In order to educate the public about science in general and synthetic biology, we have utilised a variety of educational approaches. Our primary target audience was the next generation of bright thinkers who would benefit greatly from learning about the exciting developments taking place in the rapidly developing synbio field.
We conducted camps and sessions for a variety of classes, during which we discussed tools and applications of synthetic biology with the students. To make education more accessible to a broader range of people, we constructed our very own mobile classroom in the form of an education van and drove it to the nearby school. We have also developed a number of new and innovative educational tools, such as a short handbook that explains the fundamentals of synbio and card games that turn synthetic biology into an enjoyable pastime.
iGEM is a competition that uses synthetic biology to solve real-world problems. Since we are working on a project about breast cancer, we have been entrusted with the responsibility of enlightening the general public about the factors that put them at risk for developing breast cancer and providing any other relevant information. To raise awareness about breast cancer among the audience, we developed an infographic pamphlet available in multiple languages and hosted an awareness session on our campus. Through the public interview series and the breast cancer awareness drama, we were able to dispel the myths surrounding breast cancer for people of varying ages, genders, and other demographics.
Since children in the age range of 9 to 12 years are just beginning to learn various science disciplines, they are very curious to know more about them. Hence we believe that this is an ideal time to plant the seeds of scientific curiosity in them. In May, our team organised an online SCI-BIO Camp for students of this age. After analysing the curriculum and surveying students, the team methodically prepared the topics to be covered. The registration form gave us an idea of their familiarity with the topic before attending the sessions.
According to the data, more students are less familiar with cell nucleus and DNA.
A total of four 3-hour sessions were held over the course of two days. Our team members delivered the lessons, and after each topic was discussed, students participated in an interactive activity designed to keep their attention and spark further discussion. One advantage of holding the science camp online is that it removes geographical barriers and allows students from all over the world to participate. We believe that everyone, regardless of age, deserves the chance to gain knowledge; hence, we live-streamed our entire camp on youtube for people of all ages to attend the sessions.
Around 30 enthusiastic participants were present in our camp. After learning the fundamentals of genetics, such as what a cell is, the different types of microbes, and the basics of synthetic biology, the kids participated in a session called "What superpower will your microbe have?" during which they were challenged to use what they had learned to devise their own solutions to real-world problems. On World Microbiome Day, we shared their works on our Instagram stories. Click to see the stories in our Communication page.
The participants were very appreciative of the event and how it was organised, successfully introducing them to science and synthetic biology through lively discussions. They mentioned feeling at ease in the event compared to classroom classes and gave feedback that our novel approach to introducing the fundamentals sparked a surge in curiosity and prompted further inquiry. Find the materials used in the camp here.
Silde 1. Online SCI-BIO Camp Silde 2. The students were very enthusiastic about this 2-day event Silde 3. Feedback from the attendees
After completing the online SCI-BIO Camp, we had an opportunity to interact with students of class 9 from Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School, Chennai. It was an interactive session showcasing the nuances of experimental design and hypothesis testing. Key concepts such as null and alternative hypotheses, setting up controls, and comparing experimental results were taught to the students. They were then asked to design experiments to try and disprove a simple hypothesis -“Number of insects attracted to the colour yellow would be the same as the number of insects attracted to the colour blue”. In addition to this, we asked them to come up with their own hypotheses and encouraged them to think creatively and outside the box. We summed it up with a short introduction to what synthetic biology is, its potential to formulate solutions for real-world problems, and our experience as young researchers. The session provided a glimpse into the prospect of a career in research and the limitless ways science can affect the world.
After that thought-provoking discussion with Class 9 students, we turned to Class 10 students who would soon be faced with the decision of whether or not to choose a STEM education. One of our team members led an interesting session with tenth graders at Brindavan Vidyalaya, Trichy, Tamil Nadu. The session centred around the fundamentals of genetics, the distinction between genetic engineering and synthetic biology, and a brief overview of a variety of different iGEM projects, followed by an explanation of the concept behind our project, Duonco. Read more.
Students were given engaging worksheets with tasks to complete during the session, introducing and discussing the concepts. Through this session, we were able to analyse the topics that most interested the students. They were fascinated about vaccines and topics like the development of cancer cells.
To help them better understand the breadth of career options available after completing 10th grade, we provided a brief overview of all STEM and non-STEM jobs in India. They found the session so engaging that we also discussed topics that were unplanned for. As requested by the students, the session slides were revised to include information on topics that piqued their interest during class and were sent to them. Here are some of the feedback from the students.
