In order to effectively and comprehensively share our project and mission, we divided our approach into three key areas: Education, Collaboration, and Communication.
Education focuses on increasing people's knowledge about the topic we are raising awareness of, especially within our community. Collaboration emphasizes how we work with other teams and individuals to learn from each other by spreading our project, sharing ideas, and continuously optimizing our project. Lastly, Communication involves strategies to engage a broader audience globally, ensuring our progress aligns with our overall goals.
Recognizing the lack of public awareness about emotions, our team launched a series of educational initiatives to address this gap. We have conducted activities for various groups to promote emotional awareness and help prevent the escalation of mental health issues. Our objective was to highlight the significance of synthetic biology and the iGEM competition while introducing our project to a broader audience.
On July 20th and 28th, 2024, we hosted 'Open Lab' events, in which high school students from local community schools and neighborhoods participate in a synthetic biology experiment at our university. Throughout the day, we guided approximately 25 students each batch, aged 15 to 18, through a series of experiments using presentation slides and handouts that we had carefully prepared in advance. We divided our tasks to ensure the smooth execution of the event. Specifically, our wet lab team developed the experimental concepts and materials, prepared the lab equipment, and led the students during the experimentation process. The dry lab team explained our current iGEM project to the students and assisted in managing their activities during the experiments. Meanwhile, the human practices team facilitated the students' transportation to the lab, organized lunch and snacks for both the team and the students, and documented the event by capturing photos and videos of key moments.
The 'Open Lab' experiment primarily focused on introducing synthetic biology concepts, specifically amplifying the eGFP gene, ligating it into a TA vector, and transforming the TA-eGFP construct into our competent cells. In addition to synthetic biology, we also emphasize the important role of emotional awareness and the importance of preventing depression, which is related to our project. We believe that educational events like this can help students learn more about the applications of synthetic biology.
▲ Open Lab Events
Our team played a proactive role in the campus campaign, aiming to introduce the iGEM competition and our current project to new university students. Our primary goal was to raise awareness about the iGEM competition and the field of synthetic biology, sparking interest among the incoming students.
During New Student Week on September 2nd-3rd, 2024, we actively engaged with students by presenting our latest project, SERENE. We offered comprehensive explanations about the various roles within our team, including Wet Lab, Dry Lab, and Human Practices, and encouraged students to apply their skills and consider joining us for the upcoming season. Additionally, we promoted our upcoming seminar that will provide even more detailed information for those who are genuinely interested in joining the next team.
Besides that, we organized a 'Free Hug' event to draw students to our booth, creating a welcoming atmosphere and sparking curiosity about our project. By talking directly with the students, we were able to share the exciting opportunities that come with being part of iGEM, both for personal growth and for making a real difference in science.
▲ Campus Campaign
We discovered that many people are not easily aware of their own negative emotions, so on September 11th, 2024, we hosted an emotion awareness seminar at our university in Chiayi, Taiwan. We invited psychologist Min-Xiang Zhang to serve as the lecturer. The content of the lecture mainly focused on understanding and awareness of one's own emotions and how to resolve negative emotions.
The psychologist displayed some pictures during the presentation, and when viewed from different angles, the images revealed different aspects. This suggests that when facing pressure or negative emotions, we need to learn how to view things from various perspectives, find good news even in bad situations, and try to think positively and proactively.
Another interesting aspect of the seminar was that it wasn't just a lecture; it was interactive, allowing students to ask questions and reflect on their own emotional experiences. The lecturer asked everyone to anonymously write down the stress we are currently facing and how we cope with it. Through this process, we could better understand how others manage their negative emotions and learn to try different methods to resolve them. Exploring various approaches and finding what resonates can help manage and alleviate negative emotions more effectively.
In addition, the lecturer invited some volunteers to come on stage, draw an emotion card, and use body language to let the audience guess the emotion. The performers were not allowed to speak during the process. While guessing, the lecturer guided us to first determine whether the emotion was positive or negative, as well as its intensity. Some emotions are easy to guess, while others are more difficult due to the wide range of emotions. Some answers might not be emotions we commonly recognize or are familiar with. Therefore, this activity also helped everyone become more acquainted with a broader range of emotions.
After the seminar, we also provided a simple questionnaire for the audience to complete, which asked about their ability to recognize their emotions after attending the session. The results showed that everyone is better able to identify and detect their own emotions. The average score of pre-test is 2.71, and the average score of post-test 4.41, so there was an average 60% improvement in participants' emotional awareness (Figure 1). Additionally, according to the feedback forms, everyone found the seminar more interesting than expected, gained a lot from it, and developed a deeper understanding of emotions. Seeing these results, we can tell that every student can learn to manage their emotions more effectively, allowing them to maintain a healthy balance between their studies and personal lives.
