Social investigations

Synthetic biology promotes the development of society and human progress. Before it serves and benefits mankind, we need to have a deep understanding of the problems plaguing mankind, so as to find reasonable and efficient solutions.

Interview

Interview Summary

In conclusion, we decided to make a lycopene antioxidant food additive. We chose a topical biodegradable film product rather than an edible one. This has greatly reduced public concern about food additives.

Through interviews with people of different ages in different industries, combined with their interviews and suggestions, we have benefited a lot and constantly adjusted and improved our projects.

We started by interviewing a number of farmers who learned about the treatment and application of most straw. Through interviews, we found that farmers now treat straw relatively simply and primitively, do not consider the utilization rate and environmental pollution problems, and do not know more straw treatment methods. After we went to interview relevant enterprises and government departments, HBUT-China read a lot of literature and reports, combined with the current social situation, compared various types of straw treatment methods, and found that the raw material treatment of straw is the best solution to solve the straw treatment method, taking into account the advantages of high utilization rate and reducing environmental pollution, again, we went to interview the relevant enterprises and relevant government departments of the straw treatment method, through a large number of interviews, We understand that enterprises and the government encourage efficient and environmentally friendly treatment of straw, and the raw material treatment we compared has been supported by enterprises and the government, but the current raw material treatment method has not been widely promoted, and we have conducted literature search, brainstorming and laboratory experiments to continuously simplify the process of straw raw material treatment, laying the foundation for subsequent raw material treatment of straw.

HBUT-China in the process of preliminary interviews and searching for information, found that the aging of the population is also a social concern, we go to the nursing home to accompany the elderly, the elderly in the nursing home accompaniment is not only to respect the old and love the elderly, we also hope to communicate with the elderly, understand the elderly for anti-aging feelings and the need for antioxidants, so as to continuously improve the project, so that high-yield lycopene can be more effectively applied to real life in the future. In the context of population aging, the aging problem is truly alleviated. At the same time, we interviewed a large number of doctors to understand the aging problem in the context of global aging from a professional perspective. Through preliminary interviews, data searches and team discussions, we decided to try to find a solution that can slow down the aging problem, and through a large number of literature comparisons, we found that lycopene is an excellent antioxidant that can solve the comprehensive problem. In the process of data search, we also learned that lycopene is less used in reality due to problems such as low yield and high cost, which also prevents lycopene from playing a great role as an excellent antioxidant.

Considering the subsequent application, the team has the idea of applying lycopene to antioxidant plastic wrap, health products and even medicine, and we further interviewed relevant researchers and corporate governments to lay the foundation for bringing lycopene to the market in the future to make it work.

Questionnaire Investigation

In order to have a more profound and extensive understanding of the problem of straw treatment and aging, HBUT-China produced a questionnaire and started a wide range of surveys. In a short period of time, we received hundreds of surveys from professionals in various related industries. We sorted out and analyzed the investigated data.

Before we popularize the science of biosynthesis to wider audiences, we created questionnaires to learn about people's acquisition of biosynthesis knowledge.

• As shown in Figure 1, we can see that 1, 50.43% of people tend to obtain biosynthesis knowledge from the Internet.
• As shown in Figure 2, we can see that 2, there are three major needs for synthetic biology education: for general life, biosynthesis laboratory openness, and application of knowledge based on facts. The strongest response was for synthetic biology in life, accounting for 69.54%.

China is a big agricultural country. In order to protect the environment, we develped a method to use leftover straw waste. In order to obtain the public's feedback about the uses of straw, we conducted an online research.

• As shown in Figure 3, we can see that 3, 48.85% of the people still see burning the straw as an option, indicating that the straw has not been fully utilized. In addition, using straw for feed and fertilizer accounted for 52.87% and 54.02% respectively, indicating that there is still a lot of room for progress of straw raw materials.
• As shown in Figure 4, we can see that 4,it confirms the public's recognition of the "five modernizations" of straw. Meanwhile, 41.09% of the people are more inclined use straw as raw materials. Compared with only 25.29% of the straw raw materials around the people in Figure 3, it explains the social requirements of the straw raw materials in the future.

Lycopene is a natural food additive and antioxidant. Before experimenting with food additive derived products, we investigate the public's attitude towards food safety, their views on food additives, and the expectation of lycopene derived products.

• Figure 5 demonstrates the prospect of lycopene as an antioxidant. It can be seen from Figure 6 that people attach great importance to food safety.

As shown in Figure 7 and 8, we can see that 7 and 8, the public has an understanding and supportive attitude towards food additives.

In conclusion, we decided to make a lycopene antioxidant food additive. We chose a topical biodegradable film product rather than an edible one. This has greatly reduced public concern about food additives.

Therefore, we have produced and published on major platforms in China, including short videos related to synthetic biology and biosynthesis laboratory functions in life.

