Overview
In order to implement education about synthetic biology and our Nitrisensor to the public, we have joined the Southern China meeting, held the forums for senior high school and university students, installed a stall in the CUHKSZ Recruitment event and held an Orienteering Activity. Those chances helped us introduce science ideas to the various ages of students and their parents. Also, Orienteering Activity has increased the enjoyment of the introducing process, which brought lots of fun to the participants.
Our Events
Southern China meeting in Shenzhen University
On June 3rd, 2022, our iGEM team participated in the 2022 iGEM Southern China Regional Meeting hosted by Shenzhen University. There were 15 participating teams in this meeting, including the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-Sen University, Southern University of Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, and so on. The meeting was held both online and offline, with participants a total of about 50 people.
During the communication, we discovered the shortcomings in our projects and the direction for future improvement. We received valuable advice from Shenzhen University on using a microcontroller to build a sensor and reached an initial cooperation intention. At the same time, we also guidance on making freeze-dried bacterial powder from SZPT-CHINA.
Co-education for SZPT students
On the way to Yakult Production Factory in Guangzhou, we acquired a chance to introduce our Nitrisensor to SZPT students. Such a chance occurred immediately. Our team leader Wang Zi volunteered to do the publicity of the social needs for a fast, convenient way of detecting nitrite. Then, we collaborated with SZPT to finish the education. In addition, we introduced iGEM competition to them and how synthetic biology has changed the world in recent years. Some audiences have shown great interest in synthetic biology and raised some questions about the application of both projects. Then, we provided the answers to the questions and finished such an unforgettable educational experience.
CUHKSZ School Recruitment Event
After simply introducing the importance of detection of nitrite, current technology for measuring nitrite, and our Nitrisensor to them, some of them were curious about the future prospectus of the Nitrisensor application. Meanwhile, it has to be mentioned that one of the parents has concerned about the safety related to synthetic biology in the future application, and we explained the relevant rules and laws to them. It is a pleasure to witness that several freshmen-year students showed significant interest in attending the iGEM competition next year, as finishing such a gigantic project with outstanding students is such an enjoyable experience during life at the university.
Synthetic biology Forum in Shenzhen Foreign Languages School
In September, we held a forum in Shenzhen Foreign Languages School related to the application of synthetic biology in contemporary society with SZU_China and Tongji_China. Such collaboration existed because there was one of the members of each iGEM team graduated from Shenzhen Foreign Languages School. We introduced the synthetic biology and projects of each iGEM team during the form. There were about 40 senior high school students joined the forum.
During the Q&A session, some students showed a passion for synthetic biology. They asked what majors should be chosen if they would like to do research related to synthetic biology. After that, we prepared a provocative and thoughtful question for them “What other areas that you think you could apply synthetic biology to encounter the obstacle.” We used an anonymous questionnaire to collect the result, and the answers are shown below:
- It could probably be used for the treatment of Hepatitis B virus (HBV)
- Can RNAi use in the excision of cancer cells that are relevant to RNA? Or could it be used for the treatment of HIV, like stopping the process of anti-transcription and replication?
- I think mRNAi or mRNAa could be used for treating some rare illnesses such as Sarcopenia. I have heard a bit about mRNAa technology, and I hope it could be used for the prevention of parasites, as home dogs and home cats are needed to eliminate the parasites on them every month.
After receiving those interesting ideas, our team members would write letters to them based on their responses relevant to the understanding of synthetic biology application and prepare gifts such as masks, card holders, and key rings for them.
iGEM Forum in the Chinese University of Hongkong, Shenzhen
At the end of September, we held an academic forum about iGEM and synthetic biology. This activity has attracted about 40 students to attend. Except for talking about iGEM and synthetic biology, we introduced our project systematically to them. The forum lasted about two hours.
In the Q&A session, some students raised their concerns about attending the iGEM competition next year, and one student from the School of Management and Economics asked about the value of our Nitrisensor. We replied to their questions one by one. More importantly, our team members shared our experiences from different perspectives, as we are from diverse backgrounds and various schools, such as the School of Medicine | School of Life and Health Sciences, School of Data Science, and School of Science and Engineering. It has illustrated that no matter which major you are, it is possible for you to join our iGEM team if you are interested in using synthetic biology to solve local problems.
Orienteering Activity in CUHKSZ
During National Holidays, we held the Mentor Program Orienteering Activity associated with the Academic Department of the Student Union of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. There were about 80 teams participating in such activity.
For the game session, we designed interesting educational games to interact with the participating students. More specifically, we prepared the plasmid puzzle, pop quiz, and memory games for them to acquire fun from the game process.
More importantly, they could learn knowledge about synthetic biology through the game process. In memory games, we prepared some key words about synthetic biology for them to remember. Through this plasmid puzzle, the students had the opportunity for learning the related concepts of synthetic biology and Biobrick. In addition, they might know about the knowledge related to E. coli nitrogen metabolism through the pop quiz. We have acquired a great reputation from the orienteering activity.
Social Media
We have used WeChat Official Account and Instagram to illustrate our works and educate the knowledge about synthetic biology and the importance of nitrite testing. Most posts showed higher likes, comments and reposts.
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