Education
Throughout the iGEM project cycle, our team has consistently prioritized scientific outreach, aiming to generate a positive impact through diverse educational approaches. We have focused on combining public engagement with synthetic biology education, using innovative and varied methods to effectively communicate scientific knowledge to audiences of different ages and backgrounds. Our goal is to promote an understanding of synthetic biology and spinosad, while fostering cooperation and knowledge exchange among teams. These efforts have not only increased public interest in and understanding of science but also strengthened our team's role and influence in science communication.
Our educational activities begin with those closest to us—our university peers—and extend to high school graduates, who are absorbing knowledge from various domains and about to enter specialized fields, and even younger children and social workers. We continually broaden our audience, implementing multi-layered and diverse science popularization activities. By tailoring educational materials to the learning characteristics of different audiences, we help them better understand synthetic biology. Additionally, we actively initiate inter-school cooperation and knowledge exchange, engage in discussions with other science communicators on the iGEM project, and explore critical issues such as safety and ethics in synthetic biology.
Our educational outreach is based on research into the current situation and feedback from the public, following a two-pronged framework: (1) internal conceptualization and management of educational activities within the team, and (2) external organization and public communication for each activity. Overall, all our educational initiatives are built around a core audience-centered approach, designed to popularize synthetic biology and spinosad in an engaging manner to spark public interest in science and advance our project.
After defining the scope of the project, we conducted a public questionnaire survey for level of public awareness and acceptance of synthetic biology to assess the feasibility of our project. The survey involved 518 participants from various occupations and education background, mostly from corporate employees and students.
Occupation: Out of 518 survey participants, 38% are students while others are staffs
Education background: 63% holds bachelor degree, and 11% for master degree
1. Knowledge about synthetic biology
Students: 15% knows a lot of synthetic biology, 33% average, while 33% unfamiliar, and 19% never heard
Staffs: 9% knows a lot of synthetic biology, 65% average, while 22% unfamiliar, and 4% never heard
2. Safety about the foods produced by using synthetic biology
Students: 48% agree, while 31% disagree, and 21% half-half
Staffs: 10% agree, while 13% disagree, and 77% half-half
3. Application of synthetic biology on DNA
Students: 49% agree, while 33% disagree, and 18% no idea
Staffs: 65% agree, while 30% disagree, and 5% no idea
4. Areas of synthetic biology applied to
Both students and staffs agree the synthetic biology technic could be used to most lines of business.
Students think more on Bio-med (25%), and Agriculture (21%) the next.
Staffs think more on Bio-med (30%), then Food the next (20%).
5. Ways to get knowledge of synthetic biology
Students prefer to education and publicity campaigns to get more information about synthetic biology.
6. Regulations on synthetic biology research and development
Students think the regulations more rely on government for policy enhancement.
In summary, the survey revealed several key findings: (1) public awareness of synthetic biology is lower than average level of other subjects; (2) higher science education is still limited to a portion of society; (3) current methods of science popularization fall short in conveying complex scientific information to a broader audience. These insights highlighted the need for more innovative and engaging approaches to promote synthetic biology knowledge, aiming to increase its impact across society. We should put more education and publicity campaigns, and promote government policy enhancement so that the people could get more knowledge and trust the products. In future work, we plan to adopt more effective educational strategies to address these issues.
A delegation from Shanghai Shixi Middle School was invited to visit the School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Our team meticulously planned this exchange, hosting discussions on scientific research and education in the field of biology and guiding middle school teachers and students through cultural exhibits and key teaching and research facilities such as the Microbial Metabolism Key Laboratory. We provided a detailed introduction to the school's history, infrastructure, research focus, and academic achievements.
Student 1: "This visit to the School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University was incredibly rewarding. During the exchange session, I learned that research and studies in biology go beyond textbook knowledge and involve many hands-on research projects. When visiting the cultural exhibition hall, I saw the achievements of the school in various research fields, which made me deeply appreciate the charm of scientific research."
Student 2: "The most memorable part of this event was visiting the key laboratories. The advanced equipment and ongoing cutting-edge research in the lab gave me my first real sense of the importance and potential of biology in practical applications. Listening to the explanations from the professors about how these studies are applied in areas like environmental protection and drug development, I realized that biology is not just a subject but a force that can change the world."
