Our team prioritizes safety above all. We believe that as responsible scientists or engineers, it's crucial to be open about potential risks and our strategies to handle them. This year, we conducted an in-depth analysis of potential safety hazards related to our project and routine experiments, both within and outside the laboratory. This emphasizes our commitment to "responsible design".

Every year, members of the iGEM team undergo thorough safety training for the lab. To gain access to the lab, newcomers must participate in in-person training sessions. These sessions cover basic lab protocols, safe chemical handling, and biosafety education, among others.

Additionally, we have a robust lab safety protocol in place. The person leaving the lab last is entrusted with safety oversight and has duties such as:
- Cleaning the lab counters.
- Monitoring the lab's water and electricity.
- Properly disposing of biological waste according to guidelines.

We sourced the bacteria, E.coli strains, and plasmid backbones either from reputable biological firms or received them from other laboratories. All these materials come with detailed guidelines for storage, transport, and use. When used correctly, they pose no threat to human health or the environment.

While we place a high emphasis on waste handling and surface decontamination, there's still a chance of strain leakage. To mitigate this risk, we employ high-temperature sterilization to reduce potential environmental impacts.