Sustainable Development Goals | SZ-SHD

Online Summit: Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development

We participated in an esteemed online summit focusing on 'Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development,' meticulously organized by the iGEM team at Nanjing Normal University. The summit took 2 hours including discussion and presentation sessions, and convened participants from 8 iGEM teams representing diverse nations across the globe. The core of the presentation revolved around the central theme of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), wherein each team expounded upon the intricate connection and substantial impact of their respective projects on the broader SDG framework. During our designated session, we presented our innovative endeavor—a biofertilizer engineered to convert insoluble phosphate salts in soil into soluble phosphate ions, coupled with a sophisticated phytosensor utilizing carbon nanodots (CDs). We articulated the potential transformative effects of our product, ranging from augmenting crop yields to remediating water pollution. By reducing the influx of phosphorus into water bodies and curbing the uncontrolled proliferation of algae, our solution holds the promise of averting eutrophication. Among the distinguished projects showcased, NJTech-China-B's initiative stood out conspicuously. Their high-yield pentylene glycol strains, meticulously cultivated under mild reaction conditions, exemplified the pinnacle of sustainable practices. This project not only harnessed renewable raw materials but also significantly diminished waste emissions, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels and concurrently mitigating carbon emissions. In addition, they have done a lot of relevant human practices in related fields, which is also a very worthwhile point for our team to learn from. As the exclusive representative of the high school cohort within this conference, we meticulously absorbed the detailed reports presented by several iGEM university teams. This collective engagement fostered a profound comprehension of SDG, transcending immediate environmental enhancements and paving the path for a promising future for humanity's successive generations. We discerned the need for a more profound understanding of SDG 6, specifically focusing on water and sanitation. Consequently, we have formulated plans to visit a wastewater treatment plant, aiming to delve into the nuanced processes and technologies underlying wastewater treatment, thereby enriching our knowledge base in pursuit of comprehensive sustainable development. Besides, we decided to put SDGs as the tenets in our business plan.

Field trip to Suzhou Drainage Co.,Ltd.

In our pursuit of aligning our BioSmart Phosphate Fertilizer project with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) - Clean Water and Sanitation, we embarked on a valuable excursion to Suzhou Drainage Co.,Ltd. This immersive experience not only enlightened us about the intricate process of treating domestic sewage but also shed light on the specific water quality issues in our region. This company, a cornerstone in maintaining public health and environmental sustainability, became a focal point for understanding the complexities of wastewater treatment and the disparities between treating domestic and agricultural wastewater.

The wastewater treatment journey unfolds through a series of meticulously designed steps aimed at efficiently removing pollutants. Commencing at an outdoor pumping station, sewage undergoes an initial filtration process in coarse screens, eliminating large debris. Filtered water is then directed to an inlet pump room, from where it enters an aeration tank through fine screens. At this stage, odorous gases such as hydrogen chloride are collected to address the issue of foul smells. Additionally, the aeration sedimentation tank efficiently eliminates sand particles.

At the heart of domestic wastewater treatment lies the biological pond, employing the Anoxic-Anaerobic-Oxic (AAO) process. In this realm, bacteria in the sediment absorb organic matter as their growth nutrient. The biological pond is segmented into three groups, each containing 12 water pools. The Anoxic, Anaerobic, and Oxic stages involve processes of aeration and reflux. Microorganisms in these stages play a pivotal role in breaking down various pollutants in wastewater. The key to this process lies in gate control, aeration provided by air blowers, and the reuse of activated sludge. Maintaining an optimal temperature is essential to ensure the efficiency of microorganisms in degrading pollutants. Inspired by the microbial degradation of pollutants in the AAO process, we explored the use of microorganisms to break down organic compounds in phosphate fertilizers.

The treated water undergoes further separation from sludge in sedimentation tanks and undergoes additional physical filtration through microfiltration units. Sterilization with sodium hypochlorite ensures the elimination of remaining bacteria. Ultraviolet disinfection is then employed to kill bacteria and denature microbial proteins, ensuring the treated water complies with water quality standards before being released into natural water bodies. Continuous online monitoring guarantees the maintenance of water quality standards, with immediate corrective measures implemented upon detecting deviations.