To promote synthetic biology knowledge to younger audiences, we collaborated with Fudan University, Zhejiang University, ShanghaiTech University, Nanjing University and National University of Defense Technology to create a science picture book. The book use comic-style illustrations and simple language to introduce basic concepts of synthetic biology to young children. This approach aims to spark children's interest in science early, encouraging their curiosity and desire to explore. The science picture book designed for children has also received high praise from parents and educators, being regarded as a valuable tool for early science education. We plan to further promote the book for broader use in educational settings.
Along with the production of the picture book, our team members conducted offline research at some bookstores and publishing houses to understand the sales situation of children's science popularization picture books nationwide, and analyzed the characteristics of best-selling science popularization picture books, providing reference for the biology picture book currently being produced.
(1)Tongdu Bookstore and Xinhua Bookstore in Tongcheng, Anhui Province
The findings show that science picture books perform well in stores, particularly those with strong interactivity, exquisite illustrations and rich content. Science books cover a wide range of subjects, including natural sciences, life sciences and astronomy. Parents tend to choose books that are informative and often prefer bilingual editions. Overall, life sciences and applied science picture books sold well, especially titles like Read Physics with Dad and those related to the universe. Sales staff emphasized that fun and interactivity are key factors in attracting children. Many best-selling books include interactive elements like small experiments and puzzles to engage children’s hands-on participation. Additionally, embedding knowledge within engaging stories significantly boosts a book’s appeal. It’s also worth noting that while boys dominate the science picture book audience, anti-gender-bias books are emerging, though their sales performance remains modest.
(2)Sichuan Children’s Press
We learned from the research results of the press that best-selling books are often presented in a comic format and primarily sold through livestreaming on short video platforms. Parents tend to favor science books that are both practical and educational, especially those combining visual appeal, storytelling, and educational content. For science picture books, the content needs to be rich in illustrations, interactive, and a blend of story and knowledge. The editorial team suggested that our biology picture book should minimize text, focus on illustrations, and highlight deeper meanings behind scientific topics. Additionally, innovative designs such as fold-out pages or interactive elements are key to engaging young readers.
(3)Survey Reaserch
We also conducted a survey on parents' opinions on children's science picture books. According to the survey results, about 85% of parents consider it very important for their children to be exposed to science reading materials, with nearly 60% indicating that their children read science picture books at least once a week. Additionally, over 70% of parents are willing to have their children read books on advanced scientific topics like synthetic biology. However, more than 65% of parents expressed dissatisfaction with the current market offerings of children's science books, mainly due to a lack of engaging content and poor-quality illustrations. This indicates a strong demand for more high-quality, creative science books to spark children's interest in science, which is also the ultimate goal of our event.
During SJTUers’ Day, we designed a cartoon character representing spinosad and illustrated stories involving spinosad and various microorganisms in the form of a series of engaging memory cards. These cards were used in games to help participants learn relevant biological knowledge in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. Additionally, we created various merchandise, including keychains, phone stands, stamp booklets, and stamp sets featuring these cartoon elements, which were displayed and sold at our event booth. This approach not only increased the interactivity and enjoyment of the event but also raised public awareness and interest in synthetic biology. The event attracted a large number of students, teachers and alumni, who actively participated in games, interactions and merchandise purchases, significantly enhancing our team's visibility and project impact.
Student 1: "As a biology student, I found the memory card game incredibly engaging. It was both fun and educational, allowing me to learn about polyene antibiotics and the microorganisms they interact with in a creative way. The use of cartoons and games to convey complex scientific concepts made the learning experience enjoyable and memorable. I could see how this approach could spark an interest in biology for those who might not otherwise engage with the subject."
Student 2: "The event was a refreshing take on science outreach. The engaging nature of the games, combined with the vibrant merchandise, made learning about microbes feel less like studying and more like an exploration of a fascinating topic. Many students who aren’t studying biology were drawn in by the creativity of the event."
Teacher: "The interactive nature of the event was truly commendable. The combination of visual aids like the cartoon depictions and the hands-on activity with the memory cards allowed students to grasp the concepts of synthetic biology in a way that traditional teaching methods often fail to achieve. The use of familiar objects like keychains and phone stands with scientific themes also made the subject matter more accessible and relatable to a broader audience."
