In 2021 and 2023, the success of the event was remarkable, leading to lower school dropout rates among the participants and increased classroom interaction, as reported by the teachers of Samuel Klabin State School, located in Vila Dalva.

The methodology of gamification was enhanced in the second edition with the formation of groups and the development of thematic stations, offering adaptable narratives and diverse paths for children to explore. The themes covered included microbiology, health, hygiene, and basic concepts of cells and synthetic biology, all within a challenging narrative that promoted group discussions for children to arrive at answers together and advance in the adventure.

The target audience of the project is middle school students. During this period, students acquire more complex and critical thinking skills, becoming capable of understanding and interacting with scientific concepts more effectively. It also represents a transition in the educational trajectory of the students, as they will move on to high school.

We use Gamification which, according to Peter Jacson, is a structured process that uses game elements to engage and motivate people.

So, the development of the event is done in conjunction with the school, taking into account both the specifics of the physical space and the profile of the students, to create an accessible event that can include even those who have not yet been literate, through the development of dramaturgy and the use of images. From there, a narrative script is created that includes the elements of the local landscape and the surrounding area of the school, simulating a video game, and later developing into scenarios.

On the day of the event, the scenarios are built and the children are divided into groups, assisted by the staff and volunteer monitors from the university itself, following a pre-planned path according to the script. In this context, it is important to emphasize that preference should be given to the use of recycled materials for the creation of the environment, to reduce environmental impact and raise awareness among the children to adopt a sustainable attitude.

This marked the beginning of the Scientific Camp in 2023, held at Samuel Klabin State School for middle school students, with the participation of 67 children, and the total duration was 4 hours, with a new part of the journey revealed every 40 minutes. The Scientific Camp collaborated with the school and university extension projects like Chemistry in Action and Biology Station.

The narrative portrayed a post-apocalyptic world caused by a superbug outbreak, emphasizing the importance of creating new antibiotics and using them responsibly.

The camp featured interactive stations, each connecting with the post-apocalyptic narrative. During the implementation, there were both actors (playing characters from the narrative and guiding the activities) and staff members (performing tasks behind the scenes, as well as taking care of cleaning and food).

Below is a brief summary of the activities performed at each of the stations and their context in the narrative.

*iGEM: In the activity, iGEM was an organization that compiled information to find a cure in the future

After all stations were completed, the teams were gathered for the final area. At the conclusion of each previous activity, each group had received a strip of paper with a piece of a message, which they could now assemble to read:

With the password, students gained access to the final station: the University, where they were welcomed by StreptoBot, another android left by iGEM, who led the activity. Before proceeding with the games, however, the robot summarized the story so far and tested the participants' knowledge, as well as spoke about the role of free public universities and extension projects, aiming to motivate the students to consider enrolling at USP, a free university in their real-life future.

The project of the Scientific Camp, which has already proven to be a success in its trajectory, is looking towards a future of significant expansion and improvement. In this development horizon, some specific goals have been outlined:

+ Expand the reach of the Camp, extending it to a greater number of schools in diverse communities and including basic education levels.

+ To facilitate the replication of the event, the creation of a guide is being planned with detailed information about the gamification methodology, practical activities, necessary resources, and guidelines for conducting the Scientific Camp.

+ The project also aims to develop a specialized training program for teachers. This will adequately prepare them to effectively carry out the event, ensuring that the pedagogical objectives are achieved and that students have an enriching educational experience.

These future perspectives reflect the ongoing commitment to promote quality scientific education, making it accessible to a wider audience, and positively inspiring the future generations of scientists and citizens.

The project continues its inspiring journey towards a future full of discoveries and learning.

The Brazilian Synthetic Biology Olympiad, known as Olimpíada Brasileira de Biologia Sintética (OBBS), was founded in 2021 as a legacy of the Let it Bee project. Recognizing the untapped potential of this initiative, we aimed to extend its impact to a wider audience across Brazil. Targeting high school students nationwide, OBBS distinguishes itself by not requiring knowledge beyond the regular high school curriculum. Through an investigative approach, participants have the opportunity to grasp the fundamental concepts of synthetic biology, biotechnology, and molecular biology, enabling a practical understanding of the applications of synthetic biology. In this way, OBBS fills a gap in basic education by promoting an understanding of synthetic biology, an area often absent from classrooms.

