loading..
As scientific researchers, we have always believed that effective communication and understanding with the public in the fields of synthetic biology and iGEM can advance science and integrate it into the life of society for the health and well-being of mankind. So we've been thinking about how to get this cutting-edge science out of the lab and into the public life.
Therefore, solving the public's questions about synthetic biology and iGEM has become an important goal of our project: we help the public better recognize and understand the scientific achievements of synthetic biology and iGEM by providing relevant information and scientific activities. In addition, when conducting a questionnaire survey on intestinal problems, we found that most people tend to pay attention to intestinal health only after intestinal problems begining, which may lead to serious consequences. Therefore, we also assume the responsibility to guide the public to establish the concept of protecting intestinal health.
Recognizing the differences in knowledge and gut health among people of different ages and groups, we have carried out hierarchical science education activities to ensure that information can be better communicated to different groups. Through these efforts, we hope to increase public awareness and understanding of synthetic biology and iGEM, as well as raise awareness of gut health.
We went to Tianyou Nursing home to visit the elderly and popularize the knowledge of health care products.
Considering that the old people's acceptance of direct popular science health of care products is low, we use crosstalk to popularize knowledge for the elderly. The old people especially like our crosstalk program, and said that they will pay attention to the ingredients list when buying similar products in the future, to reduce their chances of being cheated. And in this process, the old people also have a certain degree of understanding of intestinal health products.
We are communicating with the elderly
In addition, we also talked with the grandparents to learn about their life in the nursing home, hoping that our actions can bring help to the elderly. We look forward to having certain influence and increase the social care for the vulnerable groups through our activities.
Our group photo
After getting out of the nursing home, we believe that it is far from enough to only popularize the relevant knowledge of health care products for the elderly in the nursing home. In order to expand the scope of popularization, in-depth understanding of the intestinal health of more elderly people, and help them better understand, prevent and manage intestinal diseases, we decided to carry out more activities in the community to share important knowledge about intestinal health with more elderly people.
Live photos
The event was lively and warm: our team members introduced the importance of intestinal health, discussed how to maintain intestinal health through diet, lifestyle and medication, explained the symptoms, causes and effects of inflammatory bowel disease, and shared the latest treatment and management strategies. We also answered the questions of the old people and communicated with them warmly. The science popularization activity went very smoothly.
We communicate with the elderly
At the event, we also distributed the IBD brochure to the elderly, which details the basic knowledge of the disease, preventive measures and life advice (click here to view). We encourage seniors to take the handbook home, learn and share it with their families, and maintain the gut health of the entire family.
We introduce IBD to the elderly
Through this activity, we hope not only to raise awareness of IBD among the elderly, but also to draw more public attention to gut health in society. Gut health is an issue that everyone should be concerned about because it is closely related to our overall health. We believe that by strengthening popular science education, we can provide better health management tools for the elderly, and at the same time promote the popularization of intestinal health awareness in the society.
Our group photo
Since the online questionnaire (click here to jump) is more professional and the age group is generally under 50 years old, we modified the content of the questionnaire in the street interview, focusing on the intestinal health of the elderly and the popularization of relevant knowledge.
Therefore, we investigated the intestinal problems that occur in daily life, whether you pay special attention to some foods that are beneficial to intestinal health in daily diet, and whether you take health care products or drugs to maintain intestinal health, have you learned about intestinal health and other 11 questions.
In the feedback, we have noticed that the elderly generally lose their appetite in the hot summer, so we have issued a special push to answer their questions.
Excerpt from push content
On the occasion of freshman enrollment, we held lectures on what iGEM is, what synthetic biology is, and our projects for this year and the last four years. Our lecture attracted more than 150 students. For many of them, it was the first time they knew "what is synthetic biology", and also their first touching to international biology competitions such as iGEM.
Our captain is giving a lecture
In order to better answer questions and clarify doubts, we established a QQ group in advance, and after the lecture, we invited interested students to join the group chat and discuss with us. A total of 117 students joined the QQ group. Many of the new students asked their own questions and daring ideas. Everyone was positive and enthusiastic, and we shared a lot of knowledge about synthetic biology with them.
Group chat for new students students exchange ideas in the group
We hope that this activity will stimulate more students' interest in synthetic biology and iGEM.
We integrate synthetic biology knowledge into an exciting treasure hunt.
" Campus Treasure Hunt "poster
We made a science article on synthetic biology into ten cards" treasure "in advance, and let the students start from the exhibition area with the treasure map, and successively find the treasure cards in the famous landscapes of the school, such as the statue of Confucius, the Great Hall, and the West Gate Fountain.