Alumnus: "Returning to campus for the 'SJTUers’ Day', I was delighted to see how the team had incorporated elements of fun into science education. The colorful stamps featuring school’s iconic buildings were not only visually appealing but also a wonderful way to connect with our shared heritage while learning about synthetic biology and spinosad. This blend of tradition, innovation, and education is exactly what makes our university community so special."
Our team members actively took part in the university's summer recruitment efforts, where they introduced and promoted the importance of biological sciences, with a particular focus on synthetic biology, to high school graduates across the country. Through interactive presentations and engaging discussions, we successfully stimulated interest in these cutting-edge fields, inspiring many students to pursue studies in biological sciences. Additionally, these activities served as a key platform for science outreach, effectively enhancing high school students' understanding of synthetic biology and its potential applications. By fostering curiosity and awareness about the relevance of synthetic biology, we laid a solid foundation for cultivating future talent in both biological and synthetic biology fields.
We participated in the 11th China iGEM Community (CCiC) event held at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. CCiC is a national conference initiated by iGEM teams in China and has now become one of the largest academic conferences for university students in the country. The theme of this year's CCiC conference is "SynBio Nexus." This significant exchange platform allowed us to share and present our research project with iGEM teams from across China, discussing the latest developments and prospects in synthetic biology. We also engaged in productive exchanges with experts from academia and industry, providing new insights and inspiration for our project.
To better promote our project, we created tri-fold brochures and displayed team posters. Thanks to the unique creativity and exquisite design, our posters won the "Most Popular Poster Award," which not only boosted our team's cohesion but also expanded our social impact.
We held a face-to-face exchange event with the iGEM team from East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Both teams engaged in in-depth discussions and shared experiences on project content and Human Practice work. We benefited greatly from the insights and perspectives of the ECUST team, which broadened our understanding of project design and implementation and inspired creative thinking for future work. Additionally, we provided the ECUST team with a guided tour of the SJTU campus, including its history, culture, and our laboratory facilities. This exchange deepened the cooperation between the two universities, laying a solid foundation for future inter-school exchanges and collaboration.
Despite the challenge of time zone differences, we conducted an online meeting with the iGEM team from Imperial College London. During the meeting, both teams presented their respective projects and shared experiences and insights from their Human Practice work. Team members actively posed questions, provided suggestions, and discussed potential improvements and innovative ideas. This international collaboration not only fostered camaraderie between the teams but also offered new inspiration and opportunities for enhancing both projects. Following the meeting, both teams continued to stay in contact, planning for further collaboration and exchange in the future.
We had an online meeting with Tongji-Software on September 27th. Since both our teams chose the software and AI direction, we particularly have some general problems to discuss at last. We both shared our project and talk with each other on our software and human practice part. Through mutual communication, we looked back on our solutions to several problems, and get more inspired by Tongji-Software. Moreover, we also concluded both of our project, which helped our team accumulate more experience for further research.
We launched a team WeChat official account to serve as a bridge between the public and our team. The account introduces the team members, their backgrounds, and our specific research projects in synthetic biology. We regularly update the account with content that documents our activities, such as experimental progress and team-building events, while also publishing educational articles on topics like actinomycetes and Streptomyces. Through these science outreach articles, we aim to enhance public understanding of synthetic biology and inspire interest in the field. The account also includes an interactive comment section, inviting readers to engage in discussions and ask questions, thereby creating a fun and engaging learning platform. This online interaction significantly enhances public engagement and expands the channels of scientific communication.
In order to more effectively spread the concept of synthetic biology and the model used in our project to the public, we decided to start with the theme of diabetes and its treatment drugs which the public is familiar with, and make a science popularization video.
The video begins by addressing the significant increase in the global number of diabetes patients, highlighting diabetes as a critical public health issue. It introduces the mechanisms of diabetes and the role of the drug acarbose. Furthermore, it explains how a genome-scale metabolic network model (GEM) can be utilized to enhance the production efficiency of acarbose. By incorporating the deep learning algorithm DLK-CAP to estimate enzyme turnover numbers, a more accurate model, Deep Learning-Enzyme Constraints GEM (DL-ecGEM), was developed. This model successfully simulated the metabolic state of Streptomyces, identifying key enzymes involved in acarbose production, and providing researchers with targeted recommendations for modifying Streptomyces to improve acarbose production.