As we were about to embark on our human practice activities, we identified a significant deficiency in synthetic biology knowledge among non-biology college students and the general public, particularly in the context of emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Therefore, we are committed to addressing this gap by organizing educational activities focused on synthetic biology.
Biology is advancing rapidly with the involvement of AI technologies, and the field of synthetic biology is continually expanding. Understanding the current dynamic development and the significant impact of synthetic biology's applications is of great importance to every individual. We believed that the popularization of synthetic science should be for everyone, targeting all age groups .
In view of our unwavering determination on this, our HP group had several intense discussions about our educational mode, which turned out that our accordant direction is to address the limitations of public learning resources by developing educational programs tailored to diverse educational backgrounds and by exploring broad and effective methods of education and communication. We decided to gradually expand the scope of our science communication endeavors at 4 distinct levels: SCHOOL, CITY, NATION and GLOBE, each posing unique challenges and opportunities.
During the teaching process, we drew upon Dr. Samson Nashon's STEM education philosophy, which emphasizes the integration of the four disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, breaks the discipline barrier, takes the connection between knowledge as the principle and basis of teaching content organization, and carries out teaching based on problem situations in the real world. Dr. Samson Nashon is a professor in the Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and serves as the head of the Science Education Division. His primary research focuses on teaching and learning methods in STEM and science education, which has inspired our team's following implementation of the concepts of scientific education.
In addition, our team actively aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. While implementing educational activities, we also focus on encouraging greater participation from female learners in our projects, which will be elaborated below.
Primary school students
Middle school students
College students
Regarding education, our mission is crystal clear: to ignite a passion for synthetic biology and foster lasting connections with students of all ages. We invited students from primary school, middle school, and university to participate in the work of synthetic biology and experience its charm. We make sure our content is not just understandable but also enthralling.
Time: May 25, 2024
Target Audience: 7-12 years old primary
school students
Destination: Jiangnan University
On the morning of May 25, 2024, we prepared some attractive and colorful activities in the public lab.
Before starting the experiments, we brought themed presentations titled "From Life Sciences to Biomanufacturing" for the young learners. The rich and diverse content along with engaging storytelling captivated every young mind. They thoughtfully pondered, eagerly raised their hands to answer questions, and shared their feelings. The 30-minute science popularization session left the children wanting more.
As we entered the scientific experiment session, the children were brimming with anticipation and excitement.
First came the balloon inflation experiment, which had the children rubbing their hands in anticipation. With the assistance of our team members, the children poured a certain amount of citric acid solution into conical flasks, followed by adding baking soda to the balloons. Placing the balloons on the flasks, the release of carbon dioxide gas from the flasks quickly inflated them. Witnessing this magical scene, the young ones couldn't help but be amazed, consistently inquiring about the principles behind the experiment. Under our team members' interpreting, they started to cheering to the fun-filled biology.
The next experiment involved exploring the microcosmic world by using microscopes. We had prepared cell slices of bean leaf epidermis, cotton stems, onion bulb scales, and pine leaves in advance. As the children delicately slid the slides and carefully adjusted the focusing spiral, they were astonished to discover a new world through the microscope. The colorful microcosmic world left them applauding in wonder and expressing a keen interest in the further biological research.
This activity not only enabled young people to have access to the most cutting-edge scientific knowledge and understand the application prospects of synthetic biology in medicine, agriculture, environmental protection, etc., but also cultivated their powers of observation, thinking and creativity. It stimulated young people's interest in science and opend the door to synthetic biology, leading them into a whole new field of innovation and exploration.
Time: May 29, 2024
Target Audience: 7-12 years old primary school
students
Destination: Xushe Primary School
In our quest to ignite young minds with the broad application of synthetic biology, we had the pleasure of spending an enriching afternoon with children at Xushe Primary School.
We introduced the specific knowledge related to our project: Microplastics and Plastic Pollution. To introduce their application and arouse the children's interest, we incorporated a craft game into our educational approach. We prepared used, cleaned plastic bottles and many handmade materials. Using these, the children were encouraged to create their own artworks, turning waste into wealth.
At the end of our lecture, we encouraged the children to share what they had learned. We gave them the opportunity to express their newfound knowledge and enthusiasm for synthetic biology.
For primary school students, "synthetic biology" was undoubtedly a new term. However, through the illustrated explanations by our team members, they gradually began to understand what it meant to be a scientist. This science lecture allowed students to access new knowledge, stimulated their creativity and innovative thinking, and expanded their interest and curiosity about science. Some students marveled at the wonders of natural phenomena, while others were immersed in the joy of acquiring new knowledge. Regardless of how, this science lecture has planted a seed in the hearts of some students, and as they continue their educational journey, there will be a wonderful encounter with science.
