Education | SCAU-China

We start our outreach efforts in public education from the perspective of synthetic biology. We have been exploring the prevention and control methods of the Solenopsis invicta（S. invicta）,and our efforts have been focused on raising awareness of synthetic biology within society. While preserving traditional methods of public education, we are also exploring and innovating more audience-friendly forms of science communication. To broaden the acceptance across different age groups, we have employed various formats such as videos, audio, images, and text to disseminate information about S. invicta and synthetic biology.

Through investigation, we have identified that the groups most likely to be aware of S. invicta and their hazards include farmers, residents in areas affected by S. invicta infestations, and researchers involved in S. invicta control efforts. Therefore, our target audience primarily consists of urban residents and those under 18 years old. Students in primary and middle schools are highly receptive and adaptable, as they are currently in a phase of exploration and discovery. Our aim is to introduce them to the world of S. invicta and synthetic biology, enabling them to experience the sense of discovery and understanding that science brings to our world and to appreciate the significance of science.

Moreover, the topics we cover in our science outreach efforts are a source of inspiration. Students exhibit curiosity about our content, observe the world in a unique way, and develop their own understanding of synthetic biology, providing us with new perspectives on viewing the world. This encourages us to rethink things that are often taken for granted, revealing many secrets that are unknown. It also contributes to the accumulation of experience during our science communication process, allowing us to refine and improve our outreach procedures.

Through continuous communication and interaction, we have enhanced the public's understanding of the applications of synthetic biology, effectively deepening the impression of science in the public's minds. Comprehensive human practice involves not only the dissemination of scientific knowledge but also the popularization of rational and rigorous scientific thinking, the propagation of the spirit of scientific inquiry, and the enhancement of the scientific literacy of the entire population, which will profoundly implicate the future development of the whole human society.

02 Variety

Bauhinia' Cultural and Scientific Festival

This is an annual festival for science popularization and cultural held in South China Agricultural University (SCAU). The event is primarily aimed at university students and staff within the campus, with the goal of introducing the basic information about S. invicta and assessing people's understanding of synthetic biology and gathering feedback.

Figure 1: Photo of Members after a Successful Exhibition

Primary School Science Popularization Touring

We plan to conduct a series of lectures on S. invicta control and synthetic biology at several elementary schools. These lectures are primarily intended for elementary school students, covering topics such as biosafety, synthetic biology, basic information about S. invicta, and their control methods.

Figure 2: Picture form the event at the affiliated primary school of SCAU

2023 iGEM Southern China Regional Meetup

At the iGEM Southern China Regional Meetup, we created our first project poster to promote and introduce our project. The poster succinctly presented the "binary oscillation" experimental design approach we adopted in the early stages. This meeting was attended by iGEM teams from various tracks in the Southern China. When engaging with many team members to discuss our project, we used this poster as the foundation for a detailed presentation.

Figure 3: Poster

Science Popularization Handbook for S. invicta

This promotional handbook has been with us throughout the entire process of our public education efforts and is intended for all science popularization entities. The handbook provides knowledge on the distribution, identification, spread, measures for dealing with bites, and control techniques related to S. invicta. At last, but not the least importance, it also introduces our team's projects.

Figure 4: Science Popularization Handbook for S. invicta

2023 iGEM Intercollegiate Synthetic Biology Science Conference

This event is conducted in a hybrid format, combining both online and offline activities, with multiple satellite venues set up at various universities. By breaking through the barriers of inter-campus distances, we aim to facilitate both offline interaction and a sense of participation. Through presentations by various iGEM teams, we aim to expose more students to the wide-ranging applications of synthetic biology in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and bio-manufacturing, further enhancing their understanding of the allure of synthetic biology and inspiring a passion for science and exploration.

Figure 5: Poster of 2023 iGEM Intercollegiate Synthetic Biology Science Conference

SynBio&SDG Science Exhibition

This event is jointly organized by our team and SCUT-China and is held at the Guangdong Science Center, one of the largest science education hubs in Asia. Through a science communication exhibition targeting the public, we explore the applications of synthetic biology in sustainable development, promoting scientific education and enhancing public scientific literacy.

