NAU-CHINA has actively fostered collaborative relationships with different iGEM teams, both domestically and internationally. These partnerships have enriched our understanding of our project, while providing a vibrant exchange of ideas and inspirations from the diverse activities conducted by other teams.

In 2024, NAU-CHINA continued to prioritize robust online and offline interactions with many iGEM teams. These frequent exchanges have proven to be a cornerstone of our project's development and success. Notably, we hosted the ICII (Into China into iGEM) event, an initiative first launched in 2021, which has since become a significant annual gathering for fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge within the iGEM community.

This year’s collaboration efforts focused on enhancing the visibility and impact of our project while contributing to a richer, more connected iGEM community. Through these interactions, we have not only shared our advancements but also absorbed valuable insights from other teams, leading to a more comprehensive and informed approach to synthetic biology.

NAU-CHINA's commitment to building and maintaining these relationships has not only propelled our project forward but also helped cultivate a spirit of cooperation and innovation across the global iGEM network.

April 12-13, 2024; Yangtze River International Conference Center

The main goal of attending the 2024 Synthetic Biology Conference and exhibition is to gain deeper insights into the latest trends and advancements in synthetic biology, and to network with leading academics and industry professionals in the field. This platform is also an opportunity to explore potential collaborations and to discuss the strategic direction of our own projects.

During the 2024 Synthetic Biology Conference and Exhibition, we actively connected a wide array of synthetic biology researchers and industry pioneers across China. This event served as a vibrant forum for us to participate in informative sessions and engage in dynamic exchanges with field experts. We discussed cutting-edge topics such as synthesizing spider silk proteins and employing RNA interference (RNAi) technologies to manage agricultural pests. These conversations provided us with deep insights into the latest trends and the potential future developments in synthetic biology. Engaging with excellent professors and industry leaders enabled us to gather diverse viewpoints on the strategic evolution of synthetic biology. This enhanced understanding guide our strategic planning and innovation efforts in the field.

Fig. 1 | Team members exploring the latest developments in synthetic biology products

The feedback received from the conference was overwhelmingly positive. Participants appreciated the depth and breadth of knowledge shared during the event. Many expressed interests in collaborative projects, highlighting the potential for future partnerships. Additionally, the insights gained from the discussions have been instrumental in refining our project strategies and aligning them more closely with the latest industry standards and research findings.

Fig. 2 | Active listening: team member attentively listening to others' concerns

Fig. 3 | Professor Miao discussing RNAi applications in pesticide development

April 19; Nanjing Agricultural University

The Yangtze Conference, organized by NAU-CHINA, aims to facilitate collaboration and idea exchange among iGEM teams from several universities, including Wuhan University, Hubei University, Nanjing University, and NJTECH. This conference is designed to foster creativity and innovation in project design by encouraging diverse perspectives and insights. By obtaining peer review and exploring new directions for human practices activities, the event seeks to refine project ideas and expand collaborative opportunities.

Fig. 4 | Photo taken at the end

The conference featured presentations from each participating team, highlighting their current project ideas and research progress. This provided an opportunity for teams to showcase their work and receive valuable feedback from their peers.

Fig. 5 | Teams exhibiting their project

The core of the conference was the peer review sessions, where teams engaged in constructive discussions and provided feedback on each other's projects.

Teams exchanged ideas and suggestions to improve project design, implementation strategies, and potential impacts. Participants explored ways to enhance their human practices activities, ensuring that their projects align with societal needs and ethical standards.

The sessions encouraged teams to think critically about their projects, identifying potential challenges and exploring innovative solutions. By leveraging the diverse expertise of participants, teams gained new perspectives that helped refine their project concepts.

A key focus of the conference was expanding the scope of human practices activities to ensure projects address real-world challenges and opportunities.

The teams discussed how to integrate interdisciplinary perspectives into their projects, drawing on insights from fields such as sociology, ethics, and economics. The participants brainstormed strategies for engaging with different communities and stakeholders to gather feedback and ensure their projects have a meaningful impact.

The Yangtze Conference is highly successful in achieving its objectives, with participants praising the collaborative and innovative spirit of the event.

The Yangtze Conference successfully brought together iGEM teams from multiple universities, creating a dynamic platform for idea exchange and collaboration. By facilitating peer review and expanding human practices activities, the conference helped refine project ideas and fostered a spirit of innovation and cooperation. The event concluded with participants expressing enthusiasm for future collaborations and continued engagement with the broader iGEM community.

