Queen’s Genetically Engineered Machine (QGEM) Team is the Queen’s University chapter of International Genetic Engineered Machine (iGEM). We are an undergraduate research and design team that uses innovations in the fast-evolving field of synthetic biology to tackle current real-world problems related to medicine, industry, the environment, sustainability, and more. We also part of the collective Ontario Genetic Engineered Machine (oGEM), with whom we collaborate with to share ideas, lab protocols, and funding plans. This year, our team is focusing on providing a rapid diagnostic water quality test for Canadian Indigenous communites. Our main goals this year are to develop and at-home water pathogen detection and filtration system, to spread awareness throughout the community towards the issue, and to create a working prototype of our device.