The Academy isn’t the only one giving out awards. Let’s check out the best and brightest biotech videos of the week!

SCIENTIST IN A LEADING ROLE – DR. GEBISA EJETA – Dr. Gebisa Ejeta has not only developed a specialized sorghum crop that is drought and pesticide-resistant, he also helped Ethiopian farmers set up a seed distribution center of this higher-yielding crop for their community. For his work, he was the recipient of the 2009 World Food Prize. You can watch BIOTECanada interview Dr. Ejeta about how the private sector can help in agricultural development.

BEST (BIG) PICTURE – BILL GATES – Bill Gates can see the big picture. That’s why the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation donated $10 million to help develop life-saving vaccines earlier this year. Check out this clip from his interview with CNN as he talks about the power of vaccines.

BEST ENSEMBLE CAST – HAWAIIAN FARMERS – Here’s a preview of the latest video from the Hawaii Crop Improvement Association (HCIA) highlighting the benefits that agricultural biotechnology is having on Hawaii. Learn from local scientists, farmers and economists and discover how truly powerful the role of biotechnology is in feeding the world.

SENATOR IN A LEADING (THE WAY) ROLE – SENATOR TOM BUTLER – Senator Tom Butler (D-Alabama) sure knows how to lead the way. He has hopes for a “400 mile long campus of cancer research” beginning in Alabama. Listen to him speak of the advantages that biotechnology can bring to his home state.

BEST SOUND (OFF) – SOCALBIO – Hear these biotech media experts sound off at the 18th annual SoCalBio Networking Forum from February 25th, 2010. It featured a panel of print and broadcast journalists who shared tips on how biotech and device entrepreneurs could use the media to promote their companies and technologies. Panelists included Deborah Crowe (LA Business Journal), Gerri Shaftel (Fox 11 News), James Flanigan (NY Times), Frank Mottek (KNX 1070) and Mark Bernheimer (MediaWorks Resource Group). Click here for part two.