Overview

During our first year participating in iGEM, we actively engaged in collaborative activities with several teams. Through the exchange of ideas and information between teams, our projects saw significant development. Simultaneously, these collaborative efforts enabled us to unite for educational outreach initiatives, effectively disseminating awareness and knowledge of biology to a broader audience. Of course, these collaborations also allowed us to get to know and build connections with iGEMers from various regions, which was an invaluable experience.

SUSTech-OCE

Since the inception of our project, the SUSTech-OCE team has been in contact with us, who also focused on using biological methods for indoor air pollution control, and both of our projects involve the removal of formaldehyde. We initially held online meetup activity to exchange information about our respective projects and experiment progress. During this collaboration, we provided each other with new insights into formaldehyde removal, which also paved the way for in-depth cooperation in the field of Human Practice.

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Figure 1. The Online Meeting with SUSTech-OCE

In the following stages of our collaboration, both teams engaged extensively in Human Practice initiatives. Following a series of discussions, our OUC-Haide team proposed the development of an educational comic that illustrates the hazards associated with formaldehyde. This innovative idea garnered support from SUSTech_OCE team. Through our combined efforts, we successfully created and shared the comic on social platforms, raising awareness about the seriousness of formaldehyde hazards and introducing new approaches for its biological removal to the public.

Our collaborative comics are detailed on the Education page.

OUC-China

During the course of our project, the OUC-China team, who is also from Ocean University of China (OUC), became our team collaborative partner. Both of our teams developed the idea of conducting science outreach lectures for high school students. In order to bring this idea to fruition, we held an online meetup activity, discussing details and ultimately settling on the theme of "The Development History of Synthetic Biology."

Figure 2. Online Rehearsal with OUC-China

Leveraging the opportunity provided by the OUC Summer Camp, our joint educational outreach lecture was successfully held. This collaboration not only disseminated a concise history of the development of synthetic biology but also provided essential concepts about the subject, enabling high school students to gain knowledge of synthetic biology. Of course, this collaboration deepened the understanding of synthetic biology for both teams and enhanced our appreciation for the educational significance of the iGEM competition.

Our collaborative lecture is detailed on the Education page.

ZJUT-China, NNU-CHINA, XJTLU-CHINA, OUC-Haide Four Teams Collaborations

We participated in the "Four Schools Together, Chat About Biology" educational science podcast event, graciously hosted by the ZJUT-China team. Moreover, we were joined by NNU-CHINA and XJTLU-CHINA, and all four of our teams selected the Bioremediation track as our focus.

Figure 3. Podcast Planning Scheme by ZJUT-China

Regarding podcast content, each team had its own distinctive role: The ZJUT-China team took on the responsibility of popularizing the history of biological science. Our OUC-Haide team was responsible for the iGEM competition summary and its track science popularization. Additionally, the NNU-China team dedicated themselves to spreading knowledge in the field of biology. Meanwhile, the XJTLU-China team concentrated on bringing the history of synthetic biology to the public's attention.

During this collaborative effort, the four teams united their strengths, enhancing our knowledge of biology and skillfully sharing it with the public. Of course, this collaboration experience also fostered a deeper appreciation of each other's projects.

CCiC

The Conference of China iGEMer Community (CCiC) is a nationwide exchange event initiated independently by iGEM teams in China, serving as the largest platform for iGEMers to connect in the country. The conference aims to provide a resource-sharing platform, facilitating mutual learning and communication among iGEM teams and young synthetic biology enthusiasts in China.

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Figure 4. Certificate of Participation

We had the opportunity to participate in the 10th CCiC conference organized by Hainan University in person. During the event, we delivered a presentation and presented a poster to explain our team's project. In our presentation, we provided a detailed project overview and discussed hardware design improvements with other teams. During this conference, we gained valuable insights, learned from the outstanding projects of other teams, and discovered new inspirations for hardware optimization.

Figure 5. Presentation and Poster Showcase in CCiC

Conclusion

As first-time participants in the competition, we are honored to have engaged in collaborative efforts with several other teams, which have greatly benefited us. These collaborations facilitated a mutual exchange of knowledge, enriching our academic backgrounds and fostering a platform for extensive cooperation with fellow teams. These collaborations allowed us to actively participate in meaningful human practice activities, enabling us to share our knowledge with a wider audience.

Throughout this journey, we have evolved from being participating teams to being close allies. We have not only achieved project improvement but have also built genuine friendships. These experiences are invaluable, highlighting the true significance of collaboration.