We designed paper questionnaires for primary school students, aiming to obtain feedback from different participants and establish a two-way communication channel. Upon reception of the questionnaire responses, we proceeded to summarize and analyze the data. This allowed us to identify the strengths and weaknesses of our events and courses, with the goal of optimizing our activities.
Time: July 20, 2024
Target Audience: 12-15 years old middle school
students
Destination: Congjiang County, Guizhou
Province
In July, with the help of local organizations and volunteers, we established a temporary learning center in Congjiang County, Guizhou Province. We conducted a science popularization course on "Synthetic Biology and Fluorescent Proteins" for the teachers and students. We took this opportunity to form a science popularization alliance between our team and Xiajiang Middle School. And We are moving forward with our mission to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas through synthetic biology, ensuring that our spread of education is no longer confined by geographical boundaries.
During the teaching process, we drew upon Dr. Samson Nashon's STEM education philosophy, integrating biological and AI knowledge with the students' real-life experiences. We introduced scientific problems that could be addressed using resources available in their surroundings, inspiring them to independently devise feasible solutions from the rich materials at hand. Later, we also provided them with our popular science handbooks and videos.
Through our firsthand classroom interactions, we witnessed the students' intense curiosity and actively encouraged more students to engage in scientific research and exploration. We are looking forward to open the door to the fascinating world of science for all children.
Distributing the science handbooks on synthetic biology to the students during our teaching mission was truly significant. Through this, students could gain a better understanding of the concepts of synthetic biology and learn more beyond their regular curriculum. This can nurture their scientific thinking. It's highly possible that these students could be inspired by this knowledge, which can have a positive impact on their future development.
Time: June 8, 2024
Target Audience: college students
Destination: Jiangnan University
To promote an understanding of synthetic biology ethics among college students, we attended an academic lecture titled "Synthetic biology: Core technologies and industrial applications" by Professor Liming Liu.
At the beginning of the lecture, Professor Liu directly pointed out the remarkable progress of synthetic biology in the past ten years, and then led to the two major topics of the lecture: "What is synthetic biology" and "What are the applications of synthetic biology". After interpreting the latest definition of synthetic biology in detail, he skillfully used a series of professional terms of synthetic biology to present complex concepts in a vivid and interesting way, so that students could better understand the key directions of synthetic biology.
Professor Liu especially emphasized the characteristics of synthetic biology as an interdisciplinary subject based on genetic engineering, and called on the students to pay attention to the integration and communication between multiple disciplines. Subsequently, he combined the research methods and results of domestic and foreign laboratories, and explained the core technologies of synthetic biology, such as DNA synthesis technology, DNA assembly technology, and protein engineering technology, etc.
Next, Professor Liu reviewed the course of the biological revolution and the important technical nodes of synthetic biology, clarified their mutually reinforcing relationship, and pointed out that synthetic biology has entered the fourth stage of development. In the last part of the lecture, he focused on the "synthetic biology industry chain and application scenarios", and introduced the leading enterprises in each link of the industry chain and the wide application of synthetic biology in our team project detailedly, which brought profound shock to the students.
After this marvelous and inspiring lecture, we invited some students to share their insights and reflections, and one of them remarked that the professor's lecture gave them a deeper understanding of synthetic biology, who highlighted the importance of building a strong knowledge base and cultivating the ability to integrate knowledge across multiple disciplines.
Time: August 23, 2024
Target Audience: freshmen
Destination: School of Bioengineering,
Jiangnan
University
During the freshman welcome event organized by the School of Biotechnology, our iGEM team presented a carefully designed brochure to introduce new students to the fundamental concepts and diverse applications of synthetic biology. The event not only showcased our ongoing iGEM project but also highlighted the cutting-edge advancements and future potential of synthetic biology in fields such as environmental remediation, healthcare, and agricultural production. Notably, the introduction of the new synthetic biology major this year garnered significant interest from students across various biology-related disciplines, with many expressing a keen desire to join our team and participate in frontier research.
This outreach event successfully attracted new potential members to strengthen our team, while also raising awareness and support for synthetic biology within the school. As a core direction of future biotechnology, synthetic biology holds immense potential for scientific innovation, offering students the opportunity to explore cutting-edge research and address global challenges. The broader significance of this event lies not only in disseminating knowledge about synthetic biology but also in providing students with a valuable platform to engage with innovative research projects, inspiring them to contribute positively to society and the environment through scientific practice.
We did a survey on PET microplastic pollution and PET degradation technology, which allows us to learn about the current situation of college students' understanding of the topic and offers guidance to our education programs.
Jiangnan-China team constantly engages in profound reflection at every stage of our project: Are we truly fulfilling our responsibility to the world and making a positive impact? Have we met our initial objectives? This mindset has led us to pay attention to some social groups.