Figure 6: SynBio&SDG Science Exhibition Group Photo

"Bauhinia" Cultural and Scientific Festival

Overview

This festival was held in SCAU, mainly for students and staff in the campus. We designed multiple events, including promotional display boards, creative merchandise, interactive games, surveys, and science communication Q&A sessions. The games we have designed, such as synthetic biology puzzles, matching stages of the S. invicta life cycle, and question-and-answer challenges, are all related to S. invicta control and synthetic biology. The aim is to introduce the basic information about S. invicta and assess people's understanding of synthetic biology while gathering feedback. To ignite people's interest in science and their spirit of exploration, our games offer a tiered prize system to encourage participation.

Figure 7: Moments of interaction with the public in cultural festivals

Intention

Unfortunately, the Bauhinia Cultural and Scientific Festival was held on a rainy day. However, the heavy rain couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of the students. After the rain subsided, more and more students came to visit, and we achieved some excellent results. This was the first time our team conducted science communication with the public, promoting the integration of synthetic biology and S. invicta control. It also helped many students update their understanding of synthetic biology.

During the university event, we engaged in science communication, interactive games, and surveys to introduce synthetic biology while educating the public about scientific methods to prevent S. invicta. We aimed to create a "learning through fun" experience, where knowledge is acquired through interaction, instilling the right ideas about preventing S. invicta and updating perspectives on synthetic biology. In fact, we succeeded in doing so. Participants in the event gave feedback, stating that our science communication significantly refreshed their understanding of synthetic biology!

Primary school science popularization touring

Overview

We plan to organize a series of science popularization lectures on S. invicta control and synthetic biology at multiple primary schools. These lectures are primarily aimed at elementary school students, with a focus on imparting knowledge about biosafety, synthetic biology, basic information about S. invicta, and their control methods. By conducting science communication courses at different schools, we aim to help elementary school students understand and effectively absorb knowledge, thus forming a series of touring science popularization classrooms.

In May of this year, we held the first science communication lecture for third-grade students at the affiliated primary school of South China Agricultural University in Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province. The lecture mainly revolved around S. invicta control and provided a science communication session on biosafety.

Intention

This series of activities combines knowledge lectures with interactive games. Our team used biosafety and invasive species as an entry point to comprehensively educate students about S. invicta. We introduced methods for treating S. invicta bites, increased the awareness of S. invicta among primary and secondary school students, and enhanced their safety consciousness of S. invicta.

Figure 8: Moments of Student Listening

Figure 9: Picture form the event at the affiliated primary school of SCAU

Our team provided students with a close-up view of live S. invicta, allowing them to become more familiar with these ants. Their understanding of S. invicta went beyond theoretical knowledge, incorporating visual perception and impact.

Figure 10: Students observing the S. invicta

This activity paid special attention to the age of the participants, emphasizing engagement and using game challenges combined with knowledge dissemination. Through fun and simple games, we boosted students' enthusiasm for the activity and presented complex knowledge in a lively and enjoyable format.

Figure 11: Students Actively Participate in the Game

The science popularization activity was a complete success, and our team members felt the enthusiasm and initiative of the students during the event. Through this specialized science popularization lecture on S. invicta, each child gained valuable knowledge related to S. invicta.

Figure 12: Students Took Notes Carefully

2023 iGEM Southern China Regional Meetup

Overview

The iGEM Southern China Regional Meeting aims to gather teams from the South China region, providing a platform for team interaction, collaborative exchanges, mutual inspiration, and fostering a conducive environment for getting to know each other, engaging in deep communication, and learning from each other. It creates a positive atmosphere for exploring synthetic biology. During the iGEM Southern China Regional Meeting, we created our first project poster to promote and introduce our project. The poster not only concisely presented our "binary oscillation" experimental design approach used in the early stages but also provided an overview of our team's current project progress, allowing visitors to easily understand our project.

Figure 13: Poster

Intention

This year, a total of 16 teams from various universities and high schools in the South China region actively responded to the call and gathered at the event for learning and exchange. The South China Exchange Meeting had the theme "Villagarnival (villages-carnival)," and the 16 teams were divided into four "villages" based on the project themes: "Treatment," "Detection," "Agriculture," and "Manufacturing." This division fostered a collaborative environment within each village for discussion and mutual learning.

