During the February winter holidays this year, we continued our research through the internet, despite returning to our home towns, to confirm the need for our experiment as soon as possible. Our objectives included national policies, plastic pollution in our regions, and conventional treatments. At the same time, we took advantage of the fact that we were dispersed throughout the country during our holidays to conduct social fieldwork in our respective hometowns. We discovered that in today's world, plastics are diverse and widely utilised and severely pollute the environment. Furthermore, they harm all flora and fauna, including human beings. Therefore, our team proposed the theme "Plastic Degradation" after careful deliberation. Before this, we conducted online and offline questionnaires aimed at the general public and university students to investigate public awareness of plastic and their understanding of plastic degradation.
Survey
We generated an online questionnaire and quiz to ascertain the public's comprehension of plastics. We obtained a total of 150 responses.
According to the survey results, most people know the importance of environmental protection and the negative impact of plastic. It indicates that ecological protection awareness has become deeply ingrained in society due to the widespread promotion of eco-friendly concepts. However, despite this awareness, most people do not actively recycle plastic and instead casually dispose of it. Therefore, the current plastic issue lies in the improper disposal of plastic waste. Expanding and improving public awareness of plastic recycling during future environmental protection activities is essential. It serves as a reminder to raise public awareness of plastic recycling during the upcoming HP activities.
Over 95% of individuals supported government intervention in plastic control, and more than 98% stated a willingness to utilise recyclable plastic products. Additionally, household consumption of disposable paper cups decreased to less than 60% (59.9%).
More importantly, the questionnaire survey revealed that most of the public knows bioremediation technology to manage plastics (refer to the statistical chart). Currently, plastics are primarily treated through incineration, landfill, and other methods, whereas innovative bioremediation technology can degrade plastics and convert them into resources. However, the survey results show that most of the audience needs a thorough understanding of bioremediation technology. Therefore, during the HP activities, our team will present a speech to explain our bioremediation technology program and introduce this year's iGEM project - plastic degradation. It will expand the reach of synthetic biology and raise awareness among the audience.
Waste incineration plant visit
After conducting previous literature research, our team discovered that the primary methods for disposing of plastic waste are incineration or landfill. However, incinerating plastics releases harmful and toxic gases and consumes significant energy resources. Equally problematic is the slow natural degradation rate of plastics in landfills. In addition, plastics can erode soil, exacerbating soil crises.
As the primary source of plastic waste, the selected disposal method indicates the prevalent approach towards plastic. Our team aims to investigate the current practice of treating plastic waste in landfills through on-site research.
Our team visited a waste incinerator in Zhaoqing City. Before our visit, we had questioned whether the incinerator was being used to dispose of waste. Subsequently, we discussed this matter with the responsible party at the facility. It has been discovered through careful analysis that the waste disposal site primarily employs incineration to produce electricity, with a power output efficiency of 500 kWh per tonne of waste. Although this falls well below the 3500 kWh efficiency rate of coal-fired power plants, it provides insight into a promising avenue for waste reduction and resource reutilization. Waste plastics can be repurposed to create added-value products using synthetic biology methods and electricity generation.
We learned that the waste-to-energy plant was established in 2019 in line with China's "carbon peak, carbon neutral" concept. China's energy saving and emission reduction policy is reflected throughout society, and landfills are transforming into environmentally friendly and sustainable development arenas. Over generations, the importance of environmental protection has seeped into the consciousness of individuals, leading to their application in everyday life for sustainable development. Turning waste into usable products has been a positive outcome for society. Our team achieved numerous rewards. The innovative plastic transformation concept will further enhance our experimental program. As Wust-China, we have been utilising synthetic biology methods to address environmental issues for one week.
Freshwater quality survey
After participating in the bio-remediation workshop on 5 August 2023, our team joined the Freshwater Remediation Consortium and the Light Up China campaign with Xijiao Liverpool University. Synthetic biology can solve environmental issues and help tackle global pollution. As such, we joined their team and investigated the plastic pollution in the water quality in Wuhan.
Our team travelled to East Lake in Wuhan, China, on 2 September 2023 to conduct a water quality survey. The survey focused on waste plastic pollution in the lake and microplastics in freshwater. We have amalgamated our previous offline interviews with online questionnaire survey data and field observation. Our findings indicate that the water quality of East Lake is clear and clean, with no discarded plastic bottles on the surface and fewer impurities and microplastics in the water. These results suggest that Wuhan has done an exceptional environmental management job, particularly in water quality management. Furthermore, citizens appear to possess a strong awareness of environmental protection, as we did not observe any undesirable phenomena, such as the random disposal of plastic bottles throughout the lake area.
However, following our survey, we conducted a network study investigating water pollution. We discovered that some regions of freshwater lakes still contain significant quantities of discarded plastic bottles, indicating that plastic pollution remains prevalent. The natural degradation rate of plastic bottles is slow, and as degraded plastic particles accumulate in freshwater organisms, they can pollute the water, ultimately posing a health hazard to humans.
Therefore, our team's plastic degradation technology requires continual refinement and experimentation to expand beyond laboratory limitations and aid in future synthetic biology bioremediation applications.
Science Lecture
On the 22nd of April, 2023, we held a sequence of scientific lectures on synthetic biology and the iGEM competition with our team on campus. We presented WUST-China's iGEM project this year and aimed to raise awareness on plastic degradation, environmental protection, and the expanding influence of synthetic biology in tackling environmental issues.
Through exchanging team members and interactive questions and questionnaires, we received favourable feedback from students who have come to comprehend and focus on synthetic biology, the iGEM competition, and our team's self-media platform.
In the lecture summary meeting, our team successfully enticed students from diverse majors, utilising sharing, who showed great interest in synthetic biology and its applications.