▲ The graph of Pre- and Post-Tests for the Emotion Awareness Seminar (Figure 1)
▲ Emotion Awareness Seminar
Collaboration is key to how we engage with other teams and individuals, enabling shared learning and project improvement. We participated in the Taiwan iGEM Meetup, held online meetings with teams, and exchanged ideas through gestures like sending postcards and cup sleeves. These efforts fostered meaningful connections and helped us continuously optimize our project through diverse insights and feedback.
On August 24th-25th, 2024, we had the opportunity to co-organize the annual Taiwan iGEM Meetup, with the Taipei-KCISLK-V2 iGEM team as the main organizer and the NTU-Taiwan iGEM team as another co-organizer. This gathering brought together numerous iGEM teams from across Taiwan, fostering the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and visions.
(https://community.igem.org/events/meetups)
During the event, we had the invaluable opportunity to rehearse our presentations in front of experienced iGEM judges, scientists, and other teams. The Q&A session following our presentation helped us hone our ability to respond to judges' questions, ensuring we are better prepared for the judging session at the Jamboree. The questions, feedback, and insights provided by the judges were instrumental in refining our project. They noted that our presentation style was lively and that the core message, along with the intended deliverables, was relatively clear. However, they suggested that we provide more detailed information about the app and its integration with the project during the presentation. During the mini judging session, the judges also inquired about the dosage of 5-HTP, making us aware of potential questions that might arise in the future. This feedback motivated us to further improve in preparation for the jamboree.
On the second day, we had the opportunity to consult with Professor Hsuan-Cheng Wu, of the Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University and Research Fellow Nanshi Liao, of Academia Sinica. They provided us with valuable advice on enhancing our project and improving our preparation for upcoming events. They recommended that we include more comprehensive data, particularly experimental results, in our presentation and wiki. Additionally, they suggested that we emphasize the connection between the app and the beverage to create a more cohesive project.
Beyond presenting and consulting on our project, we also engaged in discussions with other teams, exchanging thoughts and ideas. This experience allowed us to better understand our project's strengths and weaknesses, guiding us on what to maintain and what to improve. It was a truly enlightening experience for our team. Additionally, we were thrilled to be selected as the 'Best TGEMer' at this event. This award, based on our presentation's content and delivery, was an unexpected and deeply gratifying moment for our team.
Lastly, we wish to express our sincere appreciation to Kang Chiao International School, Linkou Campus, for generously providing the venue for this wonderful and insightful event. Their support ensured that we could successfully organize and benefit from this meetup.
▲ The TGEM Meetup
Through online platforms, we engaged in detailed project storyline presentations with various iGEM teams, including those from Taiwan, such as the CSMU x NCHU iGEM team and the NYCU Formosa iGEM team, as well as international teams, like the HKUST iGEM team from Hong Kong. Although our projects differed in scope and focus, we eagerly shared creative ideas and exchanged valuable insights. This collaborative environment not only fostered a deeper understanding of each other's work but also enabled us to offer and receive constructive feedback. The discussions helped us see new perspectives and gave us useful suggestions on how to improve our work.
▲ CSMU x NCHU iGEM team
▲ NYCU Formosa iGEM team
▲ HKUST iGEM team
We collaborated with other iGEM teams in a postcard campaign organized by the Taipei-KCISLK-V2 iGEM team. As part of this initiative, we designed our own postcard, which highlighted our project and its connection to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With the support of other teams, we translated the postcard into multiple languages, utilizing our team members' language skills to translate postcards from all participating teams as well. Each postcard included a brief description of our mission, along with scannable barcodes that linked directly to our social media platforms (as shown in the image below) for more information.
▲ The concept promotional postcards from our team
In addition to distributing the postcards locally, we also sent them to friends and contacts in various countries, including Hong Kong, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. By sending these postcards internationally, we aim to broaden awareness of our project and encourage people to explore our social media for further updates and details.
▲ Indonesia
▲ Hong Kong
▲ Malaysia
In Taiwan, daily beverage consumption is a common habit. Based on this, we decided to design our own cup sleeve with our logo printed on it. We believe this will serve as a unique and appealing souvenir for foreigners, as such items are not very common in other countries. We also distributed these cup sleeves to the public as a way to promote our project.
▲ The cup sleeves designed by our team
To expand the reach of our project and make it more visible to a broader audience, our team utilized various methods. By sharing insights into our team and objectives, we aim to capture the attention of both online and local communities and raise awareness of our mission. This integrated approach ensures that our project reaches a wide and diverse audience, making a meaningful impact on their understanding of emotional awareness.
