Using Art to Convey the Promise of Biotechnology; Biotechnology Institute Announces Winners of Lilly BioDreaming Poster Competition

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Artistically talented students from across the nation were recognized in Washington today for colorfully conveying the promise and advancements that have taken place in the field of biotechnology.

“We are delighted to recognize the creativity and enthusiasm of these talented students”

The Lilly BioDreaming Poster Competition Awards Ceremony, held at the Naval Heritage Center in Washington, DC, culminated a national competition among K-12 students to create posters that illustrate biotechnology’s immense potential to heal the sick, feed the hungry, restore the environment, and fuel the economy.

After the ceremony, Biotechnology Institute staffers escorted the winners of the competition to Capitol Hill to receive congratulations and share their thoughts on biotechnology with key legislative staff.

The first-place winners are:

• Vijeyta Revankar, age 7, Grade 2, James F. Bay Elementary; Seabrook, TX (K-3rd grade category)
• Hanna Thistle, age 11, Grade 5, The Meadows School; Las Vegas, NV (4-6th grade category)
• Saumya Keremane, age 12, Grade 7, Amelia Earhart Middle School; Riverside, CA (7-9th grade category)
• Ilana Tavshunsky, age 15, Grade 10, University of Toronto Schools; Toronto, Ontario (10-12th grade category)

For the past three years, Eli Lilly and Company has sponsored the competition as a way to raise awareness about the promise of biotechnology in the form of medicines, fuels and agriculture. The Biotechnology Institute, the national biotechnology education organization, first implemented the competition in 2004.

“As the fifth largest biopharmaceutical company in the world, Lilly is committed to becoming a biotechnology powerhouse,” said John Beals, senior research fellow, biotechnology discovery research. “A big part of this effort is education and we believe by supporting the Biotechnology Institute’s mission to teach students about the potential of biotechnology and its many applications, we will help develop the next crop of scientists interested in working the field of biotechnology and help educate patients, payers and prescribers about the growing importance of this field, ”

“We are delighted to recognize the creativity and enthusiasm of these talented students,” says Paul A. Hanle, president of the Biotechnology Institute. “These posters reflect the very best melding of thoughtful appreciation of biotechnology and powerful visual art. We thank Lilly for its support of this fun and educational competition.”

K-12 students from across the United States and Canada submitted posters for the 2009 Lilly BioDreaming Poster Competition. The artwork of the top 12 finalists will be displayed during the Biotechnology Institute’s Conference on Biotechnology Education, which will be held April 30-May 5 in Chicago, IL, and during the subsequent BIO 2010 International Convention, where more than 20,000 convention attendees from around the world had the opportunity to view the posters.

The posters are grouped into four grade categories: K-3rd grade, 4-6th grade, 7-9th grade, and 10-12th grade. First, second, and third place is awarded for each grade category. Winners receive prizes of $500, $250, and $100, respectively.

About the Biotechnology Institute

The Biotechnology Institute is as an independent, national nonprofit organization with a mission is to engage, excite, and educate as many people as possible, particularly young people, about biotechnology and its immense potential to heal the sick, feed the hungry, restore the environment, and fuel the economy. For more information, visit www.biotechinstitute.org.

About Eli Lilly and Company

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at www.lilly.com.