Our Motivation
In a time when the proliferation of insect pests is accelerated by climate change and continued urbanization, innovative and effective solutions are in urgent demand. With the recent resurgence of dengue cases in tropical regions like our home country of Taiwan, we wanted a creative solution to tackle this issue.
Our project started with the vague idea of using optically pure L-borneol to replace DEET, a troublesome (causes allergies; is neurotoxic, non-biodegradable, and damages materials) but currently irreplaceably active ingredient in traditional insect repellents. Some continued ideations and many consultations with experts later, our project, BOROHMA, evolved into its current form: a personalized platform that allows users to customize their very own L-borneol-based insect repellent fragrance using AroMatch, our specially designed fragrance quiz. By making BOROHMA a fragrance-based product, we hope to create an inclusive product that interests both insect-repellent buyers and fragrance enthusiasts alike.
As we continued to learn and evolve together with BOROHMA, we knew we wanted to focus our attention on making BOROHMA a sustainable product that is accessible to all; and as a product that is unique in the current market, we wanted to make sure we communicated our motivations well and formulated a tailored go-to-market plan. With all of this in mind, our human practice efforts focused on Inclusivity, Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, and Education.
Inclusivity
Our team is inspired by the experiences of loved ones who face challenges that prevent them from using repellent or fragrance-based products. With BOROHMA, we strive to bridge the gap for demographics whose conditions limit their ability to use both types of products. Our team decided to approach this by gathering inclusivity-related information from experts and general populations alike and thoughtfully incorporating them into our product; the result is BOROHMA, a platform that creates personalized insect-repellent fragrances through our custom user-facing quiz, AROMATCH. Not only is our product friendly to people with fragrance and alcohol allergies, but our hardware, AroFuse, is also designed to be friendly to people with muscle weakness.
Visit our Inclusivity page for more details.
Sustainable Development Impact
Understanding the long and significant history of camphor in 20th-century Taiwan, we wanted our product to honor that tradition; however, we understand that Taiwan’s camphor past is that of overharvesting and environmental exploitation, so we wanted our product to be sustainably produced, and as environmentally friendly as possible. Modern synthetic camphor and borneol production uses finite resources and requires energy-intensive processes. As a response, BOROHMA uses fermentation and a specially designed minicell release system, which are more energy-efficient processes that use renewable resources, to produce optically pure L-borneol.
Visit our Sustainable Development Impact page for more details.
Education
For centuries, camphor trees and borneol have been vital to Taiwan’s economy and culture, valued for their medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine and repellence properties in insect repellents. However, many younger generations are disconnected and unaware of borneol’s historical and medicinal significance. We highlight Camphor’s past importance and promote borneol as a natural alternative to chemical repellents like DEET by creating educational workshops, social media posts, and historical narratives. Our team aims to reconnect Taiwanese youth with their heritage while showcasing the potential of traditional resources for modern solutions.
Visit our Education page for more details.
Entrepreneurship
To ensure BOROHMA’s successful integration into the market, we developed a tailored entrepreneurship plan that leverages our unique value proposition: a customizable, natural insect repellent that appeals to fashion-conscious individuals, outdoor enthusiasts, and families, especially those with sensitive skin or allergies. Combining expert advice and market analysis through surveys and interviews with dermatologists and business founders, we refined our product to meet both practical pest control needs and personal fragrance preferences, while ensuring compliance with ethical and international regulations. Our eco-friendly hardware, AroFuse, enhances accessibility and user experience, positioning BOROHMA as an inclusive, safe, and effective solution for a diverse range of consumers.
Visit our Entrepreneurship page for more details.
Public Opinion Survey
Overview
Although the insect pest issue is a well-researched topic, much of the available data only focuses on the harm that they cause en masse. While these studies are useful for planning for public mosquito prevention, they fail to account for consumer opinions. For instance, there is little data on how consumers feel about the stickiness of common repellents and how that affects daily utilization. Understanding consumer pain points is vital during our planning as we hope to produce a unique product that overcomes the shortfalls of modern repellents. We crafted a survey to probe the public on how well repellents serve them, and how open they are to novel repellent products such as ours. This survey was a google form dispersed through hiking clubs and other social media platforms. What we found out was that most people are unsatisfied with current repellents, mostly unaware of what is inside their repellents, and are open to a new product that implements both fragrance and repellency.
Demographic & General Awareness
Our survey was distributed via social media and hiking clubs. This resulted in a distribution of 41.6% of respondents being middle-aged (40-59), and 32.1% being adolescents (0-19) (according to Figure 1.1). 87.4% of respondents considered mosquitoes to be a problem (according to Figure 1.2). This indicates that we are focusing on an issue that impacts a diverse range of people.
Figure 1.1
Figure 1.2
DEET Awareness
Our data also showed that people are not aware of the active ingredient of common repellents DEET, 53.3% of respondents don't know what DEET is and 31.2% have only heard of it but are unaware of its effects (according to Figure 1.3). Due to the side effects of DEET, this knowledge is important to consider when taking preventive measures. In response to this data, we started spreading awareness through youth educational workshops to help guide the future generation’s understanding of health-related issues.
Visit our Education page for more details.
Figure 1.3
Public opinion on repellent characteristics
Furthermore, our data also indicates that the majority of users, 75.1% of respondents, were discouraged from using current repellents due to their stickiness (figure 1.4). Alongside this, ⅓ of respondents, 50% more than those who are satisfied, also indicated dissatisfaction with the current scents of mosquito repellents (figure 1.5) It is evident that there is a realistic deficit of user satisfaction in a repellent market.
Figure 1.4
Figure 1.5
Suggested Improvements to be made on repellents
Since our product incorporates both repellency and fragrance to create an insect-repellent fragrance, there is very little available market data on similar products, so we used the survey to gauge the reception of BOROHMA. Most respondents, 69.8%, were interested in a repellent/fragrance product (Figure 1.6). This indicates that there is a market to grow into for BOROHMA. To better understand what scents our survey demographics like in their fragrances, we provided 4 categories of scents for respondents to choose from (Figure 1.7). Our data showed that consumer preferences were spread out, so we were motivated to bring fragrance customization through a quiz to suit their needs (Do AroMatch now!)
Figure 1.6
Figure 1.7
Human Practices Timelines
The IHP Timeline illustrates the progression of our team’s journey as we develop a natural mosquito repellent with a focus on inclusivity, wet lab advisory, education, and entrepreneurship. From engaging with industry experts to conducting educational workshops for children, each filter showcases our dedication to innovation and community involvement. Key milestones include interviews with professionals in the fragrance and dermatology fields, hands-on workshops with kindergarteners, and critical discussions around product development with our wet lab and inclusivity for individuals with sensitive skin conditions.
Interactive timeline - All Categories
Scroll down to view all of our human practice activities.
June 13th
Jsoaper
Interview
We had our first interview soon after establishing a project direction. Our interview with Jane Liu, founder of fragrance company Jsoaper, helped kick start our HP progress. With her extensive knowledge of traditional chinese ingredients, we were able to properly understand our active ingredient. Her experience in the fragrance industry guided us on our path to be inclusive to people who have sensitive conditions, and also influenced the creation of our business plans.
Visit Entrepreneurship page for more details.
During our interview, our team also discussed with Jane the possible integration of biotechnological innovations in the fragrance industry and explored strategies for promoting eco-friendly and customizable repellent products that could cater to diverse consumer needs.
Visit Sustainable development Impact page for more details.
June 26th
Yilan Daxi Education
Our first event was a collaboration with a kindergarten class in Daxi, Yilan, an area known for its high mosquito population. This served as the jumping board for our future kindergarten events, and we gained insight into how to properly lead children to take preventive actions on the topic of pest prevention. During this outing, we educated children on mosquitoes as we identified them as one of the parties most affected by mosquitoes. One of the activities we introduced was creating DIY Mosquito Repellent Bracelets, where children used simple, non-toxic materials like citronella essential oil to make bracelets they could wear and take home, reinforcing the concept of protection from mosquitoes.
Visit Education page for more details.
July 2nd
Hualien Yu Lee Kindergarten
Our next kindergarten workshop was conducted in Hualien, an area with a prominent mosquito problem. In our second workshop, we used a puppet show to captivate the kindergarteners while educating them on prevention measures.
Visit Education page for more details.
