Biotech students band together

The South Australian branch of the AusBiotech Student Association (ABSA) was launched last night in Adelaide.

According to committee member Olgatina Bucco, the event, which was attended by some 80 people including guests of honour Michelle Lensink from the SA Liberal Party, Kate Ellis from the Australian Labor Party, science communicator Rob Morrison, venture capitalist and Bioangel John Ballard, and Linda Cooper from Project Catalyst, was a huge success.

Bucco, who is a postgraduate student at Flinders University and communications adviser for ABSA, said that for students contemplating careers in the biotech industry, networking offered information on potential career paths and opportunities in the industry.

"There are lots of opportunities in SA for young 'biotechers' however a lot of students are so busy supporting themselves financially and pre-occupied with studying and exams, thinking about their future is not an immediate necessity. ABSA aims to make seeking out these opportunities easier by bringing them directly to the students," she said.

Bucco said ABSA plans to hold a number of events for its members this year, including a proposed networking function at Adelaide's Thebarton biotechnology precinct, designed to allow students to see biotechnology companies in action, and a careers function.