This quote serves as a powerful reminder that when it comes to environmental issues, everyone has a responsibility to act. Our EDU Cycle is designed to educate the public about synthetic biology while inspiring more people to focus on mangrove protection and microplastic pollution. Through the power of education, we aim to challenge the notion that saving the planet is someone else's responsibility. Instead, we hope to engage more individuals in our project, bringing new energy to its sustainable development and solving real-world environmental challenges.

1. In the first stage of the EDU Cycle, Get INterestED, we attract the public's interest through cultural and artistic mediums such as exhibitions and lab open days. We believe that using these visual and experiential methods can help people resonate with the issues of mangrove protection and microplastic pollution, breaking the barrier of unfamiliarity with environmental issues, and sparking their initial interest.

2. In the Get INvolvED stage, we engage the public and researchers more deeply through activities such as lab open days and synthetic biology competitions. This phase allows people not just to learn about synthetic biology but to actively participate in the project and experience the excitement of scientific research. We aim to move beyond surface-level engagement and have participants become a part of the research process.

3. Finally, in the Get InspirED stage, we aim to inspire more people to focus on mangrove protection and microplastic pollution issues. This extends beyond the general public to include potential stakeholders, scientists, and partners who realize that they too can contribute to the project or related research, helping drive the project's future development.

Introduction: In order to popularize basic biological knowledge and cutting-edge synthetic biology among children and young people, while also inspiring their interest and passion for the subject, BNUZH-China members visited Chunhui Community, Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, on March 2, 2024. The team held a fun, hands-on activity titled "Handmaking Clay Cells: A Parent-Child Activity in Biological Science Popularization." This event attracted over 20 families from the community. Before the activity began, we prepared clay for the children and created a sample cell model for demonstration purposes.

Conduct: During the activity, we first introduced the children to the structure and function of cells, using clear and concise language alongside vivid images. We guided them in exploring the shapes and functions of various organelles, laying a solid foundation for them to create their own cell models. Next, we led the children in shaping the cell's outline, using colored clay to form the membrane and cytoskeleton. As the children worked, a team member provided detailed explanations, guiding them through the process of making organelles. Meanwhile, other team members patrolled the sidelines, monitoring the children’s progress and offering immediate assistance and feedback. Parents were encouraged to participate, making it a collaborative experience. Upon completion of their clay cell models, the children were delighted and proud of their work.

Feedback: Through clear explanations and hands-on demonstrations, this educational activity effectively conveyed the structure and function of cells, along with the morphology and roles of organelles. This intuitive, hands-on approach helped children better grasp abstract biological concepts. In creating cell models, the children developed their practical skills and creativity. This hands-on experience not only deepened their understanding of biological concepts but also improved their problem-solving abilities. By blending education with fun, the children’s interest in biology was sparked, laying a strong foundation for future studies. Moreover, the parent-child interaction and collaborative nature of the activity fostered a spirit of scientific exploration. We look forward to organizing more such events in the future to further promote the popularization and development of science education.

To spark interest in biological research and synthetic biology among participants, BNUZH-China organized a lab open day, integrating professionalism, fun, and safety by hands-on experiencing of making bacteria "glow" and familiarizing attendees with essential lab equipment. 3days after the event, positive feedback highlighted educational gains in both theory and practice; however, there's a call for increased hands-on engagement to further enhance participatory experience.

Introduction: This year, BNUZH-China, in collaboration with Beijing Normal University's Huitong College, organized an on-campus educational activity targeting students. The event included experimental content tailored to different age groups, aiming to introduce the principles of synthetic biology and stimulate student interest.

Conduct: On the day of the event, iGEMers began by introducing the fundamental concepts of synthetic biology to the students. Following this introduction, they demonstrated the operational protocols and the steps involved in the experimental procedures. After the demonstration, the students donned gloves and, under the guidance of the iGEMers, used nutrient agar plates and luminescent bacteria to create vibrant artistic works. The students were highly engaged and actively participated throughout the event.

Feedback: At the conclusion of the event, we received high praise from participants. One student remarked that they had learned a great deal about biological concepts and techniques related to synthetic biology, finding the activity highly valuable. This feedback indicates that the event successfully sparked students' interest in synthetic biology and deepened their understanding. Additionally, we gathered several suggestions for improvement, which we plan to incorporate in future activities to enhance the overall experience.

On April 13, 2024, our team leveraged the Academic and Cultural Festival to introduce iGEM and synthetic biology to the student body.

Through engaging stage presentations and interactive booth games, we simplified complex concepts, fostering curiosity and participation. Using vivid examples and fun challenges, we made the science accessible and enjoyable. Throughout the event, we actively engaged in interactive Q&A sessions with the students to ensure they fully comprehended and assimilated the content. This two-way communication not only deepened their understanding of synthetic biology but also provided valuable insights and feedback for our future teaching efforts. The event garnered positive feedback, with teachers commending the team's professionalism and students reporting a rewarding and enjoyable learning experience.

Introduction: In order to foster in-depth communication and collaboration across disciplines, and to enhance academic dialogue and intellectual exchange between fields, BNUZH-China hosted the second Synthetic Biology Programming Competition. The competition featured programming challenges grounded in synthetic biology, covering multiple areas within the field. It also provided detailed introductions to relevant synthetic biology concepts, aiming to deepen participants' understanding and application of the field.

Conduct: Upon the commencement of the event, participants were fully immersed in reading and solving the competition problems, and the venue maintained an orderly atmosphere. After three hours of intense competition, the event concluded successfully.