July 16th
Dr. Zhaobao Wang
Engineering the borneol production pathway harbored many challenges, one of which is the lack of information on an engineered pathway to produce L borneol. After scouring through multiple papers we discovered the pathway for the precursors of L Borneol by Professor Zhaobao Wang. This paper on the Metabolic Engineering of Escherichia coli for the Production of Lycopene was the breakthrough that we needed for our project. However, the paper itself lacks details on the sequences for the necessary proteins in the pathway. We drafted and sent out an Email to reach out to the professor, but we received no reply.
This did not faze us, however, and we took on the challenge to recreate the pathway ourselves.
July 22nd
Dr. Rui Ma
China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
Recreating the pathway brought up another issue. Although there are sequences out there for the proteins that we need, they are sequences for yeast and not E. coli. After scouring through multiple papers for a solution we found an article by Professor Rui Ma which claimed to have transformed the sequence of (-)-bornyl diphosphate synthase, a necessary protein for our pathway, into a E. coli compatible form. Although we received no reply from the Professor, a consultation with a researcher from NTU led us to the Codon Optimization Tool on IDT. This enabled us to continue our journey.
July 27th
Dr. Chen Chih-Chiang
Dermatologist Interview
During the interview with Dr. Chen Chih-chiang, the Director of Dermatology at General Veterans Hospital, we gained insight into the medical and research aspects of our project. We learned about the complexities of developing a mosquito repellent for sensitive skin, including potential allergic reactions, skin irritations, and the toxicity concerns of DEET. Dr. Chen emphasized the importance of alternative ingredients like borneol and oil-based components for better solubility and absorption. He also highlighted the need to address conditions like G6PD deficiency and suggested creating separate product lines for sensitive and non-sensitive skin to meet diverse needs.
July 28th
Dr. Lin Shu-Ping
We interviewed Dr. Lin, a dermatologist, in Yu-Pin Clinic, and learned more about the adverse reactions people in Taiwan have to mosquito bites. She provided us insight into how the ingredients of current repellents are chosen and the rationale behind choosing specific ingredients. Her explanations provided us with further knowledge on the effectiveness and safety of various ingredients which would be crucial when formulating our repellent fragrance. Additionally, she offered some advice on how to adapt our product for use by individuals with sensitive skin, particularly babies. She provided specific guidelines on precautions to take, ingredients to avoid, and recommendations for ensuring our product is safe and gentle. This was crucial in helping us enhance inclusivity and therefore would meet the needs of a broader audience while minimizing the risk of adverse reactions.
Visit Entrepreneurship page for more details.
July 28th
Pharmacist Lin
Interview
Through the interview with pharmacist Lin Yi-Wen, we received valuable entrepreneur advice on creating a cosmetic product from the ground up. She founded her company, ATHENA, invented 10+ cosmetic products, and established a pharmacy. She provided insights into the repellent and fragrance market, emphasizing the importance of understanding our target audience and balancing costs. Lin Yi-Wen discussed challenges such as weather, economic conditions, and the legal limits on ingredient quantities, which are crucial for product formulation. She also recommended touring factories and engaging with environmentally conscious companies. Her advice would help us refine our product by considering essential oils' repellent properties while managing costs and environmental impact.
Visit Entrepreneurship page for more details.
During the interview, we also talked about topics related to sustainability. We discussed Sustainable Development Goal 3, regarding “Good Health and Well-being”.
Visit Sustainable Development Impact page for more details.
August 1st
Piper Kindergarten Lesson
In an interactive session with kindergarten students, we integrated elements of education and entrepreneurship by demonstrating how to craft natural insect repellent using fresh mint leaves, water, and essential oil. To captivate their interest, we narrated a story centered around mosquitoes, underscoring the significance of using repellents, particularly when spending time in parks during the summer. Throughout the activity, we observed that the children struggled to operate the spray nozzle, prompting us to prioritize inclusivity in the design of our product.
Visit Education page for more details.
Motivated by our interactions with local Taiwanese children, we aimed to generate greater inclusivity in our project.
Visit Inclusivity page for more details.
August 17th
Dr. Tsai Hong Ying
Interview
During our discussion with the G6PD specialist, Dr. Tsai Hong Ying, we gained valuable insights into the impact of different compounds on G6PD patients. Notably, we discovered that borneol, the primary ingredient in our repellent, does not elicit adverse reactions in individuals with G6PD deficiency. Conversely, hemolytic anemia in G6PD patients can be triggered by naphthalene, a substance commonly present in artificial camphor products. This information underscores the significance of using natural borneol in our repellent, as it does not pose a risk to G6PD patients. This knowledge aligns with our commitment to inclusivity, as our product can be safely utilized by individuals with G6PD deficiency.