China is a large agricultural country. In order to protect the environment, we have used the method of straw raw materialization. In order to obtain the feedback from the masses in straw, we conduct a survey of "Five ways to deal with straw" related content of the masses. Figure 3 shows that 48.85%of the masses still have the phenomenon of burning straw, indicating that straw is not fully utilized. In addition, straw feed and straw fertilizer of the masses account for 52.87% and 54.02%, respectively, indicating that there is still much room for improvement in straw raw materials.

Figure 4 can confirm the masses’ identification of the work of the five ways to deal with straw. At the same time, 41.09%of the masses are more inclined to straw raw materials. The same picture of the three people with only 25.29% of the straw raw materialization of straw Social requirements.

Caimantoine is a natural food additive and antioxidant. Before the experiment of food additive derivative products, we investigated the masses’ attitude towards food safety, the views of food additives, and expectations for lycopene derivatives. Figure 5 proves the prospect of lycopene as a antioxidant. From Figure 6, we can see that the masses attach great importance to food safety. From Figure 7 and 8, we can know that the masses know and support the food additives. It can be seen from Figure 9 that the masses will pay attention to food additives when buying. This makes us cautiously choose the derivatives of lycopene. In summary, we decided to make a lycopene antioxidant food additive. We choose an external biodegradable film product instead of food. This greatly reduces the concerns of the masses’ concerns about food additives.

Project presentation and promotion

When we understand social issues in depth, we consider a large number of literatures, continue to summarize the attempts to improve, and put the solution into the laboratory for practice. While using practice to prove the feasibility of our problem solving, we promote synthetic biology and our projects in various ways to allow synthetic biology to enter different ages and enter all parts of the country. Entering all over the world, more people understand that our projects can provide ideas or solutions for some problems in human society. At the same time, attracting more new forces to join in synthetic biology, hoping that with our joint efforts, synthetic biology can carry forward, solve more social problems, and effectively benefit humanity.

Yanlin science and technology innovation platform

With the help of the Yanlin Science and Technology innovation platform of the College, the HBUT-China team held a science popularization activity, achieving the goal of further promoting HBUT-China team and synthetic biology to more college students.

In the course of popularization, team members introduced our project content to the audience: iGEM-Corynebacterium glutamate CRISPR gene editing technology to produce lycopene. The students were very active in sharing their own independent thinking about synthetic biology with the lecturers.

In addition to sharing the research content of our project and promoting synthetic biology, we hope to inspire and give young aspiring students a simple and preliminary view of synthetic biology and iGEM.

The world of synthetic biology is vast and boundless, and its secrets need more like-minded friends to explore together. We have always believed that more and more people will explore synthetic biology and use it to benefit mankind.

Campus booth promotion

With a view of expanding the influence of synthetic biology and publicize the International Genetic Engineering Machine Design Competition, and open the door of synthetic biology to more people, the HBUT-China team conducted a booth promotion on the campus. The booth activity is mainly for all teachers and students of HubeiUniversity of Technology. We have prepared easy roll and promotional posters to introduce iGEM, the winning experience of previous HBUT-China teams and the basic knowledge of synthetic biology. We hope to let more people have a preliminary understanding of iGEM. We made some small cards related to synthetic biology and played games with passers-by who were interested. By participating in the game, they learned some simple synthetic biology knowledge. At the same time, we also prepared a questionnaire to the friends who participated in the interaction, and providing a preliminary cognition of "lycopene". Synthetic biology is closely related to everyone’s life. Let more people understand biology and enter biosynthesis, what the HBUT-China team has done is only the first step, and it will continue to go higher and farther in the future!

Zhiyuan middle school conference

In August, the team members Hongying Zeng returned to the high school Alma mater in Xiangyang, Hubei Province, to popularize iGEM and laboratory equipment knowledge to the students, and introduced iGEM to the high school students, a multidisciplinary competition, hoping that the students can participate in this "carnival of synthetic biology" during their college years, and feel the unique charm of synthetic biology from iGEM. As a senior high school student, although we have a preliminary understanding of biology, most of our daily learning only stays in writing, and we do not have instruments operated by ourselves (because there is no biology laboratory in local high schools, and there is no school with iGEM team), so we choose to explain through videos and texts of real people. The students deepened their understanding of PCR instrument, centrifuge and sterilizer, further understood the common equipment in biological laboratory, and further explored the subject of biology. We hope that mastering these knowledge can bring benefits to students in life and study, enjoy the practicability of biological knowledge, and realize the educational significance.

After the science popularization session, the team members shared their own experience and learning experience with the students, and expressed some opinions and impressions on the biology major, believing that this major has great potential and is full of fun.

We hope that through this presentation, more people can join the iGEM competition, so that our Community can have more fresh blood.