July 12-14, 2024; Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou

The 11th Conference of Chinese iGEMer Community (CCiC) served as a dynamic platform for over 1,000 participants from universities and high schools across China, including prestigious institutions like Tsinghua University, Peking University, and Zhejiang University. This year's theme, "SynBio Nexus" aims to explore synthetic biology as a central node bridging fundamental research and real-world applications. The conference provided a valuable opportunity for teams to share their iGEM projects, engage in meaningful exchanges with academic and industry experts, and ignite sparks of innovation.

Fig. 6 | Our members answering questions in CCiC

During this conference, we presented the general contents of our project, feasible solutions in models, and our human practices design. We also received questions and suggestions on our project design from experts in different fields, and other outstanding teams. We explained these simply and applied them to solve the current problems.

Fig. 7 | Our members presenting our project in CCiC

Throughout the three-day conference, NAU-CHINA engaged in extensive exchanges with other university teams, including Peking University, Tongji University, University of Science and Technology of China, and many more. These interactions provided a platform for comprehensive discussions on project methodologies, challenges, and innovations, leading to valuable insights and potential future collaborations.

Fig. 8 | Exchanging ideas with various iGEM teams across China

The 11th CCiC provided an invaluable platform for NAU-CHINA to engage with other iGEM teams and gain insights into various aspects of synthetic biology. During the three-day event, our team had the opportunity to discuss projects with peers from prestigious universities such as Peking University, Tongji University, and the University of Chinese Academy of Science. These interactions facilitated comprehensive and in-depth exchanges, allowing us to gain new perspectives and ideas to refine our project.

Ultimately, NAU-CHINA's efforts were recognized with the "Excellent Project Exhibition Award" and "Excellent Project Award" . These achievements underscore the dedication and hard work of every team member. The conference not only allowed us to showcase our project but also provided a platform to exchange ideas, explore potential collaborations, and deepen friendships with other teams.

Fig. 9 | Prizes: A Great Success

The 2024 CCiC concluded successfully, leaving us inspired and eager to continue our journey in synthetic biology. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate with peers, share knowledge, and make meaningful contributions to the field.

July 27, 2024; Shared Teahouse

The joint exchange event between NAU-CHINA and NJMU-CHINA aims to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between the two teams. Through in-depth discussions on project content, progress, and team building, members shared their experiences and explored improvement directions. The event seeks to strengthen the relationship between the teams and inspire innovative ideas that would advance their respective iGEM projects. Additionally, the exchange is intended to promote mutual learning and cooperation, laying a solid foundation for future joint efforts.

Fig. 10 | Photos with NJMU-CHINA

The event began with detailed presentations from both teams on their current iGEM projects.

NJMU-CHINA Project: "Memory Puzzle": Focused on developing engineered bacteria to treat neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease by using Lactobacillus plantarum L168 to release compounds that alleviate symptoms.

Fig. 11 | NJMU-CHINA presenting their project

NAU-CHINA Project: "SAMUS: Self-healing Adhesive Materials for Underwater Soft-robots": Aimed to develop a self-healing material for underwater soft robots, combining mussel foot proteins and squid ring teeth proteins to create a robust, adhesive, and self-repairing material.

Fig. 12 | Our member presenting SAMUS

The exchange included open discussions where members from both teams shared their experiences and challenges in experimental and modeling processes. Constructive feedback was given, and new ideas were explored for human practices activities and project promotion.

NAU-CHINA and NJMU-CHINA members exchanged valuable insights into their methodologies, providing constructive criticism and innovative suggestions for each other’s projects. NJMU-CHINA's feedback on NAU-CHINA’s human practices activities enriched their perspective and offered new design inspiration. This collaborative session helped both teams tackle practical issues and identify potential areas for collaboration, further strengthening their friendship and collaborative spirit.

Fig. 13 | Sharing experience

The event concluded with a series of board games such as "I'm the Boss", "Halli Galli", and "UNO". These games provided a fun and relaxed environment where the participants showcased their strategic thinking and teamwork. The activities fostered laughter and camaraderie, enhancing communication and understanding among team members. The entertainment session offered a break from the scientific discussions, allowing participants to unwind and build stronger friendships, laying a solid foundation for future collaboration.

Fig. 14 | Having dinner together

The exchange event was highly praised by participants from both teams for its collaborative and innovative spirit. NAU-CHINA and NJMU-CHINA joint exchange event successfully deepened the understanding and cooperation between the two teams. It provides a platform for sharing knowledge, generating new ideas, and fostering innovation. Participants engaged in meaningful discussions, offered constructive feedback, and gained valuable insights that would enhance their future projects. The event concluded with a group photo, symbolizing the strengthened partnership and shared commitment to mutual support and progress in their iGEM endeavors.