Materials
Silde 1. Engaging session with class 10th students of Brindavan Vidyalaya, Trichy Silde 2. The session focused on basics of Genetics, Genetic engineering and Synthetic Biology Silde 3&4. Written feedbacks in the worksheet by the Students
Through this session, we realised the need for a self-explanatory educational book that could introduce the field of synthetic biology and its applications and provide information on pioneers in the field. As a result, we created "Introduction to Synthetic Biology", an information booklet designed to introduce high school students to the field of synthetic biology. Please refer to the "Educational Materials" section for any further details.
After conducting online sessions, we gained an understanding of the insatiable desire students have to gain hands-on experience. During the online microscope session, there was a great sense of excitement among the students. Because of this, we decided to take an initiative to reach out to more people by creating our very own Synbio on Wheels, a mobile education van equipped with microscopes. Six people from the team visited the nearby residential Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya School in Vithura with our mobile lab. We got the chance to talk to students in classes ranging from sixth to twelfth who were very enthusiastic about learning what we had in store for them.
Our “Synbio on Wheels” mobile van with our members in front of the school
We started off our visit by giving a brief classroom-based introduction to synthetic biology, iGEM and providing an overview of our project. Later, the students were introduced to microscopes and shown a variety of microscopic organisms using prepared slides of onion cells, E coli colonies, red blood cells, and the process of mitosis. We also introduced basic techniques of pipetting and LB plates used for bacterial culture.
Short Intro in the classroom followed by Microscopy session
The students were then guided to our van, where we had put various information charts explaining different topics. It included cells, DNA, viruses, vaccines, cancer, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), and our project. The interior of our van was outfitted with a photocopy of microscopic images of lactobacillus, amoeba, onion cells, streaking and plating, fluorescently labelled cells, and two different kinds of microscopes. In addition, we screened an animation video inside our mobile van that provided insights into the diverse range of microorganisms around us. At the gas station, where we stopped on the way back, we also had the chance to engage in conversation with the passersby who were attracted to our Synbio on Wheels van. The information contained in the charts piqued their interest in learning more about cancer and vaccines. Details of infographic charts are available here
Our team members explaining the info charts to the enthusiastic students
Our main target students were high school juniors and seniors. But even elementary school students were eager to learn more about synthetic biology. The students were highly inquisitive about everything that was discussed with them. When we finished our sessions, the teachers and students gave us very positive feedback. To find out what the students thought of the activity, we put up a comment board in our van. The enthusiastic responses we received gave us the assurance of having done a good job educating them while doing justice to this initiative of Synbio on Wheels.
Following our sessions with budding school students, we shifted to STEM-focused students and researchers. This year, we present Synbio Conclave 2.0, a continuation of the global, virtual public talk series on synthetic biology and its applications that was initiated by our previous iGEM team in 2021. We aim to bring together experts on current trends and techniques in this interdisciplinary field to foster a sense of inquisitiveness among the audience and collectively appreciate synthetic biology's beauty. All of our guest speakers possessed a common interest in synthetic biology, despite coming from very different fields of expertise. A four-day virtual event, from September 16th to 19th, 2022, was conducted with an amazing itinerary of talks by 5 outstanding scientists from across the world to expand the horizon of young, aspiring scientific minds. Find screenshots of the Conclave here. and the event brochure with title and abstracts of all the talks here.
Prof. Ron Weiss, Professor of Biological Engineering, MIT
Dr. Domitila Del Vecchio, Mechanical Engineering, MIT
Prof. Gondi Kondaiah Ananthasuresh, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, IISc Bangalore
Prof. Peng Yin, Professor of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School
Mr. Andrew Hessel, founder of the Pink Army Cooperative and Humane Genomics, Inc.
As researchers, it is essential for us to be knowledgeable about the proper and secure disposal of the biological wastes that are produced in our laboratories. The fact that our campus is located in the Western Ghats makes it even more important to pay attention to how we handle the disposal of biological waste. After in-depth research and interviews with individuals involved in the biological waste management system, we created a short documentary film, “Track your Biowaste”, which educates our institute community on how the biological laboratory waste is safely disposed of, outside the campus. The documentary was well received, and people were amazed at the existence of such a waste management facility in our state.
