Media releases

• Brock University hosts two-day science adventure for high school students

  Tuesday, May 10, 2016 | By Brock University

  MEDIA ADVISORY: R00100 – 10 May 2016

  A two-day experience at Brock University for high school students is being expanded this year to include younger future scientists.

  Scientifically Yours, a conference intended to encourage students to pursue an education and career in science will now be open to male and female students in both Grades 10 and 11 from high schools in Niagara and around the province. It had been open only to those in Grade 11 in the past.

  About 80 high school students are expected to attend this year’s experience, being held Thursday, May 12 and Friday, May 13, where they will participate in practical activities in forensic science, biology, entomology, oenology and viticulture, human health science, nursing, chemistry, computer science, physics, math, earth sciences and psychology.

  The students will have the opportunity to work with Brock University faculty, undergrad and graduate students on hands-on projects such as designing video games, measuring bone health, identifying their DNA fingerprints, working with the Nursing Department patient simulators, witnessing neuronal activity with live crickets, uncovering ancient fossils and researching the food preferences of tortoises.

  This year’s plenary speaker is Dr. Amy Bowen, a Research Program Leader of Consumer Insights at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. Bowen oversees the operation of Vineland’s trained sensory and consumer research panels to understand the drivers that impact consumer preference and choice for horticultural products.

  Her talk takes place Thursday, May 12 at 9:30 a.m. in Room 216 of Brock University’s Academic South building.

  On Friday, May 13, students will dine with scientific mentors and learn about their experiences in careers such as naturopathic medicine, nursing, risk modeling analysis and water conservation.

  Media are invited to attend the Scientifically Yours conference to speak with organizers and students.

  For more information or to arrange interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock grad to represent Canada at creativity festival in Cannes

  Tuesday, May 10, 2016 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: R00099 – 9 May 2016

  A Brock University graduate is headed to Cannes, France after winning a prestigious national marketing contest.

  Christian Di Vincenzo, a graduate of Brock’s Goodman School of Business (BBA ’13), won the Young Marketers division of The Globe and Mail’s national Young Lions and Young Marketers competition, putting him on an international stage next month at the prestigious Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity held annually in Cannes.

  The competition showcases the best of the best in marketing and advertising. Only those marketers who win first place in their national divisions make it to Cannes. The three-round Canadian competition was held over the past few weeks.

  Di Vincenzo works as a digital marketing consultant at Lexus Canada, where he leads the brand’s national digital marketing strategy while managing an internal team and external agency partners.

  Along with his Lexus colleague Olena Sapojnikova, Di Vincenzo developed and designed a pitch for the competition, answering a call to young marketers in Canada to create a marketing campaign that incorporated their companies’ brands and David Suzuki Foundation’s Superhero Challenge, an initiative to encourage children to enjoy the outdoors and maintain healthy lifestyle habits.

  Di Vincenzo credits his success to his time at Brock, where he was actively involved in co-curricular activities. 

  “Four key things from my Goodman experience have helped me in my career so far: co-op, international exchange, business competitions and Monster Pitch,” he said.

  Di Vincenzo was on winning teams at both the Monster Pitch competition and Nicol Business Plan Competition, competed at the prestigious Royal Roads University International Undergraduate Case Competition and went on an international exchange at the University of South Australia.

  “Co-op and competitions taught me how to think on my feet and come up with creative ideas,” he said. “Going on exchange and having these experiences has helped me learn to connect with people, which is ultimately the most important thing in marketing.

  “You have to understand how to connect with individuals and speak to their emotions, which is essentially what advertising is all about and what we do as marketers.”

  Working with their mentor, Mark Childs, chief brand officer of Samsung Canada, Di Vincenzo and Sapojnikova are now preparing for the final round of the competition. Nearly 15,000 delegates will gather in Cannes, where the coveted golden lion statue will be handed out to the contest winner.

  Di Vicenzo is available to speak with the media about his winning entry and his time at Brock University.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases