On our Integrated Human Practice page, you will find a comprehensive account of iGEM Team BUCT-China 2024's journey in advancing MicroDetect. This includes detailed interactions with individuals from diverse backgrounds and levels, insights from the practical process, and the team's considerations of the values of various stakeholders, as well as feedback-based adjustments made at different stages of MicroDetect's technological experimentation.

BUCT-China 2024's primary focus is on addressing the critical question: how can we achieve accurate, rapid, efficient, simple, convenient, and affordable diagnosis of complex diseases that currently lack reliable methods for timely diagnosis? Through extensive brainstorming sessions with the entire Human Practices team, we identified a series of stakeholders relevant to this issue. Throughout this year's journey of exploration, we actively engaged all stakeholders, encouraging their participation and fostering close connections with MicroDetect.Together, we explored the potential and importance of MicroDetect, its feasibility, and gained a deep understanding of their values, needs, unique perspectives on the problem, and the potential impact of MicroDetect on their respective domains.

Inspired by iGEM TU Eindhoven 2022, we first applied the Mendelow Matrix to assess each stakeholder's priority and relevance on the axes of influence and interest. This helped us clearly understand their level of involvement, motivations, contributions, the broader groups they represent, and their interrelationships. Next, we adopted the stakeholder categorization method used by iGEM TU Eindhoven 2023, classifying them into six sectors based on their professional backgrounds: SCIENCE/academic research, HEALTH/medical care, EDUCATION/teachers and students, BUSINESS & INDUSTRY, PUBLIC & COMMUNITY/ safety and sustainability, and REGULATION/ethics and law.Together, we explored how to translate their value needs into the project and collected valuable input based on their expertise. This enabled us tobuild a value flow for the project model and adjust our strategies in a timely manner.

Undeniably, a feedback mechanism is crucial for the growth and success of any startup project. If we do not understand how people perceive the operations or products involved in MicroDetect, it will be challenging to develop in ways that are meaningful to our audience.[1]

“Providing true value to all stakeholders is key.” —— Sid Mohasseb

The timeline below showcases all the significant events in BUCT-China 2024's journey to complete MicroDetect, fully reflecting our diverse and rich interactions with various stakeholders. We have inherited and further enhanced the narrative model of "WHW" from BUCT-China 2023. On the left side of the timeline, we focus more on "Hearing From The World," exploring the two main questions: "WHY we decided to start this year’s journey" and "How did we achieve our goals." On the right side of the timeline, we lean towards "Giving To The World," highlighting "WHAT we can contribute to society and the world." We know that competitiveness in the new world of constant flux is only achieved by redefining our approach and shifting our focus from outcomes to evolving reasons, motivations and causes for decisions and actions. We must restore our perspective on delivering true value to all stakeholders and approach tomorrow with an open canvas for change.[2]

BUCT-China 2024 strives to listen to the world, amplifying the voices of the people and engaging with the real environmental situation. At the same time, we have received positive feedback, which has motivated us to continue our work in this field and highlighted areas where MicroDetect can be improved and enhanced. Throughout this year, we have taken to various stages, conducting activities targeted at different audiences with diverse themes. We have made every effort to promote the core concept of "precision medicine" and the emerging molecular diagnostic technologies, leaving a lasting impact on the public and imparting the unique values of science, inclusivity, innovation, and health associated with iGEM and the diagnostic village. Finally, we have reflected on whether our project and research approach are beneficial and responsible to the world, aiming to create a complete feedback loop.

“I just live by the ABCs: Adventurous, Brave, Creative.” —— The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

[1] How To Build A Strong Feedback Loop For Your Tech Startup. Accessed September 16, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2024/09/16/how-to-build-a-strong-feedback-loop-for-your-tech-startup/

[2] Why Harmonizing Stakeholder Interests Is Key In Business Today. Accessed August 1, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/08/01/why-harmonizing-stakeholder-interests-is-key-in-business-today/

[3] Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024 Apr 4. doi: 10.3322/caac.21834.