Overview
The iGEM Ionis 2024 team collaborated with numerous teams through three main activities: collaborative works, meet-ups, and events. These interactions allowed us to meet new people, enriching our experience and creating a friendly atmosphere, making the iGEM adventure even more enjoyable. These collaborations also gave us the opportunity to promote our project, discover and take interest in the innovative projects of other teams, and thus expand our knowledge in synthetic biology.
Collaborative work
Design a sticker ! - McMaster Team
The McMaster Canada Team launched a fun collaboration project encouraging iGEM teams to creatively represent their projects through simple and visual stickers. In response, the iGEM Ionis 2024 team designed a sticker featuring our logo along with a tagline that encapsulates the essence of our project:
"CAP'siRNA proposes an innovative technology to combat the viral disease of sugar beet yellows through the concept of RNA interference. Precursors of RNAi, encapsulated in a viral capsid for protection, specifically target and destroy the Beet Yellows Virus as soon as it enters the plant."
We enjoyed taking part in this collaboration, as it allowed us to share our project in a fun and visual manner while highlighting our innovative approach to fighting plant diseases using cutting-edge RNA interference technology.
iGEMeme - Ionis-Paris team
We organized a fun and lighthearted collaboration called 'IGEMeme,' with the goal of spreading good vibes both during the creation of memes and when they were shared with our wider audience. As part of this collaboration, we invited other iGEM teams to create memes related to their iGEM experiences and send them to us. Once all the memes were collected, we shared them on our social media.
Figure 1: Collection of memes received from all teams that participated in iGEMeme
Meet-up
Mini Jamboree - INSA Toulouse team
The Mini Jamboree, organized by the INSA Toulouse team, took place on their campus from July 4th to 5th. The event brought together different iGEM teams, mostly from France, but also from Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands. The event began with an introductory conference on Bioeconomy, followed by a project showcase where we pitched our project in a few minutes alongside our poster. The next day, each team presented a more detailed 15-minute version of their project. It was an enriching experience, discovering many interesting iGEM projects and exchanging ideas as well as improvement perspectives with other teams. The event also included a tour of Toulouse, where we had the opportunity to bond with fellow iGEMers in a more relaxed atmosphere. At the end of the event, a few prizes were awarded, and we were proud to win the "Audience’s Favourite Award", which gave us great confidence in the impact of our project.
Figure 2: Photos from our stay at the Mini-Jamboree in Toulouse
European Meet-up 2024 - Madrid-UCM team
The European Meet-up, organized by the Madrid-UCM team, took place in Madrid from July 8th to 11th. During this event, many iGEM teams from across Europe participated in a Mini-mock Jamboree, where each team presented its project. In addition to the presentations, we attended captivating conferences, Q&A sessions, and workshops on various topics, such as biophysics and epidemiology. There were numerous exchanges about the projects, which allowed us to gather valuable feedback and explore new avenues for improvement and reflection. The meet-up was an excellent platform for learning, collaborating, and sharing ideas. We also enjoyed meeting all these passionate people and had great moments with them throughout the event. Finally, we were thrilled to win both the "Best Pitch" and the "Best Presentation" awards, which validated the hard work and dedication we put into our project and its presentation.
Figure 3: Photos from our stay at the European Meet-up in Madrid
Jamburrito Meet-up – SBU iGEM team
The Jamburrito Meet-up, organized by the SBU iGEM 2024 team, was a virtual gathering that brought together 15 teams from around the world, along with guest researchers. We participated in the first session, titled "RNA Technologies & Regulation", where we had the opportunity to present our project and listen to the work of four other teams. It was incredibly valuable to receive feedback, particularly from experts, and to hear about the unique approaches and values of other teams.
Figure 4: Photo of the Jamburrito Meet-up
Event
IGEM Startup Summer school - iGEM Foundation
Our team participated in the iGEM Startup Summer School, where over 200 students and more than 100 iGEM teams gathered to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialization. We took part in sessions focused on business planning, pitching strategies, case studies, and networking with other teams globally. This enriching experience not only provided us with essential entrepreneurial skills but also opened opportunities to connect with other innovative projects. The feedback we received and the insights we gained will help us take our iGEM project to the next level and bring it closer to real-world application.
Figure 5: Photos of the event iGEM Startup Summer school
IGEM Startup Summer school - iGEM Foundation
Our team participated in the Plant Synbio Meetup, hosted by iGEM’s Plant Synthetic Biology Committee. The event began with an introduction to the committee’s mission to enhance plant projects in iGEM, followed by talks from experts, including PhD students and researchers. Each team had the chance to present their plant-related project, share ideas, and receive feedback. Despite the challenges posed by plant synthetic biology—particularly the slow growth of plants—this meetup fostered valuable discussions and collaboration. The session concluded with a Q&A with the committee, offering additional insights and guidance.
