1 Overview
During our team's participation in the competition,
we organized science outreach activities, discussions, and lectures
to help the public better understand synthetic biology and its potential
impact. Through dialogues with various groups, we gained insights
into the public's questions and expectations regarding the technology.
This is a form of two-way communication. As a Chinese proverb says,
"By giving roses to others, the fragrance lingers on your hands".
Through education and communication activities, we shared knowledge
and ideas, while also gaining new perspectives in the process.
2 Our Efforts
Discussion with the iGEM team from the Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, UCAS
On March 19, 2024, we were invited by the iGEM team from the Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences to participate in an online experience-sharing session. During the event, our team members first introduced the basic information about the competition, including the rules, evaluation criteria, and the content covered by different tracks. Since the other team was newly formed, we also shared our experience with the competition process, including our timeline and our work in human practices. Additionally, we presented our project topic and design for this year.
After the sharing session, the other team expressed their gratitude. One of their members raised concerns about whether our engineered bacteria could survive in wastewater with low pH and high concentrations of metal ions. Their advisor provided suggestions for our surface display strategy, recommending the use of phages or other biological systems for surface display. The discussion with this team gave us new ideas. We need to consider the specific circumstances and consult more literature to determine the most suitable engineered bacteria for surface display. Additionally, we must pay special attention to the survival of our bacteria in wastewater in future experiments.
iGEM Sharing Session
In order to attract more peers to join the 2024 iGEM competition and pass on the creative ideas of synthetic biology to the students around us, the HiZJU-China 2024 team focused on science popularization and publicity at the beginning of its establishment, and held two iGEM sharing sessions in November 2023. We regarded iGEM competition as a creative game, and introduce the closed-loop process of iGEM competition from brainstorming to raising questions, to practical research to improve project design, and then to experimental verification to solve problems. In addition, we also popularized the basic concepts of synthetic biology to students from different professional backgrounds and introduced the underlying logic of building artificial cell factories.
Our presentations greatly ignited the enthusiasm of the students to participate in the iGEM competition, and many of the listeners later became the backbone of the HiZJU-China 2024 team.
Popular Science Lecture on Synthetic Biology
How to carry out science popularization activities? On April 23, we gave a class lecture at Zhejiang University, where we focused on the theme of “Synthetic Biology.” Through vivid examples and easy-to-understand analogies, we conveyed complex concepts of synthetic biology to a non-specialist audience, aiming to showcase the vast potential of this cutting-edge scientific field to the audience.
We began by discussing the discovery of DNA structure and explained how gene-editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 enable us to design and modify the genetic information of organisms. Additionally, we compared biological systems to electronic systems, illustrating how synthetic biology can transform life by applying the concepts of "hardware" and "software." Finally, we shared two significant examples of synthetic biology's practical applications: microbial factories and DNA storage, highlighting their use in drug production and data storage, as well as their potential impact on future technology and society.
The goal of this lecture was not only to convey knowledge but also to inspire reflection on the potential applications of synthetic biology. We aimed to help the audience recognize the broad prospects of this field in areas such as healthcare, energy, and environmental protection. Through this introduction, we hope to foster a deeper understanding of synthetic biology, encouraging interdisciplinary discussions and explorations that spark even more possibilities.
Introduction to Synthetic Biology and CRISPR/Cas 9 Technology
On April 25, our team members introduced the concepts of synthetic biology and common tools of synthetic biology, such as the CRISPR-Cas9 system, to undergraduates from different majors in a lecture in another microbiology class. We take past iGEM award winning projects as examples. The students in the class learned that synthetic biology can be applied to various areas of life, such as disease treatment, food processing, environmental protection and so on. After the presentation, the students actively participated in the discussion and discussed the relevant issues with the members of our team. Some students think that we need to pay extra attention to biosafety issues to prevent our engineered yeast from leaking into the environment through treated wastewater. We seriously thought about this problem and further optimized the leak sensing kill switch of engineered bacteria in the project design.
Volunteer Teaching at Yuping Town Central Primary School
During our participation in the iGEM competition, we had the privilege of traveling to Yuping Town Central Primary School in Hongya County, Meishan City, Sichuan Province, to volunteer teach. We conducted an engaging class centered on "Synthetic Biology" for the children.
In the class, we compared genes to a "jigsaw puzzle of life" and used vivid language to explain the basic concepts of DNA and gene editing. Through interactive games, we helped the children grasp the core ideas of synthetic biology and encouraged them to think: "What changes could occur in life if these jigsaw puzzle pieces were rearranged?" Through this course, we hoped to plant the seeds of scientific curiosity in the children's minds, inspiring them to explore the mysteries of life and imagine future possibilities.
Join and Promote the Biosyn Bridge Project to Southeast Asia
Science knows no borders, and synthetic biology should be no exception. In addition to our efforts to promote synthetic biology education to various age groups in China, we are also dedicated to expanding it overseas. As a result, we have joined the Biosyn Bridge Education Program initiated by the BUCT team, a non-profit educational project in synthetic biology that emphasizes global reach, equality, and open access.
Here, we are pleased to invite Lim Wuihan, a Malaysian student at Zhejiang University, as our Southeast Asia ambassador. Through Lim, we have connected with students from Chong Hwa Independent High School, and based on their interests, we have selected gene editing technology as the topic of our educational outreach. We have carefully prepared educational materials introducing the origins, key methods, and practical applications of gene editing technology. Of course, in the future, we hope to continue breaking down barriers in science education and promoting global equality!
3 Conclusions
Synthetic biology has the potential to bring about profound societal impacts. Therefore, we need to establish communication channels with communities, the media, and educators to ensure that technological development progresses in tandem with society's understanding. Through education and communication, we have built a bridge between science and society, effectively addressing public misconceptions and fears about the technology, and helping to create a societal environment that supports scientific progress.