Our team has found that the public's understanding of synthetic biology is generally weak. In order to enhance public awareness and participation in science popularization education, we have entered communities. By relating synthetic biology knowledge to everyday life, we aimed to raise awareness of the current state and dangers of plastic pollution in a way that resonates with the daily experiences of residents. This approach brings global ecological issues out of abstraction and into the reality of everyone's lives.
And we did a survey on PET microplastic pollution and PET degradation technology, which allows us to learn about the current situation of residents' understanding of the topic and offers guidance to our education programs.
In our journey to promote education, we recognize the vital role that women play in shaping our future. Ensuring women's equal right to education and improving women's cultural quality are important measures to improve women's social status and realize women's real and complete liberation. By including them in our educational activities, we not only empower these groups but also enrich the field of synthetic biology with diverse perspectives and innovative ideas.
Time: August 13, 2024
Destination: Nanquan Street, Wuxi
City
We interviewed some of the women in Nanquan Street and told them about our project, highlighting the use of synthetic biology in health, beauty and personal care products, and encouraging women to explore the innovative potential of synthetic biology, whether in research or business, to provide them with new career opportunities and voice.
As far as we know, people with disabilities are the most vulnerable group in the world. Our team pay attention to them and hope to provide an equal and supportive environment for people with disabilities to enjoy the fun and benefits of synthetic biology.
Time: September 18, 2024
Destination: Liangxi District, Wuxi
City
We cooperated with Wuxi Disabled Persons' Federation to carry out a series of special activities according to the characteristics of the participants. We believe that if everyone does a little, the world can change a lot.
We led the children in a sign language dance to attract their attention and deepend the memory of the activity with a special art form. We used videos to make synthetic biology more accessible to them. And we accompanied them to environmentally themed art exhibitions, so that they can participate more personally in the world and realize that "we are not different".
Time: August 18, 2024
Destination: online
To educate the public about the fundamentals of synthetic biology, including its principles, applications, and potential impact on future science and society, we conducted a live stream event under the theme of "Synthetic Biology and Its Applications".
Teams from various universities, including Squirrel-Shanghai, Jiangnan-China, BUCT-China, and others, came together to share the latest advancements and potential of synthetic biology.
The primary focus of the livestream was to address two fundamental questions: "What is synthetic biology?" and "What can synthetic biology achieve?". Through a series of presentations and discussions, participants explored how synthetic biology is revolutionizing diverse fields, from environmental sustainability to medical innovation.
During the livestream, our team presented the progress of our project, and received valuable feedback. Following the presentations, we engaged in a deep exchange with teams focused on biomeditaion, discussing the challenges and solutions in this area. This provided us with fresh insights and inspired new directions for potential collaborations.
Attendees were able to join the livestream by scanning the provided QR code or searching directly on the platform. The interactive session allowed the audience to engage in real-time, posing questions and gaining deeper insights into synthetic biology.
A total of 3,782 people watched our livestream and found it meaningful.
Time: September 9-13, 2024
Destination: online
Our team members are committed to spreading synthetic biology knowledge through every available means. We pride ourselves on our adaptability and versatility, which enables us to effectively engage with a wide range of regions during our voluntary teaching efforts. Our team members are dedicated to making learning accessible and engaging for all, and we are determined to leave no stone unturned in our mission to share the wonders of synthetic biology.
Our team members are devoted to spreading synthetic biology knowledge to students across the nation and shinning a light on our project. To enhance the learning experience, we produced brochures on two topics: synthetic biology and microplastic, which fuels students' curiosity and active participation in our educational adventures.
After each teaching session, we eagerly seek feedbacks from students, teachers, and even our fellow team members who took on the role of educators. This feedback loop empowers us to continually refine our approach, ensuring that we meet the unique educational needs of every community we engage with.
These educational endeavors spanned underdeveloped areas in the southwest and northwest, as well as well-developed regions in the central and eastern parts of China.
| Time | Province | School name |
|---|---|---|
| September 9 | Shanghai | Shanghai Southwest Weiyu Middle School |
| September 9 | Zhejiang | Hangzhou Xiaoying Primary School |
| September 10 | Shandong | Shandong Zhangjiawa Middle School, Laiwu District Jinan City |
| September 10 | Henan | Victory Road Primary School Xinhua District Xinxiang City |
| September 11 | Hunan | No.4 Middle School of Lixian County Hunan Province |
| September 11 | Liaoning | Dongbao Primary School Liuerbao Town Liaoyang County |
| September 12 | Heilongjiang | Yichun No.1 High School |
| September 12 | Guangdong | First Primary School Shaping Street Heshan City |
| September 13 | Xinjiang | Huashan Middle School |
| September 13 | Gansu | Center Primary School Shangliang Town Lingtai County |
We asked our 367 participating students and teachers:
Time: all the time
Destination: online
Our team is strategically utilizing a range of social media platforms, including WeChat Official Platform, Xiaohongshu and Bilibili, to disseminate content related to synthetic biology. This multi-platform approach aims to capitalize on the unique strengths and extensive reach of each platform, effectively conveying the significance of our team, the iGEM competition, and the field of synthetic biology to a broader audience.
