Japan meet up in March
Information on Collaborators
10 Japanese iGEM teams, the Japan community, and HQ, Dorothy, participated in the event. Waseda, TUPLS, Tokyo-Tech, TSUKUBA24, Sci-net, Kyoto, Grand Tokyo, ASIJ, Alliance
Why we collaborated
All teams wanted to communicate with other iGEM teams in Japan and exchange information about this year's projects.
When & How we collaborated
The March meetup was held in a face-to-face and online format at the Tokyo Institute of Technology's ELSI.
What we did
Introduction of team members and presented an overview of the projects we will be working on this year. Also we asked several questions of the other teams' presentations.
What we got
Our first collaboration in 2024 was excellent. The question and answer session on the still rough draft of the project gave us some guidance as we move forward with the project. The presentations and interactions with the other teams also motivated us to move forward with the project.
Collaboration with CJUH-JLU-China
Our collaboration activity consists of three parts. One is translation of the picture book described below, another is writing an original ethical handbook for synthetic biology, and the last is mutual improvement of our projects.
We mainly communicated via email. Adding to this, we had fruitful zoom discussions.
Motivation
CJUH-JLU-China team members sent us an email, inviting us to be involved in their projects of making a picture book in several languages and writing an original ethical handbook for synthetic biological study. Having been interested in their project last year, which is partly common for ours, and the collaborations themselves, we were willing to collaborate.
Picture book in several languages
First, we received an original picture book of the English version, which was made by CJUH-JLU-China team. It was made aiming to have children know that to be aware of bacteria in our daily lives and to keep clean are important. In order to deeply understand the content, we asked questions about trivial wordings and authors' intentions. Then, we translated the book into Japanese fitting our cultural context, which was approved by CJUH-JLU-China members.
Ethical handbook
CJUH-JLU-China team was trying to make an original ethical handbook with several iGEM teams inside and outside of their country. They asked us to take charge of medical ethics regulation parts. It was the perfect position for us, as we have Wet lab in the medical science institute and work in an environment that has been seriously addressing ethical issues in medicine, including development of iPS cells, which is one of the highlights of research in Japan. We looked at the existing medical ethics rules that we follow, and after much deliberation we adapted and added parts that are particularly applicable to synthetic biology. Other teams made other parts of the book. We gained a deeper understanding of ethical issues by being proactive in considering rules rather than just passively following them.
Mutual Improvement of Projects
Aiming to improve our mutual research, we proposed to hold a discussion on our projects. Through several times of zoom meetings, we explained our projects, asked questions, and gave advice to each other. We had been especially interested in their 2023 project, having a hunch that it would inspire ours this year. During the zoom meeting, they kindly answered our questions, incorporating the views of their seniors, who mainly engaged in their '23 project. Our collaboration of presenting our own research and objectively evaluating the other team's projects could not be done within a single team, and it was a good experience for deciding on our research direction.
What we got
With this collaboration, we got off to a good start to interact with other teams, with the joy of connecting across borders through a common interest in synthetic biology and completing a project together. Understanding their projects and thinking about the way to improve projects of both of us gave us a chance to think about our project in an objective way. Their detailed questions and advice helped us to improve our project design. Having a fruitful communication itself increased our confidence toward our future as iGEMers.
Discussion with Waseda-Tokyo
Information on Collaborators
Waseda-Tokyo, the iGEM team at Waseda University
Why we collaborated
We wanted feedback on the project from an iGEMer's perspective. Also, we wanted to review the schedule to wiki freeze and built a fire under by learning about the progress of the other team.
When & How collaborated
It was held in early August at KOMAD, the usual place for us.
What we did
About five members each introduced themselves and took pictures. First, Waseda-Tokyo introduced their project for about 30 minutes. After that, UTokyo members asked them questions about their projects. Various questions and answers were exchanged, ranging from the project design to the details of the Dry. We also discussed together the reasons why things were not going well at Wet.
Next, UTokyo gave a 30 minute introduction of their project. After that, Waseda-Tokyo asked questions about the project. The specifics of the project are posted on the website page.
What we got
We got feedback on the project. It also helped me understand what aspects of the project were not communicated well. It was a good practice to make better slides and presentations for the promotional and presentation videos. We also had a good exchange after this event, sharing the difficulties and joys of iGEM.
Japan Meetup in August
Information on Collaborators
10 Japanese iGEM teams and the Japan community participated. Waseda-Tokyo, TUPLS, TSUKUBA24, Sci-net, Kyoto, Qdai, ASIJ, Alliance BotchanLab-Tokyo
Why we collaborated
All teams wanted to communicate with other iGEM teams in Japan and exchange information about this year's projects. To conduct mock judging sessions in Japan.
When & How collaborated
The August meetup was held at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID), Toyama, Japan, in a combined face-to-face/online session.
What we did
Our team members were introduced and presented an overview of the projects we are working on this year. We also asked several questions to the other teams' presentations. In order to make the Meetup a fruitful activity, we did some research that led to entrepreuner as well as project descriptions.
For more information, see Entrepreneurship
What we got
In a presentation, it is important to be accurate and easy to understand. However, we sometimes have a cognitive bias toward our own projects and end up omitting necessary explanations or explaining in more detail than necessary. This meetup was a good exercise for us to be aware of the presentation video coming up in a month, and to choose what to include within the time limit. Also, when considering what we could only do at the meetup and its impact on our project, we decided to solicit input on the sales strategy for the detection device. This allowed us to get an idea of what people need and don't want in a product.
