Collaboration with the Tec-Chihuahua iGEM Team
One of the biggest hurdles facing our team this year was not having anyone versed in HTML script. Roxy had the most coding experience having taken two semesters of computational python and was assigned making sure the website was created and stayed on track. After Roxy asked some questions to the website section of the iGEM slack, Denisse from Tec-Chihuahua reached out to ask if she wanted a crash course in website code. We had a Zoom meeting during which they taught her how to resize images, reformat and size columns and rows, and how to change header orientation. We have since stayed in touch, and Denisse has been available to answer many more of Roxy's questions including how to add hyperlinks within pages to sections of that page for effective indexes.
Collaboration with the Alma College iGEM Team
This year, we have decided to collaborate with Alma College to practice over our presentations and give helpful critque to each other. In addition to practicing our presentations, we are giving each other advice on wiki, how to get funding, logistics of the Giant Jamboree, and how to navigate challenges that come with the school semester while juggling iGEM tasks. This collaboration is beneficial to both teams as we have other people that can help out and give their perspectives on different topics.
Alma College this year is working on their project for the 3rd year in a row. They are testing the level of DDT in the Pine River soil surrounding their school. They are using a plasmid called RFP that will fluoresce red in the presence of DDT. The DDT was spread into the Pine River due to diseases like malaria in the 1950's. This carcinogen was known to cause deaths in children, fishermen, cause birds to fall out of the sky, and fish would be washed ashore. This year, they have developed a kill switch in their project and a cell free protein synthesis. This will allow for other iGEM teams to run Gibson assembly and cell transformations.
We are exctied to work with the Alma College as our project also aligns with theirs. We are both environmentally focused on our project. The practice presentations are a huge benefit to both teams as we can give feedback to each other and be prepared for the Giant Jamboree.