August 23rd
Professor Hsuan-Chen Wu
National Taiwan University iGem Team
During the event, overgrad and highschool teams presented our projects to Professor Hsuan-Chen Wu from National Taiwan University, who provided valuable feedback. We discussed expanding our insect repellent's effectiveness to consider Taiwan's rainy climate and the future use of a probiotic strain for enhanced protection. We plan to use the T7 system for better demonstration, emphasizing inclusivity and an alcohol-free product. Concerns about the minicell membrane's lifespan and borneol's toxicity were noted, alongside the potential for scent customization using borneol isomers. We’ll also refine our approach to focus on the Z-ring and relevant gene knockouts.
Remember to click on the categorized timelines for more information!
August 23rd
Jsoaper
During the Jsaoper meeting, we received critical feedback on our current product strategy. We learned that our manufacturing costs exceed our pricing of 280 NTD and that marketing will be our largest expense. The short shelf life of our product, one year, poses challenges, especially compared to other repellent, which usually lasts up to four years. Furthermore, we understand the potential of creating a mothball product but recognize the difficulties in entering the market owing to the high costs and risks associated with large chains and online retailers. Establishing a brand early and focusing on marketing will be essential for success.
Visit Entrepreneurship page for more details.
August 24th
Street Interview
The purpose of our street interviews was to gather opinions on perfumes and mosquito repellents, focusing on their scents and whether people find them unpleasant. We asked about potential allergies to these products and which ingredients, if any, triggered reactions. We concentrated on mosquito repellent usage, asking how frequently people use it and whether they dislike the smell. Those who use repellents frequently tend to enjoy outdoor activities, particularly in summer. Our findings show that only a small number of people are allergic to perfumes, and none reported allergies to mosquito repellents. However, many find the scent of mosquito repellents unpleasant and avoid using them or prefer that others don't.
Visit Inclusivity page for more details.
September 20th
Professor Wei-ning Huang
Yuan-Pei University of Medical Technology
Bryan Tsai
NTU iGEM team Project Lead
After purifying the borneol-producing minicells and extracting L-borneol from the supernatant with diethyl ether, we wanted to qualify the extract by performing a laboratory procedure called gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). This procedure is used to determine the character of an unknown item. It uses mass spectroscopy to identify the spikes of a substance in an absorbance graph, to ensure our product was successfully produced. This machine, however, was not immediately available to us in our laboratory, so we contacted Professor Huang Wei-ning to collaborate and conduct the GC-MS experiments. In the meeting, the professor gave clear directions on how to experiment and created a reasonable schedule for the test.
Bryan Tsai, a master’s student at the National Taiwan University Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, was also a major component to the interview by providing scientific knowledge and interpersonal skills to ensure a transparent collaboration.
Interactive timeline - Education Category
Focused on community outreach, this filter encompasses our workshops aimed at educating children about mosquitoes and prevention measures in kindergarten and elementary schools. These activities foster awareness and promote positive attitudes toward mosquito control.
-
Yilan Daxi Education
Our first event was a collaboration with a kindergarten class in Daxi, Yilan, an area known for its high mosquito population. This served as the jumping board for our future kindergarten events, and we gained insight into how to properly lead children to take preventive actions on the topic of pest prevention. During this outing, we educated children on mosquitoes as we identified them as one of the parties most affected by mosquitoes. One of the activities we introduced was creating DIY Mosquito Repellent Bracelets, where children used simple, non-toxic materials like citronella essential oil to make bracelets they could wear and take home, reinforcing the concept of protection from mosquitoes.
Visit Entrepreneur page for more details.
-
Yu Lee Education
Our next kindergarten workshop was conducted in Hualien, an area with a prominent mosquito problem. In our second workshop, we used a puppet show to captivate the kindergarteners while educating them on prevention measures.
Visit Entrepreneur page for more details.
