This blog is where we share stories, announcements, and insights from around the iGEM community.
Through iGEM Insights, we aim leverage data from iGEM as a unique open and international testbed to both improve the competition and the practice of synthetic biology (and science and engineering more broadly) beyond the competition.
All synthetic biology and modern biotechnology come with some potential to cause harm. Most of the time, especially for those still studying, these risks are managed by someone else.
As the teams develop and design their projects, they have to consider how their projects affect the world, and how the world affects their projects as part of Human Practices.
In 2016, iGEM Foundation started the After iGEM Delegate Program, for iGEMers to engage in the international policy dialogue on synthetic biology, experience the setting, and learn about treaties and protocols which influence how scientists conduct, share, access, and support research.
As iGEMers, we participate in the iGEM Competition because we believe that synthetic biology is going to change the world. By harnessing the power of biology, we are attempting to disrupt conventional business and manufacturing practices and create new value in medical therapeutics and diagnostics, energy and environment, food and nutrition, and developing new technologies to unlock the full potential of living systems.
It was through attending the Biological Weapons Convention as an iGEM Delegate that I realized how neglected biosecurity issues were and fully embraced the duty that scientists have to engage with policy-makers.
Even though there is a lack of legislation around the world governing biosafety and biosecurity, some teams have taken it upon themselves to make improvements and conduct science responsibly, safely, and securely.
Synthetic Biology (SynBio) is a field that has global involvement and impact. However, differences between regions necessitate a better understanding of individual nuances to enable the fullest potential of SynBio. To highlight these regional differences, EPIC in Asia-Pacific (APAC) hosted a panel discussion….
The iGEM 2020 Global Meet-up celebrated the diversity and international spirit of our community, with more than half of the events and activities organized by the iGEM teams themselves.
At iGEM, it is important to give credit where credit is due. Indeed, integrity, honesty and respect are among the iGEM values that all teams are expected to uphold.
Last week was iGEMs first ever Global Meetup and it was another showcase of all that this community has to offer! Nowhere else could you find such a wide range of passionate and talented speakers hosting sessions on everything from…
The SDGs are 17 goals that are set to be achieved by the global community by 2030, and they represent indicators of technical progress and societal goals that we and others can help strive to achieve. In particular, the SDGs are a way for institutions to align their resources and to open communications and engage with stakeholders in addressing the global challenges we face.
We invite you to join your fellow iGEMers from all over the world to connect, collaborate and celebrate at the first-ever iGEM Global Meet-up. With over 50% of the activities led by iGEM 2020 teams, the iGEM Global Meet-up is your chance to meet and engage with your fellow iGEMers!
Many people, including researchers, entrepreneurs, civil servants, and activists, want to solve global challenges, but are limited because they typically work only within their own institutions and don’t necessarily have access to the right resources.
The iGEM Measurement Committee is happy to help you learn about the concepts, tools, and resources that are available to iGEM teams. In this post, we address three questions:
What is cloning and gene assembly?
Why is cloning and gene assembly important?
How is cloning and gene assembly done?
At Benchling, our mission is to fundamentally transform how biology research is done. We accomplish this through developing software that eliminates busywork and enhances collaboration for all scientists, including iGEM teams.
Good teammates make you learn and grow. We had gone from being a team to being a family. Deadlines were approaching. Summer passed. Classes began at the university, and we worked to make our course loads as compatible as we could with the final experiments we needed for our iGEM project.
In designing your iGEM project, we encourage you to consider: Who is included in your project design? Who benefits from your research? Will anyone be disadvantaged? Although you may want your iGEM project to benefit society, even your best intentions can have unintended consequences, especially for groups that are already disadvantaged.
As we conclude the Fast Track Program of the 2020 EPIC VCL, we’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on the 2020 Americas Venture Creation Labs (VCL), as well as commemorate the special award recipients. .
