We were excited to have the opportunity to participate in the 2024 Open Day at Macquarie University. This event provided us with a platform to engage with the public, including students looking forward to studying science at the university. We were able to share insights about our project and inform people about synthetic biology to hear their thoughts and opinions on the subject.
We attracted a diverse group of people, ranging from curious children to knowledgeable adults. To make the experience interactive and fun, we organised a series of engaging activities with the chance to win prizes. These included a "roll the dice" challenge, where participants could answer a question related to synthetic biology for a chance to win a microbe plushie. Another option was to complete a survey in exchange for a chocolate reward. We also had agar plates with fluorescent microbes for people to look at.
The survey consisted of 10 questions aiming to get the public's opinion on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Our questionnaire explored views on GMOs in general, and more specifically, whether they would consider consuming products, such as vanilla, derived from synthetic pathways. The survey offered valuable insights into how people perceive the advancements in science and the potential role synthetic biology might play in the community's everyday life.
As expected, over 65.96% of our cohort were under 18. During open day we mostly had high school students considering starting a degree at Macquarie University. 19.15% were aged 18-24 years old. Other age groups were minimally represented.
Most participants (58.51%) had heard of synthetic biology before the survey, while 27.66% had not, and 13.83% were unsure.
A large majority (85.26%) of respondents were familiar with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), with only 12.63% not having heard of them, and 2.11% of them being unsure.
The importance of food sustainability in food production was a significant concern for most participants, with 34.74% rating it as extremely important and 46.32% as very important. Only 1.05% thought it was not so important, showing broad support for sustainable practices in food production.
Responses were mixed, with 38.95% saying "maybe" and 34.74% answering "probably yes." Only 4.21% were strongly against eating such foods, while one person answered: "it depends, I am not sure about this topic".
A significant number (35.79%) were open to using medicines with synbio/GMO components, saying "maybe," and 22.11% answered "definitely yes," showing more willingness for medical applications compared to food. Two participants answered that it depends. Their explanations were "I'm not sure about this topic I don't do biology" and "about safety".
While 36.84% said "maybe" to using GMO-based cosmetics, there was a greater level of uncertainty and hesitance here compared to food or medicine, with 16.84% firmly against it ("definitely not" or "probably not"). Once again, one participant also answered "It depends, I'm not sure about this topic ( I don't do biology )"
Most respondents were comfortable with the idea of using plants (54.26%) as GMOs, while only 16.60% found microbes acceptable, and a small percentage of people (11.70%) accepted animals being genetically modified. A small group (7.45%) preferred no GMOs at all.
Opinions were divided on human genetic engineering, with 34.04% responding "maybe" and 27.66% "probably yes", and 20.21% "definitely yes". However, a small portion (8.51%) were definitely against it, reflecting ongoing ethical concerns.
The primary concern was safety for humans (56.84%), followed closely by environmental impact (44.21%) and ethical considerations (51.58%). Lack of information was a concern for 30.53%, highlighting the need for more public education on the topic. One participant added "Commercial Exploitation?", while another one said "I'm not sure about this topic ( I don't do biology )"
The survey cohort has a large amount of individuals who are expected to finish high school in the next few years. The results indicate that a significant number of participants require more information to make informed decisions regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their by-products, highlighting the need to provide teenagers with more education on GMOs. As new technologies become increasingly integrated into everyday life, people need to have the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about the products they consume and the broader implications these technologies may have on both their health and the environment.
Project Description
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