Team:ABSI Kenya/Inclusivity
Innovative ideas to solve local problems using synthetic biology.
Introduction
ABSI_Kenya is a team of young professionals with innovative ideas to solve local problems using synthetic biology.
About our project
Every year, 1.6 million lives are lost globally as a result of diarrheal diseases. A huge percentage of these are linked to poor sanitation and hygiene and contaminated water. In Kenya alone, 47% of the population lacks access to clean drinking water.
This demographic relies on ponds, rivers wells, and other unimproved sources Unfortunately, these are contaminated with industrial effluent and domestic output such as feces. These present a serious health hazard when ingested. These classes of contaminants are dangerous and are known to end human life or at the least cause illness to human beings. Some of the effects are irreversible.
Since this is a major problem in Kenya our team has decided to design a water-based biosensor that will be able to detect chemical and microbial contaminants in water. Our project gives a provision for affected communities to test their drinking water from the comfort of their homes. With the use of biological engineering principles, we have designed a biosensor that detects the common bacterial and chemical contaminants, The kit will be highly accurate and the results will be easy to read, hence no laboratory is required for this.
About Kenya
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Diversity and Inclusion
We should all recognize the importance of building an open and welcoming scientific community. A more diverse community involved in creating knowledge and technology is more likely to produce a more equitable and representative system. Every individual, regardless of background or experience, should have an equal opportunity to engage with scientific knowledge and technological development. Everyone should be able to share their opinions on the societal implications of research.
For more information about Diversity and Inclusion in iGEM, please visit the Diversity and Inclusion