We also uploaded our documentary film on our social media handles to show people our approach to this journey of validating the biosafety aspect of our wet lab practices and educating people on further processing required for safe biological waste management. Our documentation involved inputs from all the staff on and outside campus responsible for safe biological waste management so that the general audience can understand the involvement of the many hands behind the biowaste segregation and disposal. Know more about the interactions in the human practices page.
The feedback recieved from the audience is attached here.
"It was enlightening to know what happens to segregated waste after we dispose of it. I'm delighted to know that it is being taken care of and I hope this inspires everyone to give their all to manage the waste we generate to keep our environment safe"
~Tony, Math PhD, IISER TVM
"It was really eye-openng to learn about how the waste segregation is conducted at an insitute as big as IISER-TVM. A lot of work and attention to detail goes into sorting through the waste at multiple levels of the process. The documentary really pushes one to make a conscious effort to dispose off waste responsibly at the entry level."
~Anumit, 5th year Bio Major, IISER TVM
"It was great knowing what actually happens to all the waste we produce in our labs- the amount of segregation and processing involved came as a welcome surprise. The film showed every step of the disposal, and the incredible people who work for it. It was very enlightening, kudos to the team!"
~Shahnaz, 2nd Year BSMS, IISER TVM
Analysis of the feedback form sent after the film.
Left- Whether the audience knew about IMAGE before
Right- Whether the documentary was helpful in understanding biowaste treatement.
Stories with gripping visuals and good punchlines and stories that make intuitive sense, that make sensual sense to your eyes, and to your ears, and to your touch, they can convince, they have power. You may not believe that two balls, one heavy and one light, dropped from the same high place will drop together, but if you see it with your own eyes, THAT you remember. And as science gets harder, the metaphor becomes more useful and even necessary.
~Robert Krulwich, commencement speech at California Institute of Technology, 2008.
Young people are, for the most part, unfamiliar with synthetic biology because it is a relatively new interdisciplinary field in the scientific community. Here we present "Introduction to synthetic biology", a brief (15-page) informative booklet that will aid in building a foundational knowledge of the field, its applications, and its the latest developments. This inspiration originated from 5 set Encyclopedia by Dorling Kindersley publications which is known for creating and publishing high-quality illustrated books explaining fundamental concepts.
A brief overview of the contents of our book are available here!
This book is written for anyone with a background in biology beyond a sixth-grade level. It's written in an approachable style, and the glossary makes it easy to understand the meaning of any technical terms used. So everyone, even those who aren't from a science background, can grasp it. Responses from a wide variety of readers are provided here!
"The book which was presented by you Is amazing. you provided the concepts in detailed manner. Actually it's very important that all students should know about this. it's very easy to understand and explained in magazine way. it's just fantastic. Great work!"
~KM Pavithra, Class 12
"Very thanks.. for ur informative topic. Because, it tell about the biological factors working in our human body. In day-to-day li fe,we never , interest to know about our Body condition and give more importance. Now great opportunity to know about DNA,RNA functions of our body and vaccination by, through ur Book. It can able to understand for all age people. Nice work and thanking once again to, overall your team. All the Best"
~Rajalakshmi, Homemaker, Age - 40
"Actually it was very good and easy to understand about many new nd simple things abt our body and abt the viruses"
~Ishwarya, Graduate, BE Computer Science
"It's really good, it's attractive and a fun way to study which has conversations too✨ it's really useful and a it's a great job,highly appreciatable👏🏻"
~Keerthana, Class 12
"I have learnt new topics from this book .Before reading i got some doubt on preferred topics (Ex) MRNA, PLASMID, ENZYME, RNA , Now I can understand clearly with good imagination . This book explains brief about germs, human genes, vaccine, cells functioning etc...and many more . This book explains brief about how the good knowledge About synthetic biology."
~Perarasan, Class 10
Silde 1. Students reading the book Silde 2. A kid doing the activity page
We also collaborated with the iGEM IISER Berhampur team to compile a set of synbio worksheets which includes our Synbio Book’s activities. The Worksheets include crossword puzzles, scramble, word finding and true-false questions. They were distributed in schools during our visit, and the kids enjoyed learning new things about synbio by doing these fun-filled activities. Check out our Partnership page for more information.
Here is the pdf of our Synbio Worksheets.
Have you ever wondered why fireflies glow or why flowers bloom? Such curious questions have led to the unravelling of science mysteries by scientists who are by heart still that little kid who wonders WHY it happened. And hence we present WHY? Science-based card games aim to unravel the mysteries of phenomena around us in a fun picture-based card activity. With our partner team, iGEM IISER Berhampur, we came up with questions that would raise curiosity in kids and urge them to think beyond the box about the things they see around them every day.
