Austin students who received a special award from The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota-Mayo Clinic during this year’s local science fairs got to take a tour of the world-renowned cancer research facility on Thursday, March 15, with their families and science teachers.

As part of winning The Hormel Institute’s “Outstanding Science Research Award,” each student was invited to tour the Institute’s state-of-the-art facility with the other award recipients to learn more about its cutting-edge research aimed at discoveries leading to the prevention and control of cancer.

The tour included having the students wear 3D glasses to view imaging used in The Hormel Institute’s cancer research as well as see the Institute’s two supercomputers, among other things.

“We congratulate each recipient of The Hormel Institute’s award for doing such great research,” said Dr. Zigang Dong, executive director of The Hormel Institute, “and we hope they continue with their exceptional scientific pursuits.”

Providing scientists as volunteer judges for the Austin science fairs is one aspect of The Hormel Institute’s education initiative throughout the year. This effort also includes the Institute having scientists work with students in new laboratories at Ellis Middle School, working with high school biology students, offering a college internship program, serving as a leader of the University of Minnesota-Rochester’s Biomedical Informatics and Computational Biology (BICB) program, and providing both doctoral and post-doctoral research training programs.

Recipients of this year’s Institute awards include:

—Madelyn Mullenbach, Ellis Middle School.
—Baylee Phillips, Banfield Elementary School.
—Aidan DeVries, Neveln Elementary School.
—Andrew Schumacher, Southgate Elementary School.
—Sam Hagen, Sumner Elementary School.
—Taylor Johnson, Pacelli Elementary School.