Our firsthand visit to the wastewater treatment facility provided invaluable insights into the intricacies of domestic wastewater treatment and offered a profound understanding of the distinctions between domestic and agricultural wastewater treatment. We witnessed the meticulous steps involved, from initial filtration to the final disinfection phase. Furthermore, we discovered that while nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in domestic wastewater might be lower than agricultural wastewater, the treatment processes share fundamental similarities. This understanding, encompassing techniques to mitigate the impacts of nitrogen and phosphorus pollutants, serves as a reference for our phosphate fertilizer research. Additionally, the wastewater treatment methods inspired our exploration of reducing phosphate fertilizer pollution and enhancing its efficiency in agriculture and environmental applications.

The AAO biological treatment process stands as a mature and widely adopted method for domestic wastewater treatment. Further developments focus on enhancing efficiency through increased circulation cycles. During the interactive session, we discussed challenges related to equipment malfunctions and winter temperature fluctuations, underscoring the imperative need for continuous monitoring and maintenance.

The stringent wastewater quality standards upheld by Suzhou surpass national requirements, underscoring Suzhou's dedication to environmental protection. In essence, this on-site exploration underscored the pivotal role of wastewater treatment in preserving the environment and public health. It emphasized the necessity for ongoing innovation in wastewater management. The online monitoring and maintenance measures adopted during wastewater treatment serve as a vital reference for our phosphate fertilizer research, facilitating the establishment of a robust monitoring and maintenance system for phosphate fertilizer production and application. This enlightening experience fortified our commitment to sustainable agricultural practices.

SDGs in Entrepreneurship:

Connection with sustainable development goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals designed to address various social, economic, and environmental challenges facing the world. They were established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Our products, bio-intelligent phosphate fertilizer, can achieve the SDGs by solving the pollution in soil and water bodies through the process of secreting gluconic acid dissolving the accumulated unsolvable phosphorus salt, and reusing the phosphorus to provide nutrition to the plants.

Here are the SDGs that our company build strong connections on:

SDG 12-Responsible Consumption and Production:
Sustainable use of phosphate fertilizers is important to minimize their environmental impact, reduce waste, and promote efficient and responsible production and consumption patterns. Reuse phosphate salt in the soil, reducing the harm of chemicals to the environment and the human body.

SD 13- Climate Action:
Phosphate fertilizers can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, such as nitrous oxide. Sustainable agricultural practices, including responsible fertilizer use, can help mitigate climate change and reduce carbon emissions. Reutilize phosphate in the soil and cut the use of traditional phosphate fertilizers, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the utilization of phosphate fertilizers.

SDG 14 - Life Below Water and SDG 15 - Life on Land:
Phosphate mining and fertilizer runoff can have negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems and terrestrial biodiversity. Sustainable practices in the production and use of phosphate fertilizers can help protect these ecosystems. Using up the accumulated phosphate salt in the soil prevents the phosphate from washing into the water body, providing nutrients to the plankton and algae in the water, which blooms and will kill fish in water bodies, like a lake.

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Science popularization: Fertilizers and SDGs

Sustainable development is one of the basic concepts of development in the world today. In order to better respond to this concept, we believe that we should strengthen the education of children to enhance their awareness of sustainable development and environmental protection, as well as their understanding of the significance behind them. At the same time, with the rapid development of science and technology, people's understanding of agriculture, which is the cornerstone of social development, has gradually faded, and the dissemination of knowledge in this area is indispensable. Therefore, on September 17, 2023 - National Science Popularization Day, we collaborated with a government agency, Kangjian Community in Shanghai, to launch a meaningful science education campaign with the theme of "Fertilizer and Sustainable Development". The audience of this activity was 7-12 years old children who voluntarily signed up for the class.