-
Piper Kindergarten Lesson
In an interactive session with kindergarten students, we integrated elements of education and entrepreneurship by demonstrating how to craft natural insect repellent using fresh mint leaves, water, and essential oil. To captivate their interest, we narrated a story centered around mosquitoes, underscoring the significance of using repellents, particularly when spending time in parks during the summer. Throughout the activity, we observed that the children struggled to operate the spray nozzle, prompting us to prioritize inclusivity in the design of our product.
Visit Entrepreneur page for more details.
Interactive timeline - Entrepreneurship Category
This filter highlights our engagements with business leaders and entrepreneurs who provide insights into market strategies, pricing, and sustainable practices. Their expertise helps shape our business model and product viability.
-
Jsoaper Interview
We had our first interview soon after establishing a project direction. Our interview with Jane Liu, founder of fragrance company Jsoaper, helped kick start our HP progress. With her extensive knowledge of traditional chinese ingredients, we were able to properly understand our active ingredient. Her experience in the fragrance industry guided us on our path to be inclusive to people who have sensitive conditions, and also influenced the creation of our business plans.
Visit Entrepreneur page for more details.
During our interview, our team also discussed with Jane the possible integration of biotechnological innovations in the fragrance industry and explored strategies for promoting eco-friendly and customizable repellent products that could cater to diverse consumer needs.
Visit Sustainable Development Impact page for more details.
-
Interview with pharmacist Lin Yi-Wen
Through the interview with pharmacist Lin Yi-Wen, we received valuable entrepreneur advice on creating a cosmetic product from the ground up. She founded her company, ATHENA, invented 10+ cosmetic products, and established a pharmacy. She provided insights into the repellent and fragrance market, emphasizing the importance of understanding our target audience and balancing costs. Lin Yi-Wen discussed challenges such as weather, economic conditions, and the legal limits on ingredient quantities, which are crucial for product formulation. She also recommended touring factories and engaging with environmentally conscious companies. Her advice would help us refine our product by considering essential oils' repellent properties while managing costs and environmental impact.
Visit Entrepreneur page for more details.
During the interview, we also talked about topics related to sustainability. We discussed Sustainable Development Goal 3, regarding “Good Health and Well-being”.
Visit Sustainable Development Impact page for more details.
-
Interview with Dr. Lin
We interviewed Dr. Lin, a dermatologist, in Yu-Pin Clinic, and learned more about the adverse reactions people in Taiwan have to mosquito bites. She provided us insight into how the ingredients of current repellents are chosen and the rationale behind choosing specific ingredients. Her explanations provided us with further knowledge on the effectiveness and safety of various ingredients which would be crucial when formulating our repellent fragrance. Additionally, she offered some advice on how to adapt our product for use by individuals with sensitive skin, particularly babies. She provided specific guidelines on precautions to take, ingredients to avoid, and recommendations for ensuring our product is safe and gentle. This was crucial in helping us enhance inclusivity and therefore would meet the needs of a broader audience while minimizing the risk of adverse reactions.
Visit Entrepreneur page for more details.
-
Meeting with Jsoaper
During the Jsaoper meeting, we received critical feedback on our current product strategy. We learned that our manufacturing costs exceed our pricing of 280 NTD and that marketing will be our largest expense. The short shelf life of our product, one year, poses challenges, especially compared to other repellent, which usually lasts up to four years. Furthermore, we understand the potential of creating a mothball product but recognize the difficulties in entering the market owing to the high costs and risks associated with large chains and online retailers. Establishing a brand early and focusing on marketing will be essential for success.
Interactive timeline - Inclusivity Category
Emphasizing our commitment to creating a product suitable for diverse user needs, this filter encompasses insights gained from medical professionals regarding skin sensitivities and allergies, ensuring our repellent is safe for all, including those with conditions like G6PD deficiency.
-
Interview with Dermatologist Dr. Chen Chih-Chiang
During the interview with Dr. Chen Chih-chiang, the Director of Dermatology at General Veterans Hospital, we gained insight into the medical and research aspects of our project. We learned about the complexities of developing a mosquito repellent for sensitive skin, including potential allergic reactions, skin irritations, and the toxicity concerns of DEET. Dr. Chen emphasized the importance of alternative ingredients like borneol and oil-based components for better solubility and absorption. He also highlighted the need to address conditions like G6PD deficiency and suggested creating separate product lines for sensitive and non-sensitive skin to meet diverse needs.