Nongken middle school conference

On August 20th, Han Yi, a student of our team, gave a lecture on iGEM in Nongken Middle School, Hainan Province, China. He not only introduced the relevant knowledge of synthetic biology, briefly explained the iGEM competition, but also introduced the project of straw reuse and biological fermentation to produce lycopene by iGEM HBUT-China this year.

As this class belongs to the new college entrance examination biology class, the professional knowledge is closely related, and the students have developed a strong interest in iGEM and synthetic biology.

In this PPT, the students learned about the status quo of straw treatment and biological sustainable development in China.

In addition, Han Yi showed the students the pictures of the use of various equipment, operation steps and measuring instruments, supplemented by the structure and main process of the project. Students exclaimed in admiration that synthetic biology is closely related to the future of mankind, after a series of biological treatment, as a crop straw treatment can also turn waste into treasure, become the antioxidant lycopene.

This presentation broadened the students’ horizons and gave them a more intuitive concept of synthetic biology and the project. It is believed that in the future study, the students of this biology joint class will have a stronger interest in learning, complete their high school studies with higher enthusiasm, practice the spirit of biology people, and contribute to society with professional knowledge in the future field.

Popular science video

Since humans entered the 21st century, a new interdisciplinary subject "synthetic biology" has become a hot topic in the forefront of international science. Broadening the public’s understanding and attention to synthetic biology will be conducive to the development of synthetic biology. For this reason, we produced a popular science video.

Our popular science videos are divided into two series, one is the operation of basic laboratory instruments, and the other is Chinese herbal medicine.

The first laboratory Basic instrument series, in the form of a video, allows the public to experience the use of laboratory instruments, close contact with iGEM competitions and our projects, with dubbed interpretation describing the experimental steps.

In the second series of Chinese traditional culture, we choose Chinese herbal medicine and traditional Chinese art in ancient Chinese poetry as the starting point, and popularize popular science to look at the efficacy, appearance and cultural significance of three kinds of Chinese herbal medicine Gypsophila vaccaria, Cassia occidentalis Linn and Acacia, as well as the origin and modern significance of traditional Chinese art shadow play. With interesting, simple and elegant videos, we can attract audiences and spread knowledge. And make more people aware of iGEM and synthetic biology.

We chose to publish it on bilibili, a popular website among Chinese young people, and TikTok, a popular app around the world.

As of September 3, we have received thousands of views, making more and more people aware of the iGEM competition and our project.

Kindergarten presentation

In June, we carried out a science popularization activity with the theme of "Microbial Kingdom" in the affiliated kindergarten of Hubei University of Technology. The event is aimed at preschool children and aims to educate them about microbes. We took the children to explore the world of surrounding microorganisms from an interesting perspective, so as to better help the children understand and learn biological knowledge.

In the process of conference, we start from the common microorganisms in life, and add questions in the process of explaining, so that children can get answers from thinking and exercise thinking ability. Science content from yeast in bread to bacteria that cause tooth decay, from the things around the beginning to explain, so that children can personally feel the charm of biology.

We believe that this is an educational activity, leading children to contact with biological knowledge when they are young, whether it is in their later life, or learning, has a very profound significance.

Picture Books

In order to expand the publicity area, we also increased the communication channels and produced derivative picture books.

These include the HBUT promotional video backstory "tomato on the sea," which tells the story of traveler who spread lycopene around the world, set along the Maritime Silk Road.

In collaboration with Ocean University of China, autistic children’s picture book "Creation of Rainbow".

Chinese traditional culture-related "Chinese herbal medicine in Ancient Chinese poetry - Acacia".

We will use these three series of picture books as peripheral and donated books to spread to others, so as to attract others, help others and spread knowledge.

Communication

"Civilization communicates due to diverse, and develops due to exchanges, and develops due to mutual learning." Because of different, communication, and because of communication, we all have a deeper understanding of ourselves. All. Exchange and cooperation with multiple participating teams, we have grown up and for shortness, we are brainstorming, we constantly modify and improve our project. We urgently hope that our project can serve and humans and benefit human beings.

HUBU-SKY-China exchange meeting online

On the afternoon of June 30, 2023, the HBUT-China team and HUBU-SKY-China had an online exchange meeting. At the meeting, the teams of both sides first introduced the team and the members themselves, and then shared their team’s participation experience. Throughout the meeting, the communication between the two teams was smooth and pleasant. The members of the HBUT-China team have not only preliminarily determined the cooperation with the HUBU-SKY-China team, they also built up a deep relationship, which laid a good foundation for the next cooperation. The cooperation between the two teams will continue to work together to expand the impact of synthetic biology!

HUBU-SKY-China Offline Exchange

On July 4, 2023, Kong Xiang, Yu Siqin, and Han Yi, three members of the HBU-China team, went to Hubei University to further communicate with Liu Chuan, Jiang Zhihao, and Jiang Wenhao of HUBU-SKY-China team about wiki and HP, and visited the laboratory of Hubei University. The two sides shared their experience in the competition, put forward reasonable suggestions and encouraged each other, and then launched an in-depth discussion on video cooperation and love and public welfare.