Feedback: Following the competition, we interviewed several participants. Many expressed that they had gained new insights into synthetic biology and, for the first time, experienced the appeal of interdisciplinary integration, which brought fresh energy to the field of synthetic biology.

Introduction: In order to effectively popularize synthetic biology among young students, we collaborated with JLU-NBBMS to hold iBSRC (iGEM Biomedical Science Research Course) events on July 26, 2024, and August 8, 2024. The two events were targeted at high school students from across the country and students from Jilin University's Medical College. Through live-streamed lectures, we showcased the specific applications of synthetic biology. These activities attracted over 70 high school students and more than 300 college students.

Conduct: During the live lecture on July 26, we tailored the content to the level of biological knowledge of high school students, focusing on introducing the fundamentals of synthetic biology. With the theme "How to Use Synthetic Biology to Improve the Ecological Environment - Taking Mangroves as an Example," we explained the principles of synthetic biology and its applications in various fields, concluding with a brief introduction to our project.

On August 8, given that the students from Jilin University's Medical College already had a solid understanding of biology, we focused the course on our project. With the theme "In-depth Degradation of Microplastics in Mangrove Soil," we used this year's project as an example to demonstrate the concrete application of synthetic biology.

Feedback: After the two live lectures, students gained a deeper understanding of synthetic biology and an initial awareness of the harm of microplastics to mangroves and the specific applications of synthetic biology. We hope that in the future, there will be more opportunities to bring synthetic biology to the forefront for young students, allowing them to experience its charm, as we did with this event.

With the aim of fostering children's awareness of environmental protection, the BNUZH-China team has joined hands with voluntary teaching teams from Beijing Normal University to embark on a remarkable journey of scientific popularization. Traversing numerous mountainous schools across the country, we have not only promoted educational equity but also ignited the interested and curiosity of primary and secondary school students towards biological sciences.

During the activities, we meticulously crafted interactive sessions, presenting intricate scientific concepts to the children in a lively and engaging manner. Seamlessly integrating the concept of environmental protection into our narratives, we encouraged the children to ponder on how they could contribute to Earth's preservation through their own actions, thereby instilling a sense of responsibility and mission in them. Through a series of vivid and intuitive demonstrations and experiments, the students were able to personally experience the connection between biology and daily life. Additionally, we distributed self-made brochures and cultural and creative gifts as tokens of our endeavor.

During the summer nature education season, in order to effectively popularize the ecological knowledge of mangrove forests and raise public awareness of protecting mangrove forests and other natural resources, BNUZH-China collaborated with the Zhuhai Qi'ao Island Mangrove Nature Reserve to carry out two educational activities. One was for parent-child families, conveying knowledge to children while promoting parent-child interaction; the other was for college students, encouraging them to take practical action to protect mangrove forests.

For parent-child families-Mangrove Guided Tour

On the morning of August 24th, we conducted a mangrove guided tour for parent-child families, with the goal of raising public awareness about mangrove forests and deepening understanding of their ecosystem and significance. Accompanied by staff members, we led families with children on a close observation of common flora and fauna in the mangrove forests. Then, we led the participants in conducting "crab-catching dissuasion patrols." After the event, participants expressed that they had gained significant insights and benefits from the activity. Remarkably, some children even volunteered spontaneously to join the ranks of mangrove conservation volunteers.

By September 30, 2024, we had collected a total of 328 questionnaires in China, with the age distribution as follows. Overall, our survey population was dominated by young people aged 18-25. This group can quickly adapt to new ideas and best represents the potential for domestic understanding of the mangrove situation.

Fig 1. The age of the respondents (The answer to “What is your age range?”)

The regional distribution of our survey population is as follows. Overall, respondents are mainly concentrated in Southern China, but there is distribution across other regions as well, giving the survey a high level of representativeness and credibility.

Fig 2. The area of the respondents (The answer to “Please select the specific area where you live for a long time”)

After characterizing the demographic characteristics of our survey subjects, we further analyzed their overall understanding of mangroves and microplastics. Below is a visualization of the public's knowledge of mangroves. Overall, more than 70% of respondents have a low level of knowledge about mangroves, and only 2.44% have a high level of familiarity with them. This shows that there is still a long way to go in popularizing knowledge about mangroves in our country, which highlights the significance of our project.

Fig 3. Knowledge of mangroves (The answer to “How much do you know about the concept of mangroves?”)

To enhance the credibility of our questionnaire and eliminate other variables, we included a true/false question related to microplastics for respondents. Only 44.21% of respondents answered correctly, indicating the need to raise awareness about microplastics.

Fig 4. Correct and incorrect judgments on the definition of microplastics (The answer to "The general definition of microplastics refers to plastic particles with a diameter of less than 50 mm, is this statement correct?")

Lastly, we included a question to gather opinions on the application prospects of our project. Overall, most respondents believe that our project can alleviate environmental pollution in mangrove ecosystems and promote sustainable development. This demonstrates the practical value of our project to a certain extent.

Fig 5. Project development prospect (The answer to “What is your opinion on the development prospect of the application of mangrove microplastic degradation? (Multiple choice)”)

Through the EDU Cycle, we aim to challenge the notion that "someone else will save the planet" and instead encourage everyone to become involved in environmental protection. By educating people about synthetic biology, we are not only spreading scientific knowledge but also fostering a sense of responsibility. This helps more people focus on mangrove protection and microplastic pollution. Through this cycle, we will achieve the sustainable development of our project, inviting more people to join us in tackling plastic pollution, promoting social understanding of synthetic biology, and ultimately, achieving our goal of changing the world.