August 21, 2024, 19:00 JST, conducted both online and offline.

This meetup, hosted by NAU-CHINA in collaboration with the iGEM team from Kyoto University, aimed to foster cross-cultural dialogue and enhance mutual understanding between iGEM teams. The event serves as a platform to explore the strengths and weaknesses of each team’s project through different cultural lenses, facilitating a deeper comprehension and integration of diverse scientific and cultural perspectives. The event is designed to bridging geographical and cultural gaps, combining the profound cultural heritage of China with the unique charm and meticulous approach of Japanese culture.

Preliminary exchanges included a series of emails that established communication bridges between Nanjing Agricultural University and Kyoto University, setting the stage for a collaborative meeting. These interactions involved sharing initial insights and expectations for the upcoming meetup.

The teams exchanged cultural gifts, including bookmarks from the Palace Museum’s creative collections, symbolizing the deep historical and cultural roots of both regions. Discussions around these gifts helped both teams connect over shared interests in history and science.

Additionally, the name of NAU-CHINA's project, "SAMUS", inspired by a character from a video game by the Kyoto-based company Nintendo, demonstrated unexpected cultural connections. This reference enriched the conversation, showing how cultural and creative exchanges can bridge time and space, adding a unique dimension to the academic discussions.

2. Meetup Sessions:

Kyoto's Presentation: iGEM Kyoto presented their project on nitrogen pollution management, detailing their innovative approach to optimizing fertilizer use through a biosensor designed to detect ammonium and nitrate ions efficiently and economically.

Fig. 15 | Exchanging ideas with iGEM Kyoto

NAU-CHINA's Presentation: We showcased our project, "SAMUS: Self-healing Adhesive Materials for Underwater Soft-robot", discussing the development of novel materials that combine mussel foot proteins and squid ring teeth proteins to facilitate underwater self-healing mechanisms.

3. Interactive Q&A and Technical Discussion:

Both teams engaged in a rigorous question-and-answer session, where they delved into technical details and explored each other’s methodologies and project challenges. This session highlighted the collaborative spirit, with both teams offering constructive feedback and sharing insights on potential improvements.

4. Cultural and Scientific Integration:

Discussions extended beyond technical specifics into how each team integrates their cultural heritage and educational missions into their projects. This highlighted the unique approaches to public engagement and science communication.

Fig. 16 | Collaborating with iGEM Kyoto

Participants from both teams expressed high satisfaction with the depth and scope of the discussions. The event provided valuable insights into different cultural approaches to scientific problems and fostered a greater appreciation for international collaboration.

The meetup is pivotal in broadening the participants' perspectives, helping them recognize the importance of cultural diversity in scientific research and innovation. The interaction is particularly enlightening in understanding how different cultural backgrounds influence scientific inquiry and solution development.

Reflections on the event emphasized the need for more frequent and structured interactions to build stronger relationships and foster continuous knowledge exchange. There is a unanimous interest in establishing a more formal partnership for future scientific and cultural exchanges.

The event successfully demonstrates the potential of international collaborations in synthetic biology, paving the way for future joint initiatives that could combine diverse scientific approaches to address global challenges more effectively.

The "Bridging Cultures: iGEM Kyoto and NAU-CHINA Meetup" marks a significant milestone in fostering international dialogue and collaboration. It underscores the importance of integrating diverse cultural perspectives into scientific research and education, enriching the learning experience for all participants. Moving forward, both NAU-CHINA and iGEM Kyoto are committed to leveraging their experiences from the meetup to enhance their respective projects and to explore new avenues for collaboration that transcend geographical and disciplinary boundaries. The ongoing engagement is expected to yield innovative solutions and foster a global scientific community united by a shared commitment to advancing synthetic biology.

Fig. 17 | Taking photo together

ICII (Into China Into iGEM) is a collaboration-centric initiative spearheaded by NAU-CHINA, aimed at uniting iGEM teams from across China to enhance and share their synthetic biology projects and educational resources. This platform serves as a repository for shared knowledge and as a catalyst for fostering long-term partnerships among the iGEM community.

The main goal of ICII is to create a collaborative network that facilitates the sharing of ideas, resources, and innovations among iGEM teams. By doing so, ICII enhances the capabilities of all participating teams and broadens the impact of their projects within and beyond the iGEM competition.

Initiating the collaboration for this year's ICII involves extensive planning and coordination:

Initial Outreach: We reached out to over ten iGEM teams across China, including established university teams, such as NNU-CHINA, NEFU-CHINA, and NJTech. The outreach aims to gauge interest and invite contributions to the ICII platform.