Students who have found the "treasure"
As the treasure cards continue to be discovered by students, the contents of the cards are gradually pieced together by students into a short popular science article, which introduces the origin and history of synthetic biology, cutting-edge synthetic biology technology and iGEM competition. This way of finding and piecing together popular science articles made the students excited, and the hard-won treasure knowledge was passed on by "treasure hunters" one by one.
Card content
We hope that this synthetic biology-themed treasure hunt will broaden the students' horizons and bring them the fun of treasure hunting. If we think about it, synthetic biology really is a treasure waiting to be mined. When the day comes when the treasure is discovered and the possibilities for human society are infinite, we will surely marvel at the brilliance of synthetic biology.
To commemorate the 70th anniversary of Watson and Crick's creation of the DNA double helix structure, on the occasion of World DNA Day, our team held a series of activities on campus.
We have pasted 101 puzzles about DNA and synthetic biology on the list, waiting for people with insight to uncover and correctly answer the puzzles of corresponding difficulty, and we present exquisite gifts.
Students participated actively and discussed enthusiastically
The science popularization activities of World DNA Day not only attracted the students to participate actively, but also impressed the teachers with this novel form of science popularization. The teachers of the college also participated in the activity of opening the list and answering the questions, receiving science popularization in the game with the students, and enjoying the fun in the science popularization.
We made some DNA-related puzzles for students to reconstruct. At the same time, we explained the relevant knowledge of DNA on the side. This simple and interesting way allows more people to understand DNA and synthetic biology and become interested in synthetic biology.
The students are doing puzzles
This science popularization activity to commemorate Watson and Crick's proposed DNA double helix structure and publicize World DNA Day has come to a successful conclusion. We firmly believe that with the joint efforts of all team members, synthetic biology will enter everyone's daily life and make greater contributions to society.
Our group photo
In the process of communicating with patients, we learned about a foundation specializing in IBD——CCCF (the China Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation). So we got in touch, hoping to understand the needs of patients and carry out activities closer to patients with inflammation.
During the communication with the staff of CCCF, we shared our views with each other and learned that the public lacks awareness of IBD. Some patients will show anxiety and depression after illness, etc. We decided to carry out some cooperation to send care to patients and strengthen common people's awareness of IBD.
Therefore, from September 7 to September 9, we held an outreach activity with the theme of "Spring Breeze Market" in the two campuses, inviting everyone to collect donations for IBD patients, and introducing our project to everyone to popularize IBD related knowledge.
Our activities are divided into four parts:
(1) Distributing our team's brochure to passers-by (click here to view) and the leaflet provided by CCCF to explain our project content to everyone.
(2) Invite everyone to raise donations for IBD patients and carry out a lucky drawwelfare mechanism.
(3) Held a charity sale of our team's peripheral goods, and donated all the income to CCCF.
Sticker and keychain design drawing and on-site physical drawing
(4) In order to enhance interaction, we also set up a DIY "IBD special drink" mini-game: We provide food for IBD patients during the relief period, that is, lactose-free milk, black tea powder and water as materials, adding special ingredients - "ansu", that is, intestinal nutrition. Having a special drink DIY by the fundraiser, everyone can more deeply understand the inconvenience of patients' lives.
Students are reading the brochure and making IBD special drinks
In this activity, we raised a total of 1238 yuan for patients, giving our strength to IBD patients.
Our donation certificate
In addition to the 99 Charity Day activities, we also learned through CCCF that the 2023 Xi'an IBD Summit Forum and the lBD Group Annual Meeting will be held on October 13 and 14. Our team will participate as volunteers to popularize the project and raise funds for the summer camp for children with IBD.
We went to middle schools to carry out educational activities for middle school students.
We started with DNA:let the students observe the DNA model, explained the structural characteristics of DNA and other related knowledge, and then briefly introduced synthetic biology for them.
DNA model we made and small games in class
The students believed that through our interesting explanation and some simple small games, they could not only master some basic knowledge, stimulate their interest in life science, but also inspire their thinking about scientific and technological innovation, laying the foundation for future scientific exploration and application.
Photo of us with the class
Our team went to the kindergarten to hold a popular science education activity with the theme of "Microbes in Life".
First of all, we used the explanation method of questioning to arouse the children's thinking, then we introduced and displayed the basic concepts and characteristics of microorganisms to the children in the kindergarten. Many children actively raised their hands to answer the questions. After the children understand the characteristics and applications of microorganisms in life such as yeast, lactic acid bacteria, molds and viruses, and carefully observe the various forms and mysterious bacterial models, we encourage them to make microbial models of interest with clay, or create their own microorganisms.
