This blog is where we share stories, announcements, and insights from around the iGEM community.
All tagged What is iGEM
In the first post on “What is iGEM?” I asked you, the readers of the iGEM blog, to share what iGEM means to you. One of the common themes in the responses received so far is: iGEM is the pioneering organization of synthetic biology.
Everyone in our community is working towards iGEM’s purpose to “make sure that the field of synthetic biology, and all of the power that this technology holds, gets developed everywhere by everyone”. At the 2022 Grand Jamboree, one of the Keynotes focused on iGEM’s purpose through a moderated discussion with panelists from four different regions of the world.
It’s been a while since I’ve reflected on the meaning of iGEM. When I first joined the iGEM Foundation, I asked you, the readers of the iGEM blog: “What does iGEM mean to you?” In compiling the responses, I learned that iGEM means many things to many people.
There have been many definitions of synthetic biology over the years, but I especially like the definition offered by my friend and colleague, Megan Palmer: “Synthetic biology is a community, a field, and an approach”. I find her definition quite telling because it shows just how unique what we are doing at iGEM actually is.
Celebration is integral to the iGEM journey. Being happy and grateful for the milestones reached can help us through the challenges and difficult times we may face in forging a better future with synthetic biology.
Since beginning in 2003, iGEM has inspired thousands of students to build a better world by using synthetic biology to solve local problems and tackle global challenges. Now as leaders in academia, government and industry in over 45 countries, iGEMers are significantly advancing synthetic biology and contributing to society.
The iGEM community is a wonderfully diverse group of people from all over the world who are passionate about developing and applying the tools of synthetic biology to address the challenges facing our world today.
Here we are in the future, and iGEM 2021 promises to be bright as ever. This year, we will again embrace the 4 C’s of iGEM – Competition, Community, Contribution and Celebration – as we welcome returning and new iGEMers to the 2021 season.
As the eve of the 2019 Giant Jamboree approaches, it’s a good time to reflect on the continued evolution of the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation.
If you have been following iGEM for a while, you’ve probably already heard about Ginkgo Bioworks,…
A conversation with Tom Knight on his Synthetic Biology journey at MIT, iGEM and Ginkgo Bioworks