Visit Entrepreneur page for more details.
-
Meeting with Dr. Tsai Hong Ying
During our discussion with the G6PD specialist, Dr. Tsai Hong Ying, we gained valuable insights into the impact of different compounds on G6PD patients. Notably, we discovered that borneol, the primary ingredient in our repellent, does not elicit adverse reactions in individuals with G6PD deficiency. Conversely, hemolytic anemia in G6PD patients can be triggered by naphthalene, a substance commonly present in artificial camphor products. This information underscores the significance of using natural borneol in our repellent, as it does not pose a risk to G6PD patients. This knowledge aligns with our commitment to inclusivity, as our product can be safely utilized by individuals with G6PD deficiency.
Visit Entrepreneur page for more details.
-
Street Interview
The purpose of our street interviews was to gather opinions on perfumes and mosquito repellents, focusing on their scents and whether people find them unpleasant. We asked about potential allergies to these products and which ingredients, if any, triggered reactions. We concentrated on mosquito repellent usage, asking how frequently people use it and whether they dislike the smell. Those who use repellents frequently tend to enjoy outdoor activities, particularly in summer. Our findings show that only a small number of people are allergic to perfumes, and none reported allergies to mosquito repellents. However, many find the scent of mosquito repellents unpleasant and avoid using them or prefer that others don't.
Visit Entrepreneur page for more details.
Interactive timeline - Wetlab Advisory Category
This filter details our scientific challenges and breakthroughs in the laboratory as we work to engineer a pathway for producing L-borneol, which is a key ingredient in our product. Collaborations with researchers guide our technical development and experimentation.
-
Dr. Zhaobao Wang
Engineering the borneol production pathway harbored many challenges, one of which is the lack of information on an engineered pathway to produce L borneol. After scouring through multiple papers we discovered the pathway for the precursors of L Borneol by Professor Zhaobao Wang. This paper on the Metabolic Engineering of Escherichia coli for the Production of Lycopene was the breakthrough that we needed for our project. However, the paper itself lacks details on the sequences for the necessary proteins in the pathway. We drafted and sent out an Email to reach out to the professor, but we received no reply. This did not faze us, however, and we took on the challenge to recreate the pathway ourselves.
-
Prof. Rui Ma
China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
Recreating the pathway brought up another issue. Although there are sequences out there for the proteins that we need, they are sequences for yeast and not E. coli. After scouring through multiple papers for a solution we found an article by Professor Rui Ma which claimed to have transformed the sequence of (-)-bornyl diphosphate synthase, a necessary protein for our pathway, into a E. coli compatible form. Although we received no reply from the Professor, a consultation with a researcher from NTU led us to the Codon Optimization Tool on IDT. This enabled us to continue our journey.
-
Prof. Hsuan-Chen Wu
National Taiwan University
NTU-Taiwan iGEM team
During the event, overgrad and highschool teams presented our projects to Professor Hsuan-Chen Wu from National Taiwan University, who provided valuable feedback. We discussed expanding our insect repellent's effectiveness to consider Taiwan's rainy climate and the future use of a probiotic strain for enhanced protection. We plan to use the T7 system for better demonstration, emphasizing inclusivity and an alcohol-free product. Concerns about the minicell membrane's lifespan and borneol's toxicity were noted, alongside the potential for scent customization using borneol isomers. We’ll also refine our approach to focus on the Z-ring and relevant gene knockouts.
-
Professor Wei-ning Huang
Yuan-Pei University of Medical Technology
Bryan Tsai
NTU iGem team
After purifying the borneol-producing minicells and extracting L-borneol from the supernatant with diethyl ether, we wanted to qualify the extract by performing a laboratory procedure called gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). This procedure is used to determine the character of an unknown item. It uses mass spectroscopy to identify the spikes of a substance in an absorbance graph, to ensure our product was successfully produced. This machine, however, was not immediately available to us in our laboratory, so we contacted Professor Huang Wei-ning to collaborate and conduct the GC-MS experiments. In the meeting, the professor gave clear directions on how to experiment and created a reasonable schedule for the test.
Bryan Tsai, a master’s student at the National Taiwan University Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, was also a major component to the interview by providing scientific knowledge and interpersonal skills to ensure a transparent collaboration.