The lecture imparted valuable experience for our team to organise large-scale publicity events independently and positively initiated our subsequent HP activities. Meanwhile, we have finished designing the team logo, banner, and wiki page and scheduling the production of two competition videos to prepare for the second phase.
Community Sensitisation
To broaden our team's scope and attract a wider audience, we seized the opportunity of Youth Day to implement a community outreach program for middle-aged, elderly, and young individuals. Commencing with plastic pollution, we presented our project, synthetic biology, and the iGEM competition in a simplified way for better comprehension. We interviewed the community secretary and visited the homes of older adults. During our visits, we met Grandma Zeng, who crafts items from recycled materials, including plastic, and ascribes cultural significance to the objects she creates. Our encounter with Grandma Zeng sparked our imaginations about alternative uses for TPA.
Through this activity, our team reflected and identified practical issues, including slow task progression, inadequate preparation, and insufficient inter-group collaboration. This evaluation has provided us with valuable suggestions for improving future HP activities. Furthermore, our team has proposed a "problem-solving feedback system" for activity summarisation.
Women's Education Environmental Exchange Day
There has been a consistent feminist movement that has evolved, repeatedly advocating for equal rights for women. Women are also susceptible to unequal treatment. To promote gender equality and increase the reach of synthetic biology, the WUST-China team reported a series of feminist educational forums on campus. It included the second WUST-China educational forum at Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST) on 5th September 2023. The discussion explored women's research in life sciences and their remarkable contributions to synthetic biology. We united the female members of our team and female students from the campus for a forum on women's awareness of equality, environmental protection, and synthetic biology. During the summit, we discussed women's entitlement to their rights and interests in the workplace.
Additionally, we explored women's role in environmental protection, with particular emphasis on bioremediation, and discussed the work of those involved in related fields. At the forum, objective evaluations were made possible, revealing the impression of our female team members' creativity, dedication, and ability. Our team comprises women who lead the work in artwork, editing, experiments, and other facets vital to the smooth operation of our team's work. Through this women's education forum, we aim to promote equality and freedom for women. Utilising the feminist movement as a platform, we intend to raise awareness of our environmental protection project. Specifically, we want to draw attention to synthetic biology and our WUST-China project concerning plastic degradation this year to encourage participation.
Women's Education Environmental Exchange Day
Minority students should be granted equal rights and opportunities. Ensuring all students receive the same level of interest and support is vital. It can be achieved by providing the necessary resources and educational programs. It is essential to avoid discrimination and bias towards minority students. Their academic success should be prioritised, and adequate policies should be in place to ensure their progress and development.
Ethnic minorities constitute the majority of China's 56 ethnic groups. The WUST-China team initiated from a humanistic standpoint to raise awareness about our project. We organised an exchange meeting with ethnic minority students on campus. We presented lectures about the current state of plastic consumption, its detrimental effects, the WUST project, and our activities and programs. The attendees were from diverse backgrounds, including Uyghur, Tujia, Li, and more. People came from various regions, each with their distinct qualities. We discovered variations in pollution levels in their places of origin. However, plastic usage is rising, leading to plastic waste's pervasive presence in forests and fields. We discovered that the nearby region needs more technological advancement and information. Consequently, the inhabitants need to be better-versed in bioremediation or even plastic recycling, and the majority dispose of plastic by allowing it to decompose naturally. Hence, this exchange meeting helped raise awareness, letting more people know that our team employs Rhodococcus opacus for plastic degradation while promoting attention to the degradation and transformation of plastics.
The meeting participants expressed their wish to inform a wider audience, including their fellow citizens, about using synthetic biology technology to combat plastic pollution. It would enable regions inhabited by ethnic minorities to gain insight into science and technology and their potential for addressing environmental issues. Simultaneously, we aspire to demonstrate the daily lives of minority students to a broader audience, increase understanding of their traditional culture and customs, and introduce the unique culture of minorities to a more general audience via our team. Moreover, we aim to support equality for minority students in their everyday lives through gathering and communicating with them.
Campus Presentation
On 13 September 2023, newly enrolled students commenced their academic journey at Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST). This cohort of recent high school graduates have transitioned into university, and to advance awareness of the iGEM project and its work relating to synthetic biology and plastics degradation, we conducted knowledge dissemination sessions, distributed questionnaires and leaflets to all new students of Wuhan University of Science and Technology (WUST) on this day.
Ethnic minorities constitute the majority of China's 56 ethnic groups. The WUST-China team initiated from a humanistic standpoint to raise awareness about our project. We organised an exchange meeting with ethnic minority students on campus. We presented lectures about the current state of plastic consumption, its detrimental effects, the WUST project, and our activities and programs. The attendees were from diverse backgrounds, including Uyghur, Tujia, Li, and more. People came from various regions, each with their distinct qualities. We discovered variations in pollution levels in their places of origin. However, plastic usage is rising, leading to plastic waste's pervasive presence in forests and fields. We discovered that the nearby region needs more technological advancement and information. Consequently, the inhabitants need to be better-versed in bioremediation or even plastic recycling, and the majority dispose of plastic by allowing it to decompose naturally. Hence, this exchange meeting helped raise awareness, letting more people know that our team employs Rhodococcus opacus for plastic degradation while promoting attention to the degradation and transformation of plastics.
Several attendees even had backgrounds in bioengineering. As a second-year bioengineering student, Yang Dongsong introduced bioengineering fundamentals to the group and explained how genetic engineering can modify microorganisms to degrade plastics. This publicity event allowed our team to showcase our work to the public while leaving a legacy for future university students to learn about the iGEM competition, synthetic biology, and the WUST-China team.