Figure 14: Team members giving a poster presentation

In the part of the "Agriculture" village, we actively engaged in sharing our project achievements and challenges with other teams. Many team members showed interest in our project, and we used the poster as the basis for detailed presentations during our interactions. It's worth mentioning that during this meeting, Dr. Boxiang Wang (one of the founder and CTO of Shenzhen Lingula Technology Co., Ltd) was intrigued by our poster. After a deep discussion, he pointed out some principles that we might be overlooking in our artificial dynamic circuit design. He recommended literature by Christopher A. Voigt and gene circuit design automation software like Cello Cad. This encouraged us to gain a deeper understanding of our project's binary gene circuit and identify potential issues in dynamic gene circuit design promptly.

Figure 15: Conversation with Dr. Wang

Overview

Figure 16: Brochure Display

Intention

From the inception of our project, we have been considering how to create an effective science popularization handbook that belongs to us. This handbook is intended to better support our team in expanding its impact and making the public as informed as possible about the dangers of S. invicta and the methods of prevention and control. To facilitate the project's development, we conducted field research in multiple cities and towns. In Bai Tu Town, Shaoguan County, Guangdong Province, we obtained preliminary information on the town's control measures. In Jieyang County, Guangdong Province, we further learned about the actual treatment methods for most S. invicta bite victims from the Jie Xi Agricultural and Rural Bureau and the People's Hospital of Jie Xi city. Additionally, after consulting experts from S. invicta Control Companies and relevant researchers, and combining this with existing literature, we compiled our S. invicta prevention and control handbook. Our prevention and control popular science manual received widespread acclaim at the Synbio & SDG science communication exhibition. Meanwhile, visitors provided valuable feedback and suggestions for our manual, with hopes for even greater enrichment and improvement in the future.

2023 iGEM Intercollegiate Synthetic Biology Science Conference

Overview

The science communication conference, initiated by the iGEM team BNUZH-China from Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai Campus, in collaboration with six other teams, including SCAU-China from South China Agricultural University, brought together students from seven universities. The conference aimed to promote the exchange and sharing of synthetic biology knowledge. College branch venues were set up to invite students from all participating teams to watch the intercollegiate synthetic biology science communication conference and engage in interactive discussions.

Figure 17: Poster for 2023 iGEM Intercollegiate Synthetic Biology Science Conference

Figure 18: Students asking questions at the conference

Figure 19: BNUZH offline conference

Figure 20: Online conference

Intention

Our team, while overcoming the barriers of intercollegiate distances, ensured a balance between offline interactions and participation. Through the sharing of various iGEM teams, we aimed to provide more students with insights into the wide-ranging applications of synthetic biology in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and bio-manufacturing. This further allowed them to grasp the allure of synthetic biology, igniting a passion for science and a desire for exploration.

SynBio&SDG Science Exhibition

Overview

This event, organized jointly by our team in collaboration with SCUT-China, took place at the Guangdong Science Center, one of Asia's largest science education hubs. We brought together 12 iGEM teams across the country to host the Synbio&SDG Science Communication Exhibition at this venue, which attracts a daily visit of up to 25,000.

The science exhibition was designed in the format of an amusement park. Visitors received a stamp card to complete challenges at each team's booth and collect stamps. Additionally, we set up a public exhibition area featuring the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and two extra interactive games. The team display area allowed each participating team to creatively interpret the SDGs, develop their own rules for obtaining stamps, and contribute to the education of children. This approach not only added an element of fun, attracting the attention of adolescents, but also integrated synthetic biology with the concept of sustainable development, promoting effective knowledge dissemination.

Figure 21: Group photo of the teams

Intention

Through this public-facing science exhibition, we collaborated with the public and all iGEM team members to explore the applications of synthetic biology in sustainable development. Our main objective was to showcase the relevance of synthetic biology to a broader audience, particularly young people, and encourage greater understanding and participation in sustainable development. The event featured project exhibitions by each participating team, providing real-life examples of synthetic biology's multifaceted impact on sustainable development. Many children had their first exposure to the concepts of synthetic biology and sustainable development during this science communication exhibition, inspiring their thinking and allowing them to experience the unique charm of synthetic biology through the stamp-collecting games. Some high school students engaged in in-depth discussions with us after carefully listening to our project ideas, further promoting the understanding of synthetic biology.