Since its debut in 2021, OBBS has received support from the Ministry of Science and Technology. In its second edition in 2022, it maintained the number of student registrations from all Brazilian states. In the third edition in 2023, we successfully achieved the goal of expanding its visibility and accessibility, especially for students from public schools.

One of the main focuses since the inception of OBBS has been to ensure that the exam reflects the educational reality of the country, where deficits are often found, especially in the sciences. OBBS aims to introduce and encourage high school students to explore the world of synthetic biology, a field often absent from the school curriculum. To achieve this, the approach is to provide as much information as possible in the questions, allowing students to learn while taking the test. This distinctive approach is what has earned OBBS such positive feedback from students - through logical-interpretative reasoning, participants accumulate knowledge that enables them to address specific issues in the field of synthetic biology, maintaining the level of challenge and competitiveness characteristic of a knowledge competition.

To learn more details about the origin of OBBS, check out this section of our WIKI from the Let.it.bee project.

OBBS consists of two phases: the first one comprises 20 multiple-choice questions on general biology, and the second phase consists of 15 more in-depth questions on synthetic biology. Both phases take place online, providing participants with the flexibility to complete the exam within a 7-day period after the questions are released on the virtual platform. The exam can be taken using computers, tablets, and mobile phones.

Fractal, a company specializing in digital learning, and the Vertere Institute, its non-profit arm, are our partners. These two entities collaborate with us in hosting the platform where the online exam is conducted.

In our dedicated effort to kindle nationwide interest in the Olympiad in Biological Synthetic Biology (OBBS), we embraced an inclusive approach, welcoming students from all educational backgrounds. Our outreach spanned public and private institutions across Brazil. The 'OBBS Around Brazil' figure exemplifies this collective engagement, showcasing students' dedication in diverse academic settings, illustrating the universal appeal and influence of OBBS. Their participation serves as a testament to the universal appeal and impact of OBBS within the broader educational landscape.

As part of our ongoing commitment to fostering interest and participation in the Olympiad in Biological Synthetic Biology (OBBS), we've diligently tracked students' performance in the first phase over the course of three years. The histograms below offer a visual representation of this data, illustrating the progression and achievements of participants. By analyzing performance trends, we gain valuable insights into the evolving landscape of OBBS and its impact on students' academic endeavors.

In the initial phase of the 2023 OBBS edition, we gathered data from more than 800 participants through a voluntary survey regarding their socio-economic conditions. This information offers valuable insights into a substantial portion of our registrants.

Below, three comments have been selected that encompass a range of perspectives, from the initial learning experience to the challenge and practical application of knowledge, providing a comprehensive insight into OBBS.

Following feedback from over 600 OBBS 2023 participants, we created a 'word cloud' to distill their responses. This visual representation succinctly captures the essence of their feedback. Noteworthy among the recurring words are: “opportunity, knowledge, enjoyed, learned, hope”. This reinforces our dedication to delivering a valuable and enriching experience through OBBS.

Since its inception, OBBS has experienced remarkable growth on social media. Currently, it has surpassed our team's official Instagram page in terms of followers, highlighting the scale and potential of the Olympiad. As an example, just in 2023, the OBBS Instagram page (@O_B_B_S) gained over 2,000 followers!

The Synthetic Biology Immersion Week is an initiative aimed at providing students with a unique and immersive experience in the world of Synthetic Biology research and related fields. Our main goal is to inspire participants to deepen their interests in synbio and possibly consider a career in this field or related areas. To make this prize possible, we have the support of our University's Pro-Rectorate for Culture and Extension, which kindly granted us permission to use the logo, facilities, and financial aid from USP. This collaboration has been crucial for the success and continuity of this program.

Learn more about the OBBS Special Prize.