We were delighted to have a discussion with Science Communicator Ipsa Jain. She gave us insightful advice on our goals for science outreach. She advised us to think carefully about our concepts in order to identify our target audience and determine the best way to engage them. She emphasised that interactive postings, quizzes, and stories may help us engage the general public on social media in this day and age. She also suggested that we get in touch with government organisations and science centres in our cities that work to spread scientific knowledge. She also urged us to keep the syn-bio workshop brief and interactive.

We conducted a thorough study to determine how the public views synthetic biology, the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, and awareness of detection kits. Our main goal was to increase public awareness of the complex world of detection systems and scientific concepts while also assessing public opinion. This effort culminated in a poll titled "Public Perception and Understanding of COVID-19 Detection and Synthetic Biology," which sought to educate the public about these important issues and give them useful knowledge about science and detection techniques. The PDF below contains a compilation of the survey's findings.

At IISER Mohali, our team met with wonderful people from the IISER Mohali Community in September 13 2023. We discussed iGEM, our Project, and also had a great time answering their questions regarding our Project. We hoped that the discussion would help the audience understand how synthetic biology may be used to address societal issues as well as how multiple disciplines might intersect and overlap when working on a project. We also gave them an overview of iGEM and its numerous components. We also explained to the audience the biological principles on which our concept, "Pathoglow," is built.

We organized a fun art competition with the goal of fostering the convergence of art and science among students not just in India but also internationally. We are aware of how important it is to encourage creativity in scientific pursuits and the importance of imagination.

We started the 'DNA to Canvas' painting competition and a mascot design competition to encourage a better knowledge of synthetic biology and science-related imagery. We actively encouraged participants to let their imaginations run wild by presenting them with a variety of subjects. We've highlighted the best submissions from this exciting competition below, so take a look.

Check out our Instagram and Twitter handle to learn more.

"The act of questioning is the wellspring of knowledge," as wisely stated by Thomas Berger.

On the historic occasion of IISER Mohali's 17th foundation day, our team took the opportunity to engage with impressionable, youthful minds. We had instructive conversations regarding the topic of synthetic biology as well as fascinating demonstrations. One of the highlights of the presentation was the display of fluorescently marked proteins, which highlighted the vivid colors of GFP under UV light. We also provided details on polytene chromosomes and a microscope image of live GFP-marked C. elegans specimens. We encouraged the students to explore and assess the exhibits actively. More than 20 high schools participated in this event, and their encounters with our team members inspired engaging discussions about the intriguing aspects of synthetic biology.

In order to encourage the merger of art and science among students not only in India but all across the world, we organized a fun art competition. We understand the value of encouraging creativity in scientific endeavors and the contribution of imagination to the advancement of research. We launched the 'DNA to Canvas' painting competition and a mascot design competition to encourage a better knowledge of synthetic biology and science-related imagery. Different themes were provided to participants, and we aggressively urged them to let their imaginations go wild. Below, we've highlighted the best submissions from this exciting competition that stood out as the cream of the crop.

As a team, we firmly believe that the most effective approach to science education is one that makes it engaging and readily understandable. Unfortunately, in society's lower socioeconomic strata, a significant deficit in knowledge related to science and hygiene exists. This knowledge gap became acutely apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, as those with limited access to hygienic practices, scientific understanding of virus transmission, and medical resources were the most adversely affected.

In response to this challenge, we organized a unique event - a street play combined with a drama performance - specifically for the children of construction workers residing near local construction sites. The primary objective was to impart crucial lessons about the importance of hygiene and the underlying science of virus transmission. To bring this initiative to life, we collaborated with students from our institute who actively taught science to children.

The street play was a hit among the children, captivating their attention while delivering essential insights about maintaining basic health habits. It was a joyful and enlightening experience for all involved. We invite you to watch a video and peruse some images we captured during this impactful drama performance.

Manthan: