Communicating our research and inspiring the public and the next generation was one of the best parts of the iGEM competition. We knew that with obesity being rather controversial and esoteric in the field of synthetic biology, it would be up to us to educate students and the public alike on the dangers of obesity, as well as how SynBio can be used properly and safely to tackle this issue. We were ecstatic to promote this field of research as well as the iGEM competition.
We tried to adapt our teaching and learning material and methods to different stakeholders. Certainly one of the most important would be future scientists! We held two different hands-on lab workshops and talks for both university and high school students interested in the topic at hand, hopefully igniting their passion and improving their knowledge towards the capabilities of SynBio. We joined conferences and collaborated with other iGEM teams, sharing knowledge and inspiring each other with our ideas. We created educational tools for our activities, such as booklets and age-appropriate lab manuals on SynBio and obesity, or preparing probiotics and agar plates for young students to grow their own bacteria.
At the same time, our efforts with many different stakeholders in SynBio, from industry leaders to researchers and bioethics experts made us realised we must also communicate with those who are not necessarily interested in science, but will also be important stakeholders in the future development of synthetic biology - from policy makers, to businessmen, to world leaders. We reached out to a group of young people who did not necessarily have a science background, and created iGEM X MUN, a 2-day initiative for students aged 11-18 to debate the use of obesity drugs and ethics surrounding SynBio. We educated the students on different aspects of SynBio throughout the activity, and they surprised us with fiery debates and innovative resolutions. We also spread awareness through an Instagram promotion campaign, where we introduced our projects and its implications in a fun and visually appealing way.
We were thus able to communicate our project and foster dialogue on synthetic biology with other iGEM teams, high school students of different backgrounds, and even with the general public. Through the process, we were hopefully able to educate and inspire different communities, with both our team and our participants gaining much from the process.
(created in BioRender.com)
Below is a comprehensive list and explanation of our Education efforts.
Hong Kong-Macau iGEM Symposium
Date: 5th August, 2024
Time: full day
Venue: The University of Hong Kong
In the symposium, collegiate and high school iGEM teams were invited to showcase our innovative projects. Each team presented their unique research, which sparked lively discussions and feedback from the audience and the guest speaker, Dr. Helen Ma, which enriched our understanding of synthetic biology. The event also promoted a collaborative atmosphere as we mingled and exchanged ideas during our poster-sharing sessions. Overall, the symposium was a fruitful opportunity for all participants to not only appreciate each team but to also enable us to share our experiences and build a stronger community.
PowerPoint prepared:
Academic Counselling
IDEAS DURING DEVELOPMENT:
- How should we present our project in a way that is engaging but also understandable; and explain not only the theoretical parts of our project but also its real-world applications well?
- How can we “pass on the torch” of the iGEM experience amongst our juniors and spark interest towards research and SynBio?
Date: 13th August, 2024
Time: 11:00
Venue: Choh-Ming Li Basic Medical Sciences Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Academic counselling is an event held to prepare freshmen for their new life in University, where student and professor representatives from each department would give an overview of activities and coursework. For our school, we have professionals from different fields sharing their expertise and achievements, providing students with a basic understanding of the trends in the biomedical sciences.
This year, we were given the opportunity to introduce iGEM as an extracurricular activity. We sought to educate our audience on the concepts of synthetic biology and the inspiration behind our project. Academic counselling served as an platform to introduce iGEM and synthetic biology to the incoming freshmen, fostering their interest and setting the stage for their future engagement in these exciting areas of study and research.
PowerPoint prepared:
Collaboration with High School (HKSSC) iGEM Team
IDEAS DURING DEVELOPMENT:
- Can we help high school iGEM teams with less expertise during their project development from our own experiences?
Date: 22nd August, 2024
Time: 21:00
Venue: Zoom
In late August, we met up with the high school HKSSC team to share ideas about our project, which both used RNAi technology. We discussed our ideas on the feasibility of using exosomes as a delivery vehicle, the possible advantage and pitfalls of using other delivery methods, and the timeframe to achieve the results needed. It was a valuable experience for both teams: gaining more insights into different uses of miRNA technology, and the high school team gaining a look into the practicality of using exosome delivery for their project.
CU @ Lab: High School Lab Workshop
IDEAS DURING DEVELOPMENT:
- What experiments would be interesting for young students to conduct, and at the same time increase understanding towards SynBio?
- How can we explain difficult concepts in SynBio to younger students?
Date: 27th August, 2024
Time: afternoon
Venue: Choh-Ming Li Basic Medical Sciences Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
In the workshop, We emphasized the critical role and applications of DNA extraction in scientific inquiry to our participants from various educational backgrounds across Hong Kong.
