In July, the team went to Tuxpan, Jalisco, a community where we had previously established a network to reach out to other towns in our region. We gave a workshop to kids to raise awareness about the water pollution crisis in Mexico. We addressed it in a community with access to large water bodies, trying to understand how they consume, use, and care for their water. In addition, with this activity, not only did we as a team share knowledge, but we also learned about the children's perceptions. They shared what their environment is like, how they are related to water pollution in their city and how it affects them.

The team collaborated with a local student group, "Chicas de Ciencia," to create a week-long summer course for children in Tuxpan, Jalisco. The primary purpose of this educational activity was to introduce kids (ages 10-14) to different science-related topics. To do this quickly and understandably, the team created simple experiments to get the children involved and curious about various scientific phenomena. They were taught to make a lava lamp, metallic slime, a pH indicator with red cabbage, and their own orchard. To ensure a positive experience for the kids, the team also gave them simple surveys at the beginning and end of the activity. It allowed us to get the necessary feedback to understand the actual impact that the course had on the children. The response was very positive.

Hand in hand with outreach, we decided to involve the student community by promoting the power of synthetic biology and research related to water pollution and environmental preservation. For this, we carried out a series of conferences called ImpulseBio, to showcase the great work of two scientific women: Silvia Maribel Contreras Ramírez, Ph.D. and Elizabeth León Becerril, Ph.D. Both researchers at the Center for Research and Assistance in Technology and Design of the State of Jalisco (CIATEJ) exhibited their work in soil remediation using microorganisms and wastewater treatment. With this project, we seek to encourage and support the inclusion of women in science and inform about pollution in water bodies due to the use of chemicals. Due to the impact generated by this activity, we decided to do this on a larger scale, which is why we decided to hold a SynBio event at our institution. "Bootcamp ImpulseBio" took place in September, and it was targeted at first-year college students with interest in Biotechnology. Activities scheduled included a seminar on Synthetic Biology given by José Arcadio Farías, a Ph.D. associated researcher from the Synthetic and systems biology laboratory of the Center for Genomic Sciences of the National Autonomous University. of Mexico (UNAM). Sciences of the National Autonomous University. of Mexico (UNAM).

As part of the program of this event, we organized a molecular biology workshop to teach different techniques for the detection of genetic material in the laboratory. We performed a restriction enzyme assay and gel electrophoresis techniques in the molecular biology workshop. Finally, we arranged a visit to the National Centre of Genetic Resources in Tepatitlán de Morelos, Jalisco, cataloged as "Noah's Ark of the 21st century". It is the largest genetic repository adapted to preserve and care for Mexican species. During the visit, various topics were explained, such as biotechnological agriculture, genomics, molecular microbiology, and virology. It was an excellent source of networking for us as a team. Those attending the visit were offered services of the Center for activities such as research stays and the use of research laboratories.

Our educational contribution to the community begins with the collaboration of a local start-up: Estación Meiquer, an organization in charge of promoting children's education and creativity in an accessible way. An educational book called "Exploring the Roots of our planet" with didactic material was prepared. It was focused on scientific topics such as water pollution, microbiology, and anthropology. The content of the course is divided into four chapters, which in turn are divided into six sections:

1. Introduction

   : a brief explanation of the topic is given

2. Preparation

   : the materials that will be used are listed.

3. Inspiring

   : in this section, the story of a specialist in the field that has stood out is disclosed

4. Imaging

   : we encourage the creativity of children; through small activities

5. Build

   : an experiment related to the topic is carried out

6. Sharing

   : a section that allows children to reflect on the subject.

To consult the material, you can download it at the following link.

We were teaching the book's contents in collaboration with the start-up's staff in two sectors of the metropolitan area of ​​Guadalajara. Public libraries in Tesistán and Jocotán were the chosen locations that had the opportunity of working to improve the accessibility of science education to children. It was carried out from May to August, having several editions of the course. One of the considerations we took in preparing the materials was their accessibility for children in the metropolitan area, which is why the classes were taught in public libraries in the aforementioned points of the city. We wanted to go one step further in inclusion, so we decided to translate the materials into two indigenous languages, Nahuatl and Mixtec.

Biopolis is a cómic that follows Carla, a 12-year-old Mexican girl, through her journey of discovery. One day she gets accidentally shrunk in her mom’s laboratory and finds herself stuck inside the intricate world of the human body. Guided by a new friend, Glucky, she learns what happens inside us face to face. This comic is designed to introduce children and people in general to science, so that they can understand what happens inside our body in a simple way and with a common language, making it accessible to everyone.

Since not only our objective with disclosure is to communicate about emerging contaminants, we have given ourselves the task of disseminating information on different scientific aspects, which are focused on biotechnology and inclusion. For this, we have used media such as social networks, mainly using Instagram in our account igemtec_gdl, where various scientific content is published and a few of the activities are carried out. In addition, we have published 4 blogs, where we discuss our little great scientists summer course, our workshop on water contamination, the project we carry out together with the “Estación meiquer” dissemination of our alliance with SINGREM, and finally a scientific dissemination article on emerging contaminants.