Introduction
Sogang_Korea recognizes the value of diversity and inclusion in the scientific community. We are dedicated to making the synthetic biology community more open and creating a scientific environment in which everyone can participate because the ultimate goal of our team is to make it possible for anyone to conduct synthetic biology experiments anywhere using SynBioBot. We are also a team solving authentic problems using a tool called synthetic biology through IGEM. As a result, we have carried out our various activities following this collaborative spirit.
For the Children
We visited SD Kanisius Dewet in Indonesia. To introduce the children to living cells, we taught them how to observe cells under an optical microscope and allowed them to draw pictures of the cells they observed. They also studied cell culture and gene transmission and created a cell model using jelly and snacks. Children could become familiar with cells and learn about their characteristics through this activity.
We learned from this activity that scientific communication should not be delivered in a top-down or one-way manner. It is more important to break down barriers and approach each other, even if we share a little knowledge. We realized that scientific communication can be successful in this process.
For Teenagers
In high school, we looked for students to work on project with us. Many students applied after reading our research plan, and we build an EBPH team with three students from Hansung Science High School who are interested in life science and robot control. We shared our skills and ideas about the 3D printer, CAD, cell culture, and lentiviral system with them.
The EBPH team's goal during the activity was to develop the ability to understand and apply synthetic biology experiments and robot control through our projects. The students were able to grasp the importance of cell culture in biology experiment and apply it to setting up experimental behavior. In addition, by learning how to design robot motion, they was able to gain a general understanding of the project.
Our program was not a one-time event, but rather a continuous process of holding idea meetings twice a week and designing the instruments used in the experiment. We brainstormed together while designing the supporting part, and after many trials and errors, we were able to successfully design the pipette machine. If you are interested in the detailed design process of other instruments, you can read about it Hardware. Students were able to not only acquire knowledge, but also participate in the development of SynBioBot and learn how to apply knowledge through this activity. Furthermore, when they conduct their own experiments, they will be able to use this method to understand and apply the principles of remote experiments.
For the Public
We held a Korean Synthetic Biology Competition in association with other university teams in Korea. This has helped raise the public's awareness of synthetic biology, and the joint team's project preparation has been an opportunity to strengthen partnerships
In addition, through continuous exchanges with other university teams, we shared team goals and project progress and exchanged feedback. In addition, the most effective way to spread information in modern society is to use the Internet, so we made and distributed online promotional materials to spread it to the public.
For the Researchers
From simple tasks to complex experiments, our SynBioBot can perform a variety of scientific experiments on behalf of humans. The greatest advantage of robot scientists is that they are experimenters who are not concerned about the coronavirus, and working overtime is not an issue. This aids in relieving researcher fatigue and directing the energy accumulated toward more advanced intellectual research. At that time, human researchers can think creatively. The robot can handle the experimental equipment used by real human scientists with the help of the equipment we designed and built. In addition, when compared to humans, robots improve experimental speed and accuracy. Because robots conduct the entire experimental process and humans only need to supervise, automating researchers rather than experimental equipment has sufficient benefits for our project.
For the Disabled
The software-based educational system with remote robots is also available online, giving students access to a variety of channels. However, for students with disabilities, there are few learning materials or content available.
Our SynBioBot will be able to expand experimental training opportunities for students with disabilities, and learning content will be tailored to their specific needs. This provides educational opportunities without discrimination and can result in positive life changes such as improving disabled students' computing thinking skills, academic achievement, and overall life.
For the Developing World
Students and researchers in developing countries often struggle to obtain the necessary experimental equipment or environment for study or research. By providing remote experimental systems in these environments, our SynBioBot can assist them. There are still science teacher invitation education and college student dispatch education programs for developing countries, but it is difficult to provide conditions for developing-country students to conduct their own experiments. In this regard, we place a high value on allowing students to conduct experiments remotely. Furthermore, the entire experiment process can be conducted to gain an advantage in terms of learning, and the performance button can be made separately for each experimental stage to be divided into learning. This is an opportunity to provide students with learning opportunities in environments where expensive experimental equipment is difficult to obtain.
Next Steps
We will use our strengths as a team of students from various majors to further develop these initiatives for diversity and inclusion within iGEM, and we will continue to promote the space of our team’s project. From synthetic biologic ideas to SynBioBot’s operation, we will connect our project with more student groups and make our SynBioBot available to everyone.