Before diving into the hands-on activities, students received a lab safety briefing. This hands-on experience was not only educational but also allowed them to immerse themselves in the practical aspects of laboratory work. After the lab activities, we conducted a debriefing session, offering tips for improvement. Afterall, this workshop proved to be a memorable experiential learning experience, enhancing their understanding of research and synthetic biology while allowing them the opportunity to meet and connect with other likeminded and enthusiastic peers.
PowerPoint prepared:
iGEM x MUN 2024
IDEAS DURING DEVELOPMENT:
- How should we raise awareness of the use of synthetic biology amongst students with a humanities background/without a background in biology?
- How can we arouse interesting ethical discussions & guide students to independently conduct research on SynBio and the use of obesity drugs?
- Can we help students develop a global perspective on the use of SynBio in a fun and engaging way (i.e. not only spoonfeeding?)
*Guests of Honour: Dr Ann Lau, Prof. Vincent Cheung*
The event kicked off with an inspiring opening ceremony featuring Prof. Vincent Cheung, a renowned neuroscientist from the Chinese University of Hong Kong's School of Biomedical Sciences, who shared his insights on the ethical dimensions and future potential of synthetic biology in biotechnology. His address set the tone for the conference, encouraging participants to think critically about the transformative power of scientific innovation.
The event culminated in a closing ceremony led by Dr. Ann Lau, a prominent figure in bioethics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong's School of Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Lau addressed the ethical dilemmas surrounding synthetic biology, urging participants to consider the broader societal impacts of their work. She encouraged those without a biological background to explore the field of biotechnology, emphasizing that diverse perspectives are vital for shaping the future of science and ethics. We also took the opportunity at the closing ceremony to introduce our iGEM project, enabling participants to realize the real-world research being conducted using SynBio to solve global health problems here and now.
Date: 31st August to 1st September, 2024
Time: full days
Venue: Lo Kwee-Seong Integrated Biomedical Sciences Building, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
The iGEM x MUN conference was a dynamic event that convened 40 participants over two full days to delve into pressing issues at the intersection of synthetic biology and public health. This conference provided a unique platform for students to engage in discussions and debates, collaborate on resolutions regarding the regulation of synthetic biology and the use of obesity drugs. Before the conference, participants had to conduct independent research on their assigned topics:
Topic 1: Challenges Concerning Obesity and the Use of Anti-Obesity Medication
Topic 2: Regulating the Use of Synthetic Biology in Tackling Global Health Issues
And submit a position paper or chair report to facilitate their understanding towards the topics at hand.
Throughout the two days, delegates and chairs alike engaged in deep discussions and debated the benefits and risks associated with obesity drugs as well as developments in SynBio, considering whether their use should be permitted worldwide. Us iGEM team members played a crucial role in enhancing the participants' understanding of synthetic biology, as we conducted mini-lectures throughout the conference; clarifying the distinctions between synthetic biology and gene editing or including the four pillars of bioethic, equipping participants with the tools to engage more effectively in the conference discussions. As the conference progressed, delegates collaborated to draft resolutions inspired the debates to solve these pressing problems across the globe.
Delegate book prepared:
Chair Report & Position papers:
Microbial Magic: DMHCSM School Visit
IDEAS DURING DEVELOPMENT:
- How can we introduce our project in a fun but understandable way?
- What would be a good hands-on experience for students with a background in biology to increase their understanding of SynBio and our project?
- How can we widen the horizons of high schoolers towards their future career development?
Date: 27th September, 2024
Time: afternoon
Venue: Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Siu Ming Catholic Secondary School
The event “Microbial Magic” was held in September, targeting senior high school students at DMHC Siu Ming Catholic Secondary School (the alma mater of team leader) who were studying biology and showed interest in biotechnology. Students had the chance to grow their own lactobacillus using the popular Japanese probiotic milk beverage Yakult using proper aseptic and streaking techniques, heavily used in our project, with all equipment prepared by the team. Each student was able to keep their own plates and observe the growth of lactobacillus over several days. Our team also held a SynBio career talk to allow students to gain insight into possible careers in biomedicine and biotech, and hopefully widen their horizons. The post-activity survey showed a significant increase in understanding of SynBio, aseptic techniques, and probiotics, as well as increased interest in the subject as a whole.
Proposal and protocol prepared:
PowerPoint prepared:
Post-activity survey:
Social Media (Instagram @igem.cuhksbs)
IDEAS DURING DEVELOPMENT:
- How can we spark interest and raise awareness towards SynBio as well as obesity amongst our peers and also the general public?
- How can we present this information and ideas in a simple yet engaging way?
