Our project aims to treat Type 1 diabetes through innovative synthetic biology methods. We plan to raise public awareness of Type 1 diabetes and synthetic biology through a series of public engagement activities.Utilizing various channels such as social media, community events, school collaborations, and public exhibitions, we ensure widespread dissemination and in-depth understanding of the information.

To promote the popularization of synthetic biology and the iGEM project, we have established a WeChat public account aimed at drawing more attention to this field. We have also set up accounts on Twitter, TikTok, and other platforms, but our main focus for promotion remains on the WeChat platform.

As a daily communication app for many people, it can meet our promotional objectives, allowing a large number of people, regardless of whether they are familiar with this field, to understand and participate in it. Through this platform, we have shared the team's research progress, project outcomes, and the latest trends in synthetic biology. We have not only published detailed information about our project "Glycemic stabilizer" but also provided popular science articles that make it easy for non-professionals to understand the complex concepts of synthetic biology.

Our public account has attracted a wide range of followers, including students, teachers, researchers, and the general public interested in synthetic biology. Through interaction and feedback, we have gathered many valuable opinions and ideas, which are crucial for the development of our project.

Our promotional focus is not only on iGEM and our project, but also on promoting synthetic biology. We hope that more and more people will join the field of synthetic biology, combining nature with engineering to explore the unknown possibilities.

In our social public engagement efforts, we have chosen the Weibo platform, as it has become an important tool for the study and growth of many teenagers. We have created a Weibo public account aimed at spreading and promoting the knowledge of synthetic biology and the iGEM project to the younger generation through this vibrant community. We have published educational videos, animations, and interactive live broadcasts, attracting the attention of teenagers and stimulating their interest and curiosity in science.

Through the influence of the Weibo platform, we have expanded the social impact of our project. We have established a positive community that encourages young scientists and students to participate in discussions and project collaborations. We have also organized online interactive activities such as Q&A sessions, discussions, as well as contests to increase audience engagement, and regularly post updates on project progress, allowing the audience to feel the timeliness and urgency of scientific research work.

To help everyone understand our project, we adopted a combination of online and offline methods for project promotion.

Offline, we collaborated with other universities to introduce our project through lectures and seminars, meticulously preparing the content to ensure accuracy and attraction, while encouraging live interaction to enhance engagement and understanding.

Figure4.Lectures and seminars

Online, we uploaded  videos introducing the project, detailing the background, objectives, progress and expected outcomes of the project. These videos were not only posted on our social media platforms but also shared with a broader audience through email and online forums, enhancing public awareness of synthetic biology and the iGEM project. Through the dual approach of online and offline promotion, we established cooperative relationships with other universities, expanded our channels of communication, and collected a wealth of feedback, yielding a bountiful harvest.

Figure5.Online videos

We designed and distributed two surveys to collect insights into different groups' awareness of synthetic biology and Type 1 diabetes. The first survey was targeted at junior and senior high school students, focusing on their exposure to biological experiments and related fields. The second questionnaire was distributed to patients with Type I diabetes. We are not only concerned about their physical condition but also pay more attention to their mental health.

Q：If you were to participate in an online training course on synthetic biology, what topics would you be interested in? 1) ·Gene editing techniques
2) ·Fundamentals of bioinformatics
3) ·Applications of synthetic biology in medicine
4) ·Environmental biotechnology  

Q:What experiments have you participated in or been exposed to during the middle and high school stages?
1) ·Observation of plant cell structure
2) ·Chemical titration experiments
3) ·Simple circuit connection experiments
4) ·Plant tissue culture
5) ·Microorganism culture and observation
6) ·Simple DNA extraction experiments  
In summary, the experimental experience of freshman students in senior high school is limited, and there is a significant gap.  

  Q:Desired laboratory experience:
a)Analyze animal anatomy and observe animal behavior.
b)Culture tissue cells, bacteria (including pathogenic bacteria), and plants.
c)Use instruments such as the electron microscope.
d)Employ experimental methods such as the excision and transfer of eukaryotic introns to prokaryotes; PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction).
e) Engage in thinking and training exercises.  

Q：How much did you know about Type I diabetes before? Have you learned more about it after today?
Before the lecture, 5 out of 28 students had a detailed understanding of Type I diabetes; 9 out of 28 students had some understanding of Type I diabetes; and 14 out of 28 students had no understanding at all. After the lecture, all students gained a deeper understanding of it. This indicates that our lecture had a positive educational impact.  

Q:Have you learned about synthetic biology before? Do you know anything more about it after today?  Before our lecture, only one student was familiar with synthetic biology; three students had a basic understanding, and the rest had no awareness of synthetic biology. After the lecture, all students gained a deeper understanding of synthetic biology. This demonstrates that our lecture significantly contributed to the popularization of the concept of synthetic biology.  

Q:As potential users of the project, what are your most urgent needs? Most students have chosen options that emphasized high application safety, widespread therapeutic availability, and improved cure rates and effects. It is clear that there is an urgent hope for this project to assist in the treatment of patients with Type I diabetes.  

Q:What real-world issues do you hope iGEMers will pay more attention to? Among the 28 students, most have chosen the medical field, while the number of people in other fields is relatively even, indicating that they are more concerned about human health and life safety.  

Q：What do you think the main factors currently restricting synthetic biology technology are? Among them, more than 80% of the students identified the inability to ensure biosafety, and 50% cited the lack of media promotion, insufficient public understanding, and high costs as concerns. From the current students' perspective, their understanding of synthetic biology technology is not comprehensive. However, through our explanations and introductions, most students have expressed optimism about the future prospects of synthetic biology technology.  

Q：Do you have any particular interest in biology and its related fields? If so, what is it? Students are fascinated by many areas and have developed a strong interest. Through data collection, we find that more students have chosen fields related to human health, such as genetic doctors, and many students are also interested in the ecological environment.

Q:Did you have any understanding of diabetes before？ In our survey of 20 Type I diabetes patients and their families, including  pediatric patients, family members of pediatric patients, and adult patients, we found that 10 of the patients or family members had some understanding of diabetes before their diagnosis, which included basic knowledge such as the need for insulin injections and dietary control. However, 5 patients indicated that their understanding of diabetes was very limited and that they only gained relevant information after being diagnosed. The remaining 5 patients stated that they were almost completely unaware of diabetes, and the diagnosis came as a complete accident to them.  

  Q:How did you feel when you were diagnosed with diabetes, and did you feel anxious? In the survey, we found the specific distribution of feelings as follows: 12 patients reported feeling anxious at the time of diagnosis, of which 5 were children and 7 were adults. Four parents said they were very worried, especially about their children's long-term health and quality of life. Two other adult patients said they were confused at the time of their diagnosis because they knew little about diabetes.  

Q：What kind of treatment did you come into contact with and how effective did you feel? We found that they had been exposed to various therapies. Among them, 13 patients received insulin injections, with most considering this an effective method for controlling blood sugar levels. Two patients tried continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (insulin pumps) and generally felt that this therapy was more convenient and provided more stable blood sugar control. Additionally, one patient participated in new clinical trials and were cautiously optimistic about the effects of the therapy.  

  Q:Have your attitudes changed after a period of treatment? We found that 11 of them experienced a significant change in their attitudes after a period of treatment. They transitioned from initial shock and denial to acceptance and active confrontation with the disease. Three patients reported little change in their attitudes, still feeling anxious and worried. Another 2 patients stated that although they have adapted to the disease, they still sometimes feel frustrated and helpless.Therefore, focusing on the mental health of patients is a long and arduous task, and we still need to continue to strive to help patients overcome psychological barriers.