Overview

We summarized the whole educational activity around the following keywords:
"synthetic biology", "environment", and "water resource".
The education section is divided into four parts: primary school, high school, university, and society. We use different approaches to spreading synthetic biology to different groups.
If you want to understand why we do it, what we do, how we do it, and how well it works, please follow below!

Primary school-elementary education

Lesson in primary school

This year, the XJTLU-CHINA team has organized a science popularization program for elementary school students, which is divided into two modules: one conducted within the school premises and the other beyond it.
Inside the school, we have designed a comprehensive curriculum aimed at Grade 6 students from Suzhou Industrial Park Wenjing Experimental School. This curriculum encompasses topics in synthetic biology, environmental science, and fundamental biology concepts. Recognizing the young age of these students and the challenges they face when dealing with complex scientific content, we have implemented a science popularization approach that involves a combination of informative presentations, interactive communication, and hands-on experiences.

1. Introduction and discussion
   We began our discussion by addressing the theme of the environment, focusing on the importance of water conservation. Following this introduction, we delved into a comprehensive explanation of sewage classification and the various treatment methods available. This naturally led to a question: What are the merits and drawbacks associated with the current sewage treatment techniques? This question sparked enthusiastic participation and a lively discussion among the children.
   
   
2. Explanation and asking questions
   We transitioned from discussing the environment to exploring the realm of synthetic biology. In this phase, we delved into how synthetic biology concepts can be harnessed to address wastewater treatment, while also providing a more comprehensive overview of synthetic biology's fundamental features and its various application domains.
   We intended to encourage children to contemplate the intricate connections between natural sciences and society. Regrettably, it appeared that the children, being of relatively tender age, initially exhibited a less-than-enthusiastic response when we encouraged them to propose potential societal issues that synthetic biology could help resolve. Yet as we guided them, the children gradually broadened their minds.
3. Experiences and communication
   At the end of the whole session, we introduced some basic biological knowledge. The children were also allowed to take turns using the microscopes that were brought in. The children showed a lot of excitement and marvelled at the wonder of the cellular structures in the slides!
   
   At the conclusion of the lesson, we conducted a summary session where we posed three questions to the children. We were pleased to observe that they were able to recall certain keywords from the lesson, including "heavy metal," "engineering," and "gene". This demonstrated their retention and comprehension of the lesson.
   
   After completing the course, we took the initiative to meet with the science teacher who had been overseeing the class. During this meeting, we had the opportunity to present our project and the efforts we were making to promote the field of synthetic biology. The teacher not only showed a keen interest in our work but also expressed his ongoing support for our endeavors.
   In addition, he hoped that the children would be exposed to more biology outside of the textbooks from elementary school onwards to cultivate their interest in natural sciences. He then led us to ask a few students how they felt about the course, and the kids said they had a lot of fun, especially liked the part at the end where they used the microscope!
   

Educational activities of the Science and Technology Museum

To expand our scope of science popularization, we went to Suzhou Youth Science and Technology Museum to hold a science popularization activity on the theme of protecting water resources. We invited 20 elementary school students and their parents to participate in this event.
The whole event is divided into three parts:

• Water resources knowledge explanation
• Water purification experiment
• Science and Technology Museum visit
  

1. Water resources knowledge explanation
   First, we explained the preciousness of water resources to the children and talked about the limited freshwater resources. Then we introduced the water cycle including evaporation, precipitation, groundwater and river flow. Next, we talk about the harmful substances in industrial wastewater, agricultural fertilizers, and household wastewater. It concludes with the idea that we need to take measures to prevent and reduce water pollution.
   


2. Water purification experiment
   To make the event more enjoyable, we designed a water purification experiment where we prepared 10 water purification devices (with small stones, quartz sand, activated carbon, fine sand, and filter paper) which need to be assembled by children, a bottle of sewage with blue colouring and a bottle of sewage with red colouring. We divided the children into four groups and each group was guided by a member of the XJTLU-CHINA team.
   To further enrich the experience, we introduced two bottles of sewage—one with a vibrant blue coloring and another with a striking red hue. These vividly colored solutions served as visual aids, allowing the children to witness the transformation of polluted water into cleaner, clearer water through the filtration process.
   
