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Education

Junior High School Students College Students Popular Science Articles 2022: An Instruction Handbook Original Song

This year, we mainly conducted educational publicity for students. While promoting the project, we not only carried out the enlightenment education of synthetic biology for junior high school students, but also carried out scientific popularization for college students, to enhance their understanding of this subject and then serve the growth of the iGEM community. According to the epidemic situation and prevention policies, our educational activities were carried out both offline and online.

Junior High School Students

First, we have partnered with NEU_CHINA. After the discussion in an online meeting, we decided to launch an offline publicity activity. On August 11, 2022, we came to Inner Mongolia Xilinhot No.1 Junior High School with NEU_CHINA and gave them a unique biology lesson. We mainly explained the definition and the research directions of synthetic biology, and also briefly introduced the iGEM competition.

Fig. 1. The team member was giving lessons to the students.

In the afternoon, we carried out a biological knowledge competition within the scope of the Grade 9 students. After the competition, we selected the first, second and third prizes according to the results of the students’ answers and awarded them the corresponding prizes. And we also explained the answers to them. Through the knowledge competition, it not only enhanced the students' knowledge reserves, but also stimulated their interest and enthusiasm for biology and synthetic biology.

Fig. 2. Students were writing the competition paper seriously.

College Students

We conducted some outdoor experiments when recruiting new members to the iGEM club.

We prepared a knowledge contest about the biological knowledge and iGEM. The students who participated in the contest both enriched their knowledge and got a small gift.

Fig. 3. Knowledge contest papers.

Fig. 4. Some small gifts to the participants.

We also provided a microscope, some permanent slides and some materials for making temporary slides. Under the guidance of our team members, students not only observed the permanent slides, but also prepared temporary slides on themselves using the potatoes or celery samples, and observed the cells and tissues.

Fig. 5. An optical microscope.

Fig. 6. Materials for slides making and observation.

Besides, we played the original song to attract more people. And we also gave a brief explanation of synthetic biology to the students who came to consult the iGEM club, such as the CRISPR and the high-throughput detection and screening technology.

Through these activities, the students' understanding of biological experiments was deepened and more people were attracted to join us.

Fig. 7. A group photo of the members in charge of the publicity activities of iGEM club.

Popular Science Articles

In order to expand the scope of educational activities, we have also published a series of popular science articles on the WeChat official account——DUT iGEM .

First, we introduced the definition and application of synthetic biology and its popular technology——CRISPR. Then we focused on the field of biomanufacturing. We introduced isopropanol which is very important but little-known, hoping to raise public awareness of isopropanol and pave the way for the use and development of isopropanol in the future.

By publishing articles on the Internet, we wish that more people will know and understand synthetic biology and pay attention to biomanufacturing.

Fig. 8. Popular science articles that we published.

2022: An Instruction Handbook

Considering that our team has relatively rich experience in participating in the iGEM competition, we joined in the preparation of “An Instruction Handbook” by JLU_China.

We have shared our experience and suggestions in terms of the team building and competition-related work. Through this handbook, we hope to provide useful assistance to the new teams and help them avoid unnecessary mistakes.

Fig. 9. The cover of the handbook.

Fig. 10. Our team’s experience sharing.

Original Song

We also innovated ourselves by creating an original song about synthetic biology, which enriched our forms of education. This song was shown on our wiki page. And we also displayed it at the recruitment activities for iGEM club.

The song lyrics:

Have you ever heard of synthetic biology?

Vaccine production

iGEMers are its pioneers

Drug improvement

A bottom up strategy

Biomanufacturing

A natural test-bed for new ideas

Pollution control

Some roads lead to one way

And sustainable development

Any device has its day