Based on the data from Taiwan's National Development Council, Taiwan is expected to become a super-aged society by 2025, with the population aged 65 and above accounting for more than 20% of the total population (Taiwan National Development Council, 2023). Notably, Chiayi County, where National Chung Cheng University is located, has held the title of the most severely aging county in Taiwan since 2017 (Chiayi County Government, 2022).
As people age, their bodily functions gradually decline, leading to a higher risk of various diseases and even disability. This, coupled with the accumulation of various life changes over time—such as the loss of a spouse, family upheaval, changes in social roles, and lack of social support—can cause emotional maladjustment in the elderly, potentially resulting in mental health issues like depression (National Library of Medicine, 2005).
Furthermore, in Chiayi, where youth population outmigration is severe, the elderly often live alone and lack social connections, which increases the likelihood of depression. The deterioration of physical health can further lead to emotional problems, and emotional issues can cause the elderly to become reclusive, unwilling to participate in social activities, thereby exacerbating their physical health decline. According to studies, exercise and community activities significantly can not only improve the satisfaction and mental health of the elderly, but also are associated with the risk of having depression (Airiti Library, 2012).
Therefore, we organized health promotion activities in the community called “Elderly Mental Health Promotion and Recreational Activities”, encouraging the elderly to engage in more physical activities and social interactions. This approach aims to improve their health, foster positive interpersonal relationships, and ultimately reduce the incidence of depressive emotions.
On August 31st, 2024, our team visited Sanxing Village Activity Center to organize a Elderly Mental Health Promotion and Recreational Activities for the local elderly. We invited a physical therapist, Mr. Cang-Hua Wu, to guide the participants in exercising correctly. The session began with a warm-up, followed by a morning exercise led by the therapist, set to music that was familiar to the elderly. They were excited and enthusiastic, eagerly following the therapist’s movements. After the main exercise, we introduced a stretching routine using resistance bands, which is beneficial for the back muscles, helping people to be more flexible and reduce the injuries that may be caused by falls or injuries.
Once all the activities were completed, we asked the elderly if they felt happier. Most of them responded with enthusiasm, expressing that they were happy and had thoroughly enjoyed the event. Hearing their positive feedback made us very happy and satisfied. Finally, we wrapped up the day with our 'Free Hug' event and took a group picture to capture the occasion.
▲ Elderly Mental Health Promotion and Recreational Activities
To spread happiness and boost people's moods, we organized 'Free Hug' events at various locations across Taiwan, including the Culture Night Market—one of the famous night markets in Chiayi, Taiwan—and during every event or activity we hosted. At the Culture Night Market, the majority of those willing to receive a hug were teenagers and children. To gather data on people's feelings after receiving a hug, we conducted a survey using a board divided into two sections: one with a happy face and the other with a sad face. Participants placed stickers on the section that best represented their feelings after the hug. The results showed that most people placed their stickers on the happy face, indicating they felt happier afterward.
In addition to the free hugs and street survey, we provided a QR code linking to a questionnaire designed to assess the public's understanding of their own emotions. After collecting responses from many participants, we discovered that teenagers were the group most likely to struggle with understanding their emotions. On the positive side, many of them expressed a willingness and interest in learning more about our project aimed at alleviating negative emotions. This response reinforced our commitment to continuing our project and organizing events related to emotion awareness.
During the event, a news reporter took an interest in our activities and approached us for an interview. One of our team members was interviewed and had the opportunity to explain our project and mission in detail. A few days later, our event was featured on the news platform United Daily News, along with additional coverage on their social media channels. This was an exciting moment for us, as it provided exactly the kind of exposure we were hoping for, helping us reach a broader audience and expand the impact of our project.
(https://udn.com/news/story/6928/8142526?from=udn-catelistnews_ch2)
▲ Our Free Hug event was featured on the United Daily News
▲ Culture Night Market
▲ Elderly Activity
▲ Taiwan iGEM Meetup
▲ International Students
To reach a broader audience beyond schools, we decided to upload educational content about emotion awareness on various social media platforms. Our team managed platforms like Facebook (CCU Taiwan iGEM team) and Instagram (@ccuigem), where we posted pictures and videos to help our followers learn about iGEM and the connection between synthetic biology and various aspects of daily life. Additionally, we regularly shared updates on our daily activities, showcasing our preparation for the competition and our efforts in organizing events to achieve our project's goals.
Through educational initiatives, collaborative projects, and creative communication strategies, we successfully introduced important concepts to a wide audience, ranging from high school students to university peers and the broader public. Overall, we believe our team's efforts in promoting emotional awareness and synthetic biology have made a significant and lasting impact on the communities we engaged with. The positive responses and increased understanding we've observed reinforce the value of our work, and we are proud of the difference we've made. This impact is something we are deeply committed to sustaining and building upon as we continue our efforts in the future.