To begin with, we introduced the topic of fertilizers by focusing on the growth needs of plants. We listed the types of fertilizers and their use to the children, and designed a quiz to teach them how to identify the signs of phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium deficiency in plants. In order to enliven the atmosphere and motivate all the students to participate, we set up prizes that fit the theme after the quiz - blind boxes of canned crops - to help them better and more intuitively understand crop development and planting after the class. We then briefly introduced our Bio-Phosphorus Fertilizer program, which leads to sustainability and environmental protection. Lastly, We explained the meaning of sustainable development and the 17 goals, and in order for them to better understand and realize their importance, we asked them to envision the future of the planet and to provide small contributions that they can make to the environment and to sustainable development on a daily basis.

The whole process went on with unexpected success, and the children participated in the class actively and enthusiastically without even needing to intentionally drive the atmosphere. We were amazed by their creativity and ingenuity, each with a love of science and the environment. After this educational activity, we also clearly realized that it is not enough to only promote science to children. Therefore, we are targeting high school students for our next educational program, which will continue to be centered on the theme of sustainable development, but since high school students have some basic knowledge, we decided to add the promotion of synthetic biology to our next presentation.

Targeted education for high school students: Synthetic Biology and SDGs

Our presentation was bilingual and we also made a clear and concise PowerPoint to improve both students and teachers understanding. First, we provided a general introduction about the background of the iGEM competition and the field of synthetic biology. In addition to that, we listed the limitations as well as the disadvantages of traditional phosphate fertilizers, and the potential environmental problems caused by them, thus extending our design concept and original intention of this project and providing a detailed explanation. Of course, the focus of this presentation was the relationship between this project - BioSmart Phosphate Fertilizer and the SDGs. The connection to SDG 2-Zero Hunger was emphasized, and if bio-smart fertilizers like our project are given to farmers and widely used, then our product will contribute to the goals of eradicating hunger, a certain level of poverty, and thus ensuring the well-being of people of all ages. Our smart fertilizer project helps to increase the yield and quality of crops, which in turn increases the food supply. As a result, the crops grow stronger and are able to satisfy the food needs of more people. At the end of the meeting, we provided the contact details of the team members to ensure that the students could be contacted if they had any questions.

Crucially, our educational initiative did not conclude with the presentation. We facilitated meaningful engagement through a feedback loop. Return visits and targeted surveys provided valuable insights into the students' perceptions. Their newfound understanding of traditional fertilizers' limitations and their enthusiasm for our project underscored the success of our approach. Moreover, their interest in the practical implementation of our project exemplified the real-world impact of our educational outreach, and many students showed great enthusiasm for synthetic biology and IGEM competitions and would like to participate in the future.

In the spirit of continuous improvement, we embraced the constructive criticism received. Students voiced concerns about the rushed pace of the presentation and the limited interaction. This feedback became a catalyst for our team's growth. We gleaned essential lessons, understanding the need for well-paced, interactive sessions. Integrating real-life examples and interactive elements became integral components of our future educational initiatives.

Posters displayed in the school

Inspired by designer Barbara Kruger, the eye-catching design can arouse public concern and action on environmental issues. It focuses on some of the advantages and applications of genetically modified (GM) food, thus increasing the yield and quality of crops to meet human demand for food, and bringing benefits in terms of sustainable development and environmental protection.

The design is inspired by the McDonald's advertisement and draws on its simple, straightforward style for targeting a younger demographic. Since GM food is a product of scientific and technological progress, we conveyed relevant knowledge to the audience in a scientific way, including specific practical examples, to help them answer common questions and promote the public's rational knowledge and scientific thinking about GM technology.

Inspired by Huangsheng Wang's Garden of Memory series, the basic principle is to use overprints of plants to structure and reorganize new complex gardens of life. This concept allows the public to understand the beauty of nature through the artwork, which coincides with the aim of our human practice. The various colours and jumping lines also make the images more suitable for younger children who are interested in the concept of sustainability. It will be even more effective if the artwork is displayed to the public during the presentation.