The microbes that the kids have pinched
In the process of communicating with the children, we found that they have a strong curiosity and rich imagination, they let us realize what the children's perspective of microbes is like and how they see things. We believe that all this is due to the importance of children's education from many aspects of the park, families and society. We hope that more people can see and protect the curiosity and imagination of children, provide more and better educational resources, and combine learning with practice.
Photo of us and the kindergarten teacher
Given that people with disabilities are often treated in the community and are restricted by their areas of activity, it is difficult for them to have access to knowledge about biology. So we went to Xi 'an Yanta District Disabled Persons Federation (hereinafter referred to as DPF) to promote synthetic biology and teach special children to make butterfly specimens.
In order to let the children of DPF better understand the content of the activity and accept the knowledge of synthetic biology, we first conducted a synthetic biology lecture. Then the children of the DPF and we all brought a talent show. After the performance, considering that the children of the DPF did not know how to make butterfly specimens, we conducted specimen making teaching before the formal butterfly specimen making.
To explain the preparation of specimens
The children of DPF enjoyed the process of exploring the biological mysteries by themselves during the preparation of specimens. Through communication with their parents, we know that they like such activities very much, and they think that combining biology with interesting activities is a good way to learn, and they also look forward to more similar activities in the future, which undoubtedly strengthens our view on the necessity of carrying out similar activities.
The children are making butterfly specimens
At last, we took a photo with the person in charge of the Disabled Persons' Federation and cleaned the venue. We hope that we can popularize synthetic biology for special people and help them deepen their understanding of biology and increase their interest in biology by teaching them to make butterfly specimens. We also hope that more people in society can pay attention to the disabled, so that they can get more care.
Our group photo
In order to increase public awareness and understanding of IBD, while conveying important information for the prevention and management of the disease, promoting early diagnosis and treatment, and expanding social impact, we have produced an IBD awareness booklet.
Brochure
The brochure describes what IBD is, the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of IBD, management and prevention measures, and relevant information about our team, hoping to provide comprehensive information to the public, improve the quality of life of patients, and promote social attention and support. We have distributed this manual in community science popularization, 99 Public Welfare Day and middle school education. At the same time, we mailed the brochure to other teams in the hope that more people can learn about IBD. (Click here for details)
WeChat, one of the most popular social media platforms in China and one of the largest instant messaging apps in the world, has now become the preferred communication tool and social entertainment platform for hundreds of millions of users.
The WeChat public account is a special type of account on the WeChat platform, designed to provide real-time information, entertainment content and services. Users can choose to follow and get updated articles and news, learn knowledge, access services, participate in interactions, and more.
We believe that online media platforms can make social research more comprehensive and more widely available to the public. Therefore, we set up "Window of Biological Knowledge Popularization", "Intestinal Health Knowledge Popularization Article", "HP Interaction" and other columns on WeChat public platform to let the public know more about synthetic biology and our projects.
Excerpts from some public number articles
With the rapid development of the Internet era, the emergence of meme can be said to be a seed language in the social field of the Internet. In order to make synthetic biology vivid and easy to understand and more relevant to our lives, we have designed a set of tagatose meme (from the first project we conceived) and a set of intestinal meme (from the project we are doing now), and have uploaded them to the WeChat platform for the public's daily use.
tagatose meme intestinal meme:Probiotic knight
Usage data
Not only in the WeChat public account, our WeChat video account,TikTok , Bilibili (China's well-known online video sharing platform, one of the world's largest animation, comics and game communities) three major video media accounts have simultaneously uploaded our promotional videos, activity records and other videos, which have been played 2,352 times.
Excerpts from some videos
Particularly, we have also released a basic hands-on experiment teaching video on synthetic biology on Bilibili for people who want to learn synthetic biology around the world.
Excerpt from teaching video
In order to better help people understand the knowledge of intestinal health from various aspects, we have produced a handbook of intestinal knowledge. The handbook was written by all teams at the Gut Alliance to focus on gut health from a public perspective. You can click here to learn more.
What we've written: Things about IBD
iG20 co-recorded a synthetic biology science relay video and put it on major social media around the world, click here to learn more.
video snapshot
Song lyrics and uniform design
We changed the song "Big Hands,Small Hands" （大手小手）into a team song with the theme of defeating IBD to encourage patients, inject momentum into our research, and increase publicity to raise public awareness of IBD.
In addition, we also designed team uniforms to be worn at HP events, as well as to promote and attract attention.