Brainstorming Sessions: Collaborative brainstorming sessions were held to discuss potential features and content for the new platform. Valuable suggestions from teams like NJMU-CHINA and NNU-China helped shape the direction and functionality of ICII.

Building the Platform: The development of the ICII platform is a joint effort. We took the lead in web development and content management, while contributions in terms of content, design, and technical support came from different participating teams.

Content Sharing: The teams contribute their project details, methodologies, and outcomes to the platform, ensuring a rich source of synthetic biology insights is available to all.

Methodology Archive: A dedicated section for educational methodologies used by various teams allows new participants to learn from established practices, ensuring consistency and quality in synthetic biology education.

Interactive Engagement: Through the platform, the teams can interact, share feedback, and discuss improvements and innovations in real-time, fostering a dynamic learning environment.

Enhanced Visibility: By pooling resources and sharing a common platform, smaller or newer teams gain visibility, which might be more challenging to achieve independently.

Resource Optimization: Shared resources mean the teams can avoid duplicating efforts in areas such as public outreach and educational content creation, leading to more efficient use of time and resources.

Innovation Through Diversity: Exposure to diverse project ideas and methodologies from various cultural and academic backgrounds sparks innovation, driving the field of synthetic biology forward.

The collaborative nature of ICII has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the participants, who have noted the platform’s role in amplifying their project's reach and impact. The collective effort has not only enhanced individual team projects but also contributed to a stronger, more interconnected iGEM community.

For more details on ICII and its impact, please see the Education & Communication part.

August 26, 2024; Nanjing Agricultural University

The collaboration between NAU-CHINA and Westlake University's iGEM team marks a significant moment of intellectual exchange and scientific innovation. This event commenced with an engaging icebreaker activity, setting a positive and collaborative tone for the day. Participants from both universities took part in a fun and interactive “Halli Galli” card game, which helped break down initial barriers and fostered camaraderie among team members.

Following the icebreaker, the teams moved on to the primary focus of the day: the presentation and discussion of their respective iGEM projects. Westlake University introduced their innovative project, T-SAT, an anti-tumor treatment using genetically modified Salmonella to target and eliminate cancer cells. They explained how the project targets tumor cells through a three-step process:

Salmonella are engineered to express HER2 antibodies, enabling them to target cancer cells.

Incorporate Bax gene plasmids and the STIF system into the Salmonella to initiate cell apoptosis.

Using engineered bacteria to penetrate the tumor cells and release the Bax gene, which leads to the death of tumor cell.

Fig. 18 | Westlake University's project

Westlake University's Human Practices (HP) team also highlighted their efforts in engaging with healthcare professionals to ensure the practical application of their project. Additionally, they discussed their collaboration with local elementary schools to introduce synthetic biology to younger audiences, sparking interest in science at an early age.

NAU-CHINA presented their project SAMUS, which focuses on creating self-healing adhesive materials for underwater soft robots, providing enhanced durability and longevity for marine exploration. Our project aims to address the damage often incurred by underwater robots due to sharp objects or turbulent waters, presenting a potential breakthrough in marine technology. Our HP team further shared our educational outreach efforts, integrating art and science to make synthetic biology more accessible and engaging to the public.

Fig. 19 | Photos shot during the meetup

The collaboration was a tremendous success, sparking in-depth discussions between the two teams. Westlake University expressed admiration for our innovative approach to marine technology, particularly the potential applications of our self-healing materials in enhancing the lifespan of underwater robots. In return, we praised Westlake University's T-SAT project for its ingenuity in targeting tumor cells using a low-inflammation risk method and the precision of their bacterial engineering.

Both teams reflected on the challenges during their experimental processes, offering valuable insights and advice on overcoming technical hurdles. For example, we provided feedback on potential challenges with the stability of the Bax gene delivery system in Westlake's project, while Westlake University shared tips on improving the protein expression efficiency in our SAMUS project.

The feedback extends beyond technical discussions, with Westlake University’s HP team complimenting NAU-CHINA’s approach of blending art with education to promote synthetic biology. This sparks ideas for future collaboration, with both teams expressing interest in working together on educational outreach to further promote synthetic biology to broader audiences.

In reflection, the exchange of ideas and expertise enriches both teams, expanding their perspectives on synthetic biology applications and encouraging further innovation. The teams left with a strengthened bond, laying the foundation for future collaborations in both research and outreach efforts.

Both teams believe that this collaboration will benefit their respective iGEM projects and contribute to the broader synthetic biology community by promoting cross-disciplinary innovation and global partnerships.