Biomedical Science Careers Program to Host Biennial Student Conference Aimed at Encouraging Minority Representation in Science Fields.

BOSTON -- Event to be held Friday & Saturday at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel

Much attention has been paid recently to the issue of science and math education in America. Concern that America is losing its competitive advantage in science to nations like India and China are confirmed by 2004 data that shows America graduated 70,000 students with math and science degrees, while China graduated half a million and India 200,000. President Bush made this issue a centerpiece of his State of the Union speech in January, and members of both parties in Congress are discussing the problem.

Given this context, the mission of the Biomedical Science Careers Program (BSCP) is more important than ever. The BSCP will hold its annual Student Conference tonight and tomorrow at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. The objective of the conference is to encourage minority students to pursue and complete advanced studies in science, by providing them with remarkable opportunities to network with both peers and professionals at different points in their respective careers. Business sponsors of BSCP, which include biotech, pharmaceutical and other healthcare organizations, offer scholarships, internships, and full-time job opportunities to the students who participate in the program.

"America is falling behind in science and math, and the problem is even more pronounced in minority communities," said Dr. Joan Reede, Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership at Harvard Medical School, who founded BSCP in 1991. "BSCP is designed to show minority students that a future in science is within their reach. We aim to not only give them academic and professional opportunities but also professional role models, which is something these students often lack."

The media is invited to attend the Conference and speak to the organizers and participants. The following three keynote speakers will attend the Conference:

--On Friday at 6:30p.m., Frank Douglas is Professor of Practice in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Schools of Management, Engineering, and Science and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. He is also Executive Director of the MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation.

--On Saturday at 9:00a.m., Emery Neal Brown, MD, PhD, Director of the Neuroscience Statistics Research Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Brown is one of only three people who currently have joint professorial appointments at both Harvard and MIT

--On Saturday at 11:00a.m., Carolyn M. Clancy, MD, Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, United States Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Clancy is a leading expert on national healthcare quality and disparities.

Additionally, professors of medicine from several universities, including Boston University School of Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Harvard Medical School, Tufts University School of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Yale University School of Medicine, will offer counsel, advice and personal perspectives on career paths in the biomedical sciences.

Recap of event details:

Date:  Friday, March 10 and Saturday, March 11, 2006

       Time:  Friday: conference runs from 6:30pm - 9:15pm
              Best time for media: 6:30pm - 7:30pm

              Saturday: conference runs from 9am-5pm.
              Best time for media: 9am - 10:00am or 11:00am - 12:30pm

       Where: Boston Park Plaza Hotel
              64 Arlington St.

       On Site Contact: Lise Kaye, Executive Director, Biomedical
                        Science Careers Program, cell
                        phone: [phone]

       Website:         www.bcsp.org

For more information on Friday, March 10, contact: Adrian Durbin, Weber Shandwick, 617-520-7271