Hubei Synthetic biology Open Conference

At the invitation of Hubei University, the HBUT-China team participated in the 2023 Hubei Synthetic biology Open Conference on July 5. In the morning of July 5, the 2023 Hubei Open Conference on Synthetic Biology officially opened. At the meeting, each participating team demonstrated their own project. In the afternoon, each team displayed the project contents in an all-round way on the exhibition booth, and communicated with other teams in depth. Finally, the participants were invited to visit the cryo electron microscope platform of Hubei University, and the participating teams took photos as a memento.

CCiC

From July 8 to 10, 2023, the 10th Conference of China iGEMer Community (CCiC) was held in Hainan University. Teams from all over the country gathered together, and the HBU-China team reported on the participating projects and conducted cooperation and exchanges with several teams.

On the morning of July 9th, the HBUT-China team presented its project background, experimental technology and human social practice with students from all over the world at the exchange meeting, which was applauded by students and teachers. During the exchange session, students from the Dalian University of Technology team (DUT-China) gave us valuable opinions, provided new reference ideas, and shared the technical parts used in the experiment.

At this conference, the HBUT-China team, adhering to the mentality of peaceful exchange and common progress, discussed with many other teams. The Nanjing University team and the University team had in-depth exchanges, and both sides discussed the similarities of CRISPR technology used in the experiment and the expected experimental effects. Looking forward to more contact and cooperation in the future; The Ocean University of China (OUC-China) team proposed to carry out human practice activities in the form of children’s picture books, and the HBU-China team joined the cooperation to jointly draw picture books for autistic children, so as to popularize synthetic biology and realize more inclusive human practice.

HBUT-China team members actively asked questions after the guest lectures, actively communicated and summarized experiences in other team presentations. After the conference, HBUT-China team members have said that they have benefited a lot, and HBUT-China is looking forward to more exchanges with more teams.

Commonweal

The kind heart is not all over the mountains, but it is like a little stars to illuminate the dark night. In the project of human practice, we provide social support for experiments and continue to work hard for synthetic biology in real life. At the same time, we hope that we can help those who need help through what we can do. We pay attention to the physiological and mental health of the elderly, and we care about children’s education issues. We hope that more elderly people will be concerned, and we hope that our company can make them happy and happy; we long for children to get care. No matter what difficulties they encounter, we hope that they have the right to gain education and knowledge. The original intention of our project is to solve the problem of human society. Its remaining temperature can help warm others. We want to see it. The help to help the recipient may not just get rid of the situation of difficulties, but also the relay of love and kindness. We may not be able to help all the disadvantaged groups now, but we will do our best to realize our own realization of the project value of the project ourselves. At the same time, bring more people to warm.

Neighborhood Pension Service Center in Hongshan District, Wuhan.

The main form of the activity was literary performances and lectures on popular science, bringing happiness and knowledge related to popular science to the elderly.

Voluntary activities in nursing homes for the elderly are not just about respecting and loving the elderly. We hope that by communicating with older people, understanding older people’s feelings about anti-aging and their need for antioxidants, to continuously improve the project, so that high-yield lycopene can be used more effectively in real life in the future, in alleviate aging problem in the context of population aging.

Charity sale

HBUT-China made the team IP and team logo into cultural creativity for sale, which won the love and support of the majority of students, and after nearly ten days of sales, the team donated the profit amount during the sale period to the Hope Project Micro Wish Project of the Wuhan Youth Development Foundation Secretariat, which aims to widely mobilize the caring forces of all walks of life to support the "Hope Project" public welfare undertakings, and consolidate the achievements of poverty alleviation, help rural revitalization, It will continue to play an active role in serving the healthy growth of adolescents from economically disadvantaged families. A book that I have thought about for a long time, a pencil case that I have read many times,…… Be careful, hopeful. We hope to do our part to help more people and give more children the right to education. Give full play to our little energy and transmit the positive energy of love relay. Children are the future of the world, education is indispensable for children’s growth, and we use our actions to help more children enjoy education.

Donated popular science picture books to Mahu Boyue Hearing Rehabilitation Center

In the Mahu Boyue Hearing Rehabilitation Center, there are such a group of special children, their world is missing some wonderful sounds, but their eyes are more bright colors, eyes are the window for human exploration of the world, and their eyes are particularly bright. Books are the key to the world. We bind our popular science picture books into books, collect old books suitable for children, and donate popular science picture books and books to Mahu Boyue Hearing Rehabilitation Center. We hope that our popular science picture books can plant seeds in the hearts of these children, and we hope that they can see a wider world with their bright eyes!