On the one hand, these reports show the success of our activities, and on the other hand, with the influence of the platform, concepts related to synthetic biology and iGEM have been promoted to more people, and our Jiangnan-China has also been known to a wider audience. This is undoubtedly an incentive for us to carry out various educational activities, so that we can continuously optimize the form and content of activities, so that more people can participate in synthetic biology.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals established by the United Nations in 2015. They are designed to address various critical issues facing the world, including poverty, hunger, health, education, equality, climate change, environmental protection, and more, to achieve global sustainable development.
All SDGs are interrelated and mutually supportive, and we decided to focus on two specific ones that our project most contributed to: quality education (SDG 4). As Jiangnan iGEMers, we are concerned with these worldwide problems and their impacts on human health and the environment. Our project may offer a novel approach to these challenges-we wish to do our bit to make the world better!
SDG4: Quality education
To Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education
and promote lifelong
learning
opportunities for all
We are moving forward with our mission to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas through synthetic biology, ensuring that our spread of education is no longer confined by geographical boundaries. And we are also concerned about the lack of educational rights for women and people with disabilities.
Through extensive research and careful planning, we tailored a curriculum specifically for middle school students in western mountainous areas. We established a temporary learning center in Congjiang County, Guizhou Province. And we will continue to take action to give people with disabilities and women access to quality education.
We encourage more children in remote areas and disabled people especially women to engage in scientific research and exploration. We are looking forward to open the door to the fascinating world of science for all people.
By sharing more detailed and in-depth content on YouTube and Instagram, we can delve further into cutting-edge research, experimental processes, and team accomplishments in the field of synthetic biology. As global media, YouTube and Instagram offer us an opportunity to share knowledge and insights with international audiences, enhancing our influence within the global synthetic biology community.
Since the platform has just opened, we will continue to update it in the future, and strive to expand the global influence of synthetic biology.
Time: July 11-14, 2024
Destination: Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool
University
We had the privilege of attending the Conference of China iGEMer Community, a unique event jointly organized by Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. The event took place intending to foster collaboration among various domestic iGEM teams and promote the understanding of synthetic biology to the general public. Nearly 1,000 people attended the conference, and 89 teams from Tsinghua University, Peking University and other universities and 35 teams from high schools affiliated to Renmin University of China shared and displayed iGEM competition projects, in-depth exchanges with experts from academia and industry, and sparked innovation.
iGEM team from across the nation delivered their project presentation. Through project presentations and interactive Q&A sessions, we had the opportunity to gain insights from other teams' projects. In the end, our team stood out from the crowd winning two honors: Excellent Project Award and Excellent Project Exhibition Award.
The event also included a marketplace where attendees could showcase their team culture and participate in open discussions about the latest advancements in synthetic biology and related technologies. We exchanged with the iGEM Team BNU-China and XMU-China.
We actively participated in a deep conversation with the iGEM Teams focus on PET related topics such as BNUZH-China, XJU-China and so on. This exchange provided us with an opportunity to pose questions and collectively seek solutions to challenges.
Members from each team provided updates on their recent activities, showcasing an overview of project designs. Following the exchange of ideas, we openly discussed potential shortcomings and proposed specific measures to optimize our work.
Time: September 14, 2024
Destination: Yixing City, Jiangsu
Province
The Conference on Synthetic Biotechnology Innovation and Industrial Development was successfully held in Yixing, with the theme of "Focusing on synthetic biology, Developing new quality productivity".
On the conference, Academician Jian Chen pointed out that China's bio-manufacturing industry is facing severe international competition and urgent national development tasks. As one of the most promising emerging disciplines in the 21st century, synthetic biology is changing our world at an unprecedented speed. When striving to achieve the independent control of the biological manufacturing industry, the same competition of biological manufacturing products, and the leading and surpassing of biological manufacturing technology, it is very necessary to carry out technological innovation and industrial development of synthetic biology, and provide new quality products and services for medicine, health, food, light industry and other industries. He hopes that science and technology personnel in the physical science industry can work together to promote the development of the synthetic biology industry in Jiangsu and even the whole country, and make important contributions to meeting the needs of the country and society.
Engaging with this activity has not only developed our understanding of the practical significance of the project but also enriched it to pushing the boundaries of synthetic biology.
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