresponded with a 13-year-old student as part of a sponsorship
program organized by the magazine Les Débrouillards.
"I answered his questions about science in general and biology.
It was very rewarding!"
|
© 2002, Conseil de développement du loisir scientifique
(CDLS). This document is distributed by the Conseil de développement
du loisir scientifique.
For more information, visit our Web site at www.cdls.qc.ca. |
The opinions
expressed in this section are those of the authors and do not
necessarily
reflect the opinions of Merck Frosst or its employees. |
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