   In the course of the experiments, we tried to involve the children as much as possible, and we only provided theoretical guidance. However, this resulted in less-than-ideal results:
   only in two installations did the effluent become fully clarified, the others were incompletely treated. A number of children were sad or even cried because of this, and we analyzed the reasons for the failure of the experiment while comforting them. The main reason why the wastewater was not completely purified was probably that the children's mishandling led to a large amount of quartz sand, activated carbon, and other lab supplies used for the adsorption of pollutants being spilt onto the table. Therefore the devices that were not ideal for the experiment had much less adsorbent than expected, which affected the adsorption effect. Secondly, some of the purified water was clear but appeared red or blue, which proved that the adsorbents we brought into the device might not be very good at adsorbing pigments.
   In the end, we explained to the children that it is normal for experiments to have unsatisfactory results and that what is important is the process of review and reflection. The purpose of the experiment was achieved when we gained something from it.
   
   

   

   

   
3. Science and Technology Museum visit
   Due to the long duration of the event, we thoughtfully arranged for a selection of snacks and small gifts to be readily available for both the children and their accompanying parents upon their arrival.
   
   At the end of the program, we took the kids to visit the Science and Technology Museum to do some quizzes about environment. During the tour, a number of parents were attracted to our program and wanted to sign up for our next event as well, so it's clear that what we're doing is getting some attention!
   
   

   

   

High schools-Secondary education

For high school students, We use “teaching＋doing” to educate them about synthetic biology. We aim to create a platform where we can communicate with high school students about synthetic biology and guide them in their scientific explorations.
In pursuit of this mission, we have forged valuable partnerships with DKU 2023 and Fudan 2023, aligning our efforts and resources to achieve common goals. This collaborative endeavor ensures a more comprehensive and impactful approach to educating high school students about synthetic biology.

Lecture: Synthetic Biology from Genetic Engineering

In May, we were received an invitation from the Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Affiliated School, inviting us to deliver a comprehensive science lecture to the high school students within their institution. Our engagement with the students was designed to be both informative and inspiring.
To structure our lecture effectively, we initiated our discourse by introducing the concept of genes, elucidating how they underpin various traits, and subsequently delving into the systematic knowledge of genetic engineering. Based on the students' understanding of central law and genetic engineering, we led the 26 high school students to discuss the rationality of "artificial life" and then introduced synthetic biology. We then compared synthetic biology to genetic engineering and explained their specific differences. Moreover, we introduced our project this year and the development and application of synthetic biology publicized the iGEM competition and shared our personal feelings and research experiences. Finally, we encouraged them to actively participate in natural science research projects and try the iGEM competition.
After the lecture, we established a long-term relationship with the teachers of the school, who expressed their hope that we could continue to provide high-quality science lectures for the school.

Project introduction in DKU

We did a lecture on the principles of synthetic biology with DKU, facing a group of high school students invited by the Duke team.
The lecture commenced with a comprehensive overview of chemistry concepts familiar to the students, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of genetic engineering and its distinctions from the field of synthetic biology. This gradual progression in the discussion allowed the students to build upon their existing knowledge and grasp the fundamental principles of this cutting-edge scientific discipline. It then went over to DKU's project on treating yellow dragon disease and XJTLU's project on treating heavy metal ions in industrial wastewater. Students from the hardware group also explained the design concepts and implementation methods of our hardware-related projects. At the end of the lecture, the DKU team designed a trivia quiz session, which was warmly welcomed by the students.
Thanks again to DKU for the kind invitation！

"Three Schools United" - Biology Science at Fudan High School

On September 24th, we and the iGEM team from ShanghaiTech University received an invitation from Fudan 2023 to come to Fudan University to organize an open day for high school students.

We arrived at noon and had lunch with students from Fudan High School, ShanghaiTech University and Fudan University. During the lunch exchange, we learned that the students of the attached middle school were very interested in this kind of extracurricular research program. When we talked about the topic of future development, one of the students from the attached middle school mentioned that he wanted to be a doctor in the future, which made us open up the conversation. We introduced them to college life and the experience of studying biology subjects. There were some things that the high school students might not be able to empathise with, but they were still actively discussing with us and expressed their desire for future college life.

