Section I - Safety in laboratory
Safety Training
SUSTech requires every student entering the laboratory to complete comprehensive online learning and participate in a laboratory safety exam. Only after obtaining the certification can they enter the laboratory.
Fire Safety
We participated in the annual fire drill, where we learned essential escape techniques and how to use a fire extinguisher.
Night Experiment Sign
Experiments at night are unavoidable but also dangerous. To warn people that experiments are being conducted at night, we created a sign to indicate that work is in progress inside. When the school's safety inspectors see the sign, they will enter the lab to check and assist us in ensuring the safety of night experiments.
Rules and Regulations
In accordance with national requirements, all of our activities must be conducted under the guidance of the Technical requirement for environmental labeling products—Digital copying (including multi-function)devices (HJ 424-2017, replacing HJ/T 424-2008, entry into force on 2018-03-01).
According to the school's more specific requirements, all of our activities must be conducted under the guidance of the Measures for the Management of Laboratory Biosafety of Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech [2022] No. 156).
Safety Poster
We also made safety posters to share our understanding in laboratory safety.
Section II - Safety in human practice activities
Protection of Minors' Privacy
Since it is difficult to avoid including photos of minors in event group pictures, we have created cartoon avatars that suit their age group to protect their personal privacy. The minors have also expressed approval and appreciation for these avatars. These avatars protect the minors' identities while allowing them to freely participate in various science communication activities, strengthening our emotional connection with the community.
Guardians are often sensitive about signing portrait rights agreements, but they have shown appreciation for these cartoon avatars, which makes us feel that our approach has been successful.
Insurance
When organizing various activities, especially outdoor events such as beach cleanups, we provide necessary safety training and purchase essential insurance for all participants, including teachers, organizers, and recorders. This is to prevent any serious safety incidents from occurring.
Section III - Safety in our project
High sensitivity suicide switch design
Considering the excellent light-filtering properties of seawater, we have cleverly designed a light-controlled, highly sensitive suicide switch. In seawater, green and red light, which can activate the toxicity of KillerRed, rapidly attenuate. Ultimately, blue light induces the pDawn promoter, leading to the high expression of KillerRed protein without causing cytotoxicity. When the strain escapes the system and comes into contact with natural light, the high intracellular concentration of KillerRed protein becomes toxic, causing the strain to rapidly lyse.
Model validation
The light intensity prediction model show that according to the real data measured by wet lab members, the maximum safety depth. According to the physical parameters of sea area we investigated, the attenuation coefficients of blue light is 0.1105m-1. Therefore, if we use the average light intensity, the maximum safety depth is 51m. If we use the minimum light intensity to provide the most adequate protection, the maximum safe depth will be 38m.
Hardware linkage
To achieve biosecurity during cultivation, we designed multiple versions of the hardware. Eventually we go through the safety compartment to achieve biosafety.
