Overview
We have mobilized all the resources available to our entire team through collaborations both within the campus and beyond. This includes partnering with student organizations, various academic departments, the official school administration, as well as inter-school collaborations. In the broader community, we have established extensive partnerships with social organizations, institutions, healthcare facilities, communities, corporations, and government agencies to fulfill our commitment to making the world a better place to the greatest extent possible.
On Campus - Student Organizations
We prepared two PPTs(Introduction to Synthetic Biology and Chronic Disease and High Cholesterol), one to explain the concepts of synthetic biology and the other to address hypercholesterolemia, which is related to our project. These presentations were delivered nationwide through the educational teams of eight on-campus student organizations and the official school educational team. Additionally, we established partnerships with three universities, and we mutually assisted each other in expanding our outreach. Through our on-campus student organizations, we connected with an autism children's center in Lanzhou city, where we organized an educational and caring event for autistic children. (Project Plan)
On Campus - Academic Departments
We received support from Lanzhou University's First Clinical Medical College, School of Life Sciences, and Cuiming College, and together with these three colleges, we organized an on-campus event titled "Welcome September - Synthetic Biology Knowledge Quiz and Health Check-In Activity." The event received a positive response, and students enthusiastically participated. Students who took part in our event not only had the chance to win prizes but also earned activity points that could be converted into academic credits.
Synthetic Biology Knowledge Quiz and Health Check-in Activity Proposal
On Campus - School Administration
We actively reported the progress and achievements of our team to the university. Through continuous communication, this year, the LZU-CHINA team will receive funding from the university's international affairs office to participate in international conferences. Previously, iGEM competition teams were not included in the scope of funding from the university's international affairs office, and we pioneered this initiative.
Inter-School Collaboration
1. DUT-CHINA Joining Hands to Build a Bright Future in Synthetic Biology
Our team and the DUT-CHINA Team conducted our first Human Practice online meeting via Tencent Meeting on July 15, 2023. Both of our teams are focused on cardiovascular diseases. After in-depth discussions, we collaboratively designed a partnership to conduct activities in the hospital setting and educational outreach, enhancing the impact of our Human Practice work. Additionally, we heeded the suggestion of the DUT-CHINA Team to visit the National Cardiovascular Disease Center for research. Through this exchange and discussion, both teams gained inspiration and creativity from each other, sparking new ideas.
2. CSU-CHINA: The Architects of Crafting Team Stories
On the evening of July 19th, our team and the CSU-CHINA Team from Central South University held an online Human Practice working exchange meeting on Tencent Meeting. Both teams discussed topics such as HP team member roles, work progress, questionnaire design, and ultimately finalized a series of collaborative plans in areas like expert interviews, questionnaire distribution, and public education. Additionally, both teams established a partnership in educational activities. Furthermore, CSU-CHINA provided valuable insights based on their experience in gathering information related to the High Cholesterol Patient Association.
3. UM-Macau-CHINA Joining Hands to Progress Together, Co-create the Future
On the evening of July 22nd, our team and the UM-Macau Team from the University of Macau conducted an online working exchange meeting on Tencent Meeting. After in-depth discussions, both teams collaboratively designed a series of partnership plans in areas such as clinical doctor interviews, corporate interviews, educational outreach, and the distribution of relevant questionnaires. Additionally, UM-Macau provided us with new insights into Human Practice (HP) work.
4. SUSTC-CHINA
On the evening of July 25th at 8 PM, the LZU-CHINA Team from Lanzhou University and the SUSTech-MED Team from Southern University of Science and Technology held an online working exchange meeting on Tencent Meeting. Both teams discussed deepening their collaboration in dry and wet lab experiments and resolving experimental challenges together.
5. NJMU-CHINA
On the evening of July 26th at 8 PM, our team conducted an online working exchange meeting via Tencent Meeting with the NJMU-CHINA Team from Nanjing Medical University. Both teams exchanged and presented their work in experiments, modeling, and Human Practice (HP). Through brainstorming and collaborative efforts, they developed a series of effective partnership plans, including innovations in education and HP, as well as science communication strategies.
6. BIT-CHINA
On the evening of July 27th at 8 PM, we held an online working exchange meeting via Tencent Meeting with the BIT-CHINA Team from Beijing Institute of Technology. Both teams exchanged information in areas such as wiki development, graphic design, and science communication. Additionally, they shared experiences related to in vivo validation and provided insights and recommendations on biosensors. BIT-CHINA offered valuable suggestions on biosecurity, which greatly benefited our team. In the context of Human Practice (HP), discussions revolved around educational and science communication issues, and resource exchanges took place. Both teams concurred that making the educational experience enjoyable, for instance, by creating a series of card games, is a crucial aspect for effective education and engagement.
