Thank you for an inspired iGEM 2021!
The end of an iGEM Competition season brings a time of both reflection and renewed hope. As we look back on iGEM 2021 — another challenging season to be sure — we are inspired by the iGEM community’s remarkable resilience and interconnectedness. Amidst the ongoing pandemic, where teams continued to face uncertainties over lab access, data collection obstacles, and travel restrictions, the iGEM community found even more ways to support and connect with one another.
We are grateful for the many dedicated people who are essential in helping iGEM teams to engineer safe and responsible biological solutions that tackle local and global challenges, including:
PIs, Advisors and Mentors of the 2021 iGEM teams, who generously give their time and expertise in guiding the teams through the competition,
Members of the Diversity and Inclusion, Engineering, Human Practices, and Safety & Security Committees, who create programing and guidelines to help teams navigate the many challenges of carrying out their iGEM project,
Judges and members of Judging Program and Judging Corps Committees who bring their individual areas of special expertise and serve as master generalists in evaluating all aspects of a team's work.
We appreciate the generous support of groups who aid iGEM teams in using synthetic biology to respond to the needs of their local communities, including:
Safety and Security Grants, funded by Open Philanthropy, to help support teams working on technical advances in biosafety and biosecurity,
Impact Grants, funded by the Frederick Gardner Cottrell Foundation, to help support impactful iGEM projects in global pandemic response, climate change, agriculture, biomaterials, and other areas critical for the future of our world, and
The Partners and Sponsors of the iGEM 2021 competition that offer resources and support to help us continue to provide this unique and valuable experience to iGEMers worldwide.
We are also thankful for the many new and ever improving ways to connect the iGEM community and enable more local people to solve local problems everywhere in the world using synthetic biology. Here are some of our favorite highlights from 2021:
After iGEM, open to anyone who has been part of iGEM or who wants to be engaged in iGEM related programming all around the world.
2021 class of After iGEM Ambassadors, a diverse and international team of regional leaders who encouraged local teams and coordinated regional events such as the Jamboree Meetups.
Design League, launched in Latin America this year to kickstart the journeys of Latinos and Latinas in synthetic biology. So inspiring, we plan to continue Design League and open a new Indian League in 2022.
iGEM EPIC (Entrepreneurship Program Innovation Community), supporting the development of hundreds of SynBio based start-ups globally to help accelerate the transition to a more sustainable bioeconomy.
iGEM TV and iGEM Podcasts, storytelling venues where you can learn about the amazing projects of iGEM teams and the synthetic biology community from all around the globe.
iGEM Mentorship Program, connecting new high school, collegiate, and community lab iGEM teams with experienced iGEMers to guide them through the competition and support their many adventures in the marvelous journey until the Jamboree.
Finally, we wish to thank the iGEM 2021 team members themselves whose creativity and innovative capacity in using the tools of synthetic biology to solve local problems everywhere in the world gives us all hope for the future.
Thanks to all of you from all of us at iGEM HQ!
P.S. Please note that iGEM HQ will be closed will be closed for the winter holidays from Dec 24 - Jan 2 (re-opening Jan 3). We look forward to working with you again and welcoming even more new iGEMers in the 2022 season!
P.P.S. If you participated on an iGEM team this year, there is still time to submit your feedback and help to build an even better program for 2022!