The moderator has a set of 10 cards. The kids have to pick one card from it, flip and read the question below the given picture. If the kid answers all the questions correctly in the cards, the kid will get a prize. In this way, we unravel some exciting scientific facts.
Kids trying to guess the answer for WHY?
Here are the ten cards with questions and their answers.
Board games aren't new to Indian kids. Snakes and ladders, Ludo, LIFE, and Monopoly (sometimes called business) were popular childhood pastime activities. Everyone can relate to the experience of staying inside on a hot summer afternoon playing Monopoly, stubbornly sticking with the same game for days, and eventually learning the ins and outs of business and finance. It's a fun, competitive game that teaches you about trading and investing and patience and running a business.
The fact that Monopoly is readily available, already well-known, simple to understand and play, and, most importantly, an excellent teaching medium are a few of the factors that contributed to our decision to use this game as a means to educate students about synthetic biology. Because of this, here we present Synbiopoly inspired by Monopoly board game. Our target audience is everyone aged 12 years or above.
In our take on Monopoly, the "players" are bacteria of various types, and the goal is to infect as many human organs as possible while staying alive in the game, where rent is paid in the form of protein units. The game is based on and played in a very similar fashion to the classic version of Monopoly, with the goal of learning how a microbial infection in the human body works. The board has 20 cards representing different human organs, each with a brief description of the organ's location and function in the body. This helps pinpoint the organ's precise location inside the human body.
Finally, the signalling cards, the highlight of the game, serve as a set of instructions for the players, outlining various scenarios and the affect they would have on the bacteria. Here, we hope to introduce synthetic biology by demystifying terms like plasmid, antibiotic resistance, chemotoxicity, and mutagens and giving players a taste of the changes observed in bacteria when exposed to modifications. The materials for this game are available here.
During our project reveal, we realized that there is very less awareness among students and the general public about Breast cancer. As students, we must have learned cancer as a science term. But it is important for us to have a basic knowledge of cancer, the risk factor and how we can detect it early for better treatment.
Hence we talked to our institute’s medical officer Dr. Hema Francis, who has organized several breast cancer screening campaigns. With her guidance we created a Breast Cancer awareness pamphlet to spread awareness to a larger audience. Our pamphlet became a compact but effective educational tool to spread awareness about breast cancer. It is short, not time-consuming to read and constantly reminds readers of the importance of Self Breast Examination for early detection. Read more.
The information for the pamphlet was created after consultation with Dr Hema Francis. Currently, there are two things that need to be urgently addressed to the public that is available in our pamphlets.
We tried to make our pamphlet as inclusive as possible. Two things we incorporated were:
The information pamphlet can be found here.
Later, we went to translate the pamphlet into Malayalam, our native language, Hindi, the widely used Indian language and Tamil, the neighbouring state language. All these translations were proofread and distributed to different people in different states according to their language preferences.
Our pamphlet was extensively distributed during three of our important events - Breast Cancer Awareness Session, Breast Cancer Awareness drama and Public Interview series to break many myths about breast cancer to the general public.
We did not restrict our distribution only during events. All of our team members made an active attempt to distribute the pamphlet to whoever they met to spread this awareness. Some of the receivers include students, Doctors, Shopkeepers, Drivers, and Government workers
As part of this campaign, We organised a Breast Cancer Awareness and Screening Camp for all the housekeeping staff of our institute. Our institute medical officer Dr Hema Francis conducted Breast Cancer Awareness Session for all the staff present there in Malayalam.
To reach out to a wider audience, we translated her prepared English presentation into Malayalam. This enabled the audience to better understand the class in their native language
Breast Cancer Awareness session
The presentation slides are available here in English and Malayalam.
To read more about this event, visit the Breast Cancer Awareness session on the Human Practices page.
The main component of our entire project are OMVs - Outer membrane Vesicles of bacterial origin find their purpose in diverse fields of Synthetic biology. For the future iGEMers and researchers to improvise and build upon, we present a well-documented OMV Handbook that compiles our extensive literature study on the composition, biogenesis, and bioengineering of OMVs and their applications in vaccines as adjuvants and diagnostics. Find the Handbook at Bacterial Outer Membrane Vesicles: A Guide on the Contributions page.
