In Chlipid, we emphasized the importance of inclusivity. We focus on building a diverse synthetic biology community where everyone can be involved, learn and express themselves. We proposed several approaches to mainly include teenagers in elementary and high school to learn more about synthetic biology, energy issues and algae. Nevertheless, we constantly reached out to fellow iGEMers to communicate and collaborate. Together, we boost the development of iGEM community into a more diverse, equal, equitable and representative environment.

To enlarge the public engagement, we cooperated with municipal and provincial authorities to propagandize our project, attracting more than 90,000 people to get involved in our scientific propagation activities online.

The municipal authority, Chengdu ecology and environment Bureau held a forum called Rongchengzhitan, which means wisely making contribution to reducing carbon emissions. On this forum, we shared the inspiration, the practical significance and technical cores of our project, trying to provoke the wisdom among citizens towards reducing carbon emissions by utilizing small stuff around us, just like using microalgae for bioduel production. Significant also, our PI, professor Tang Lixia, also did an online sharing whose topic is “Bio-based plastic degradation technology”. sharing given by our team received 26,000 likes in total. Many citizens who participated in this online forum expressed their appreciation to our environmental protection technology. An official from Chengdu ecology and environment bureau commented that sharing of this kind could inspired some youth to study harder and learn cutting-edge technology to make beneficial contributions to our society.

With the provincial authority, Sichuan Science and Technology Museum, we gave algal class on their live platform due to the severity of COVID-19. We delivered algal class and led audience into our lab online to see the algae growth and experiment apparatus, which 90,100 audience in total to attend our course . Positive feedbacks were given about our course. Some children said that they are very glad to participate in our course, which teems with knowledge and happiness. Certain parents excitedly extend their gratitude to us, claiming that course of this kind can contribute to broadening Children’s horizons as well as raising their interest in scientific knowledge.

As our team used the CRISPR-Cas9 system to cultivate highly efficient algae, we wanted to address related technical problems and expand our way of thinking, a CRISPR-themed meetup was hosted by us and HainanU_China. On the meetup, 7 other teams, including CPU_China, SCU-China, BIT DUT_China, HiZJU-China, NWU-CHINA-A, SCAU_China, and SJTU-software joined our extensive discussion. We also invited three special guests to give comment on our presentation and discussion. They are Yang Jianzhe who acted as iGEM Ambassador in 2021, Liu Jingrong who has been tutoring more than 20 iGEM teams and ShiSonglin who is a member of the Biodiversity Leadership Program and familiar with the CRISPR system. With 8 other iGEM teams and three special guests, we did extensive discussions on experiment, modeling, wiki, and human practice respectively. For our part, after presenting our project in great detail, other teams gave us precious advice on algae cultivation, CRISPR application, eletro-transformation, and so on.

After the meetup ended, a brochure for this meetup was formed to record the whole process of this meeting. Through this CRISPR meetup, our knowledge of the CRISPR application has been broadened and we got various advice on improving our project. Also, every team present had unique attainment at this meeting, and that is where the significance of communication and friendship lies.

Besides, we also attended CCiC(Conference for China iGEMer Community) to do the presentation of our project, as well as discussing widely with other 84 teams. At this conference, the judge said that our project has vital importance for current energy problems. But we should enhance biosafety levels on the original basis due to the application of gene-editing technology. Significant also, our team captain Wang Xingjie also acted as the judge to give comments and advice on other teams' project.