After a short break after lunch, we went to the Original Center at Fudan University for the talk. First, the three teams took turns introducing their projects and discussing with the high school students how to solve scientific problems from their projects. After that, we combined some DNA teaching aids and explained the basics of genetic circuits as well as the Law of Centers, while letting them put together their DNA models. Then, we started the origami time: the origami version of the DNA model. The task of origami is not easy; the slightest mistake can fold the DNA right-side up, which is contrary to fact. During the students' hands-on work, those who finished quickly took the initiative to help those who had difficulties, and we felt that the whole team had a very friendly atmosphere.

At the end of the activity, which was also the conclusion of this activity, the students of Fudan 2023 set up some synthetic biology quizzes. Maybe the questions were a bit difficult for high school students and they didn't fully understand the answers, but they said that they had gained a lot from this activity, which is enough to make us satisfied.
Thanks again to Fudan 2023 for their kind invitation and we look forward to working with them again!

University-advanced education

The popularization of synthetic biology in universities is an important part of education that we attach great importance to. To get more accurate and universal feedback, we plan to use both questionnaires and offline research to investigate the popularization of synthetic biology. After one day's effort, we found that the dissemination of synthetic biology is not enough, and most undergraduates have not heard of synthetic biology and iGEM competition, according to the results of the questionnaire and offline research, we summarise the following phenomena:

Students generally consider research to be something far removed from themselves.
Many students lack confidence and feel intimidated when they see the word "competition."
Some students who are studying arts or business will see that it is a science competition such as biology and will not look into it further.
Many students in electronic information engineering majors express no interest in biology competitions.
Some students in the biology and chemistry majors want to learn about this competition, but they haven't heard of synthetic biology before.
Many teachers and classmates feel that what we are doing is very meaningful and express their approval.

We have summarized and categorized the above phenomena. The following section provides details about the problems and the solutions:

Problems:
Lack of self-confidence
No experience with interdisciplinary competitions
Not familiar with the specifics of synthetic biology

Solutions:
Deliver a speech at the conference to encourage students to try the iGEM competition.
Attempt to establish a platform for discussing and exchanging ideas about synthetic biology and iGEM, promoting interdisciplinary communication.
Plan SynBio-themed activities to provide a detailed introduction to the specific aspects of the iGEM competition.

Campus Promotion Event

At the start of the semester, we sought permission from the faculty to introduce the fascinating world of synthetic biology and the exciting iGEM competition to students from diverse academic backgrounds. Our primary emphasis was on fostering "interdisciplinarity", making it clear that students from various fields, including business, liberal arts, engineering, and other majors less directly related to biology, were wholeheartedly encouraged to participate in the competition.

The response from the students was overwhelmingly positive, as many of them approached our team after the presentation, expressing their keen interest in the competition and inquiring about the brochure we had prepared.
If you'd like to explore the details of the brochure, please visit the Education section on our Society's page.

Establishment of the Synthetic Biology Communication Association

On September 6, we set up a booth in the school's underpass to promote synthetic biology and try to establish a " Synthetic Biology Communication Association ". In particular, after the previous publicity, a student contacted us and expressed that he was very interested in iGEM and wanted to participate in our next event. After communication, we decided to let him participate in this event as a volunteer and gave him a team uniform. The pictures below show the materials we prepared and more photos of the event will be shown at the end of this article!

We also prepared a program brochure and promotional items such as masks, stickers, and fridge stickers. At the same time, we drafted a bilingual association brochure in advance (you can see its details below). The brochure was printed out and put on the wall, together with the QR code of our team's WeChat Official Account and that of Bilibili.

We eventually established a 129-member association, set up a WeChat group for the association, and regularly pushed synthetic biology science in WeChat. The first large-scale activity was also carried out in the back: the SynBio thematic activity. It is worth mentioning that after this promotion, the number of followers of our team's WeChat Official Account increased significantly that day and has been steadily increasing since then.
More details about We-Media will be shown in the society part.

