iGEM Bolivia: A scientific movement for access to bio-innovation

iGEM Bolivia: A scientific movement for access to bio-innovation

Tania Pozzo and Cecilia Gonzalez
iGEM Blog

Bolivia’s need for scientific innovation inspired the formation of iGEM Bolivia, a student organization that seeks to create both a scientific community and a movement to advance bio-innovation in Bolivia. Students from four different regions of Bolivia (La Paz, Cochabamba, Santa Cruz and Chuquisaca) expressed interest and took the critical and important first step of finding and recruiting other students who were interested in learning the intricate details and methods of synthetic biology. Together they formed a team of more than 57 students who are eager to develop synthetic biology-based solutions in the near future that solve local challenges.

Looking ahead at 2022

Looking ahead at 2022

iGEM Headquarters
iGEM Blog


Now more than ever the world needs synthetic biologists – talented and passionate people who are building a better world by engineering biology. iGEM is known by most as the premier international synthetic biology competition, and the organization that helped to establish the synthetic biology industry. But in 2022, iGEM has grown to be so much more than just the competition.

Engineering biology for sustainable development

Engineering biology for sustainable development

Linda Kahl
iGEM Blog

This Friday – March 4 – is World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, a United Nations’ international day for celebrating engineers and engineering. It’s a day to recognize the critical role of engineers in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure that everyone has access to clean water, sanitation, reliable energy, and other basic human needs. In honor of World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, we’d like to highlight the accomplishments of iGEM teams in engineering biological solutions towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Biodiversity Conservation

Biodiversity Conservation

Guilherme Kundlatsch
iGEM Blog

Every year, hundreds of fascinating projects are developed by iGEMers to face the pressing challenges of our time and innovate for the future. I invite you to check out my interview with Maarten Lubbers as we discuss projects from the iGEM 2021 season that focus on biodiversity conservation. These are very different projects using very different approaches by iGEM teams from different continents around the globe.

Thank you for an inspired iGEM 2021!

Thank you for an inspired iGEM 2021!

iGEM Headquarters
iGEM Blog

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.

Lessons from Hello Tomorrow Global Summit 2021!

Lessons from Hello Tomorrow Global Summit 2021!

Will Wright
iGEM Startups

This year we sent Mélodie Dupré Chair of the iGEM Industry Network, (an After iGEM steering group who promote the effective communication between iGEMers & iGEM Industry Alumni) to represent the iGEM community and check out the worlds largest deeptech event - The Hello Tomorrow Global Summit 2021! We caught up with Mélodie to learn more about her experiences!

Celebrating iGEM 2021: The future of synthetic biology

Celebrating iGEM 2021: The future of synthetic biology

iGEM Headquarters
iGEM Blog

This year, 350 teams of student scientists and engineers from 46 countries and regions worked creatively and tirelessly to push the frontiers of synthetic biology – with or without access to a laboratory. They have identified important local problems, presented their ideas for engineering biological solutions, addressed tough questions about the safety and security of their work, and sought innovative ways to include ever more diverse groups of people.

The Phoenix Project: Rising from the Competition

The Phoenix Project: Rising from the Competition

Ronit Langer
iGEM Blog, iGEM Community

Since 2004, iGEM teams have been creating exciting, impactful projects just like yours. A handful of these projects have lived on as published academic papers, or have formed the basis for PhD projects, or have grown as start-up companies. However, many of the most imaginative and innovative projects have been simply left as wikis, without a clear path to enable others to move those projects forward. That changes now … enter the Phoenix Project!

Discovery and Insights into the SynBio Ecosystem of 2021

Discovery and Insights into the SynBio Ecosystem of 2021

CK Lim
iGEM Startups

The synthetic biology ecosystem is a multifaceted one, with many different stakeholders that all serve to contribute in many ways to create a thriving community. In these 2 reports, we showcase the breadth of the community, ranging from the various non-profits that serve to increase accessibility to underserved communities, to the many startups and partners that work together with EPIC all around the world. We hope you will have an enjoyable time reading through the reports.

The Inclusivity Award: Advancing Accessibility to Synthetic Biology

The Inclusivity Award: Advancing Accessibility to Synthetic Biology

Diversity & Inclusion Committee
iGEM Blog

Last year, we introduced the Inclusivity Award to recognize excellence among iGEM teams working to create a more inclusive and representative scientific community. This special award honors teams that have made exceptional and thoughtful efforts to eliminate the barriers that prevent underrepresented groups from contributing to, participating in, or being represented by scientific research.

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