Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and the largest between Vancouver and Toronto. The city is best known for ecotourism and winter sports. Winter sports attracts many people to the nearby regions of Lake Louise, Banff, and Canmore situated in the Rocky Mountain region west of Calgary. Calgary is also home of the Calgary Flames, our National Hockey League (NHL) Hockey team. Because of the strong agricultural and ranching history, Calgary has been nicknamed “Cowtown”. The nickname is also attributed by the annual outdoor rodeo/fair “The Stampede”.

The University of Calgary is ranked in Canada’s top best comprehensive research institutions. Currently more than 29,000 students are enrolled in the 14 faculties in undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. The University contains more than 30 research institutions and centers including the O’Brien center within which iGEM Calgary operates. The university is also a member of a group of Canadian universities dedicated towards intensive research known as the G13.

The O' Brien Center for health sciences is located in the University of Calgary and it is responsible for providing the iGEM team with lab space as well as funding. The O’Brien center was founded by David O’ Brien who is a member of the Board of Directors at the U of C. The O’Brien center is the hub of top-notch interdisciplinary research and education. It funds approximately 9 million dollars a year for research. The 2010 iGEM team thanks the O’Brien center for its generous contribution of O’ Brien Center summer studentships as well as lab space this year.