“SynBio” activity

After establishing the Synthetic Biology Communication Association, we tried to teach synthetic biology more specifically and planned the society's first event: the "SynBio" activity.
First, the captain explained the basic principles of synthetic biology and this year's program and also played the promotion video.
After the students had a basic understanding of synthetic biology, we invited our advisor Xiaohan Zhang to tell us the story of iGEM and the industries.
During the Q&A session, students were very active. It is worth mentioning that one of the students went up to the stage to share his understanding of his major and research, which resonated with the students on the stage.
More photos of the event are at the end of the article.

Next, we held a debate on the topic “Should synthetic biology be used to create artificial microorganisms to remove pollutants such as plastics and harmful chemicals from water bodies?" The debate was divided into two sides, and at the end of the debate the audience voted and the side with the highest number of votes won.

The detailed rules of the debate are as follows:
Opening statement of the legitimate defense for 3 min
Opponent's Second Debate Interro- gation: First Debate: 2.5min
Opening statement of the opposing party for 3 minutes
Two arguments for both sides, questioning for the opposing side, one argument for the opposing side, 2.5min
The opposing party interrogates the main party in three arguments, and the main party can answer in either two or one of the three arguments for 2.5 minutes
Challenge the opposing party with three arguments, and the opposing party can answer either two or one of the three arguments for 2.5 minutes
Summary of the Debate Inquiry on the Square 1.5min
Summary of Opposite Debate Inquiry 1.5min
Free Debate (4 minutes for each party)
Summary statement of the opposing party's three arguments 3.5min
Summary statement of the three arguments of the legitimate side 3.5min
Voting
Results:

In the end, the audience was more inclined to the positive side of the argument, and it was generally agreed that biosafety is certainly a problem that cannot be ignored, but because of this, it is all the more important to encourage scientific research and development as well as bold attempts by the industry. Only through bold attempts and policy incentives will more and more good biological research projects be born, the industrial chain will be innovative and the production level will be improved.

Society-Broader education

Social Media

We are managing the team's WeChat public account and Bilibili channel, diligently maintaining and consistently refreshing these self-media platforms with a diverse array of content. This content includes instructive videos, scientific insights in the form of tweets, updates regarding our team's activities, and responses to inquiries from our audience. This multifaceted approach ensures that our audience remains engaged and informed while fostering a stronger sense of connection and interaction with our team.

Synbio & SDG Science Exhibition

Recognizing the complexity of popularizing synthetic biology to the general public, we understood that it was a formidable task that could not be achieved by a single team alone. To address this challenge effectively, we decided to collaborate with 11 diverse teams, including notable ones like SCUT-CHINA and SCAU-CHINA. Together, we formulated a comprehensive plan to spread awareness and knowledge about synthetic biology. To materialize our shared vision, we jointly organized the Synbio & SDG Science Exhibition. This event was scheduled for September 30th, running from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and it was held at the Guangdong Science Center. By pooling our resources and expertise, we aimed to create a dynamic and engaging platform where we could present the intricate world of synthetic biology to a broad audience. This collaborative effort not only allowed us to maximize our impact but also underscored the importance of unity in advancing the understanding of this cutting-edge field among the public.

In our pursuit of maximizing the effectiveness of our campaign's outreach efforts, we took proactive measures by prearranging a set of essential materials. These materials included stickers, bilingual brochures, and a project poster.

This event is aimed at the general public, including teenagers, children and their parents. We hope that through the exhibition of synthetic biology's applications in multiple goals of sustainable development, we can promote synthetic biology to the general public, especially to the youth, so that more people can recognize and understand synthetic biology, and join in the sustainable development. We also hope that through the exhibitions of individual teams' projects, we can illustrate the impact of synthetic biology in various aspects of sustainable development, and at the same time, promote science education and the enhancement of the public's scientific literacy.

Visitors will be given drawings before entering the exhibition area, which can be used to collect stamps to exchange for gifts. The exhibit area will include the following:

1. play area: plasmid puzzle
2. punch card message board
3. science education booth
4. introduce the KT boards of the 17 SDG goals, and also include the current research status and typical cases of synthetic biology in solving sustainable development problems such as resources, environment and healthcare