7. NAU-CHINA
On the evening of July 28th at 8:30 PM, we conducted an online working exchange meeting via Tencent Meeting with the NAU-CHINA Team from Nanjing Agricultural University. NAU-CHINA Team created a memorable rhyme for safety risks that received a positive response, greatly inspiring our Human Practice (HP) work. Moreover, NAU-CHINA Team mentioned their plans for ICII (International Conference on Integrative SynBio), where they will build a website for promoting synthetic biology. They expressed their excitement about having this platform and their hope to contribute to the world of synthetic biology. Our two teams successfully co-organized ICII last year, and our collaboration continues this year as well.
8. WUST-CHINA
On the evening of July 31st at 8 PM, we held an online working exchange meeting via Tencent Meeting with the WUST-CHINA Team from Wuhan University of Science and Technology. During the exchange, the WUST-CHINA Team provided us with insightful questions and suggestions regarding our IHP (Integrated Human Practices) project and inclusivity. As both teams engaged in discussions and responses, not only did it enhance WUST's understanding of our project, but it also prompted us to reflect and summarize, enabling us to have a clearer understanding of our project's strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
9. BUCT-CHINA
On the evening of August 1st at 8 PM, we conducted an online working exchange meeting via Tencent Meeting with the BUCT-CHINA Team from Beijing University of Chemical Technology. In terms of experiments, both teams engaged in lively discussions regarding the selection of chassis strains and the construction of plasmids, delving into experiment details. BUCT-CHINA provided suggestions on plasmid design and chassis strains, offering their plasmid construction plan as a reference. Both teams actively shared their insights and provided recommendations for optimizing the experimental plans.
We also collaborated with BUCT in HP-related research, such as jointly designing research outlines, conducting collaborative interviews, and ultimately performing comprehensive analysis to formulate project plans that cover various requirements.
10. Gut Alliance
We along with the NWU-CHINA, SUSTech-CHINA, and UM-MACAU teams, formed the Gut Alliance. Through this alliance, we authored a science communication manual and established the iGEM Group of 20 (iG20) to conduct additional activities.
11. iG20
We collaborated with a total of 28 schools to plan an educational video production activity. This initiative resulted in two relay videos: one focusing on science communication and the other introducing our project. To enhance the accessibility of the science communication video, it was presented in the Chinese language.
ProposaliG20 Synthetic Biology Popular Science Relay Manuscript
iG20 Members
Off Campus - Social Organizations
We established contact with President Xie of the Gansu Health Management Research Association and Aunt Liu Juying from the Gansu Red Cross Hematopoietic Stem Cell Volunteer Service Team. Through these connections, with the support of the Gansu Red Cross and Gansu Health Management Research Association, we reached out to multiple communities and conducted a series of engaging health education activities, which received a positive response. Whether it was fun experiments or DIY soap-making activities, they were highly praised. For more details, please refer to the Education section.
Off Campus - Healthcare Institutions
Through interviews and communication with several doctors from Lanzhou University's First Hospital and Second Hospital, we received strong support. In the clinical laboratory, we obtained data from high cholesterol patients at Lanzhou University's First Hospital from 2017 to the present. In the nutrition department, we obtained healthy recipes for high lipid patients and made improvements to them. We also received valuable input from experts at the Health Management Center, which included insights into the differences in blood lipids between ethnic minorities and Han Chinese. Their advice significantly contributed to enhancing the inclusivity of our project (see uploaded dietary guidelines in PDF). They also extended an invitation for us to collaborate on health education activities.
Furthermore, doctors from the Third People's Hospital of Loudi City in Hunan Province, the Brain Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, and Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in Hunan provided assistance to our project.
dietary guidelines
Off Campus - Communities
We established connections with multiple communities, and with the support of the Shanzishi Community, we conducted an engaging and informative educational lecture on high cholesterol for children. We explained how to prevent and control high cholesterol through balanced diet and regular exercise. We provided each child with a scientific dietary guide for reference. Additionally, we prepared two fun science experiments. The classroom atmosphere was lively and relaxed, and the children expressed that they greatly benefited from the session.
Off Campus - Corporations
Through communication and negotiation, we secured sponsorship from the Bi Yun Tian Company, which will support uniforms for all team members. Through discussions with Mr. Liu, the General Manager of Jinghong Health Products Company, we were able to conduct on-site research and learn about the operation model of health product companies in China and how we can excel in the health product industry. He also expressed his intention to provide some sponsorship for the production of our creative products.
Government Agency - Disease Control Center
We contacted the director of the Chronic Disease Research Institute at the Gansu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. During our conversation, we discussed our project, and she shared her research findings on differences in blood lipid levels among various regions in Gansu Province, as well as the occurrence of high lipid disorders. She expressed her interest in collaborating with us to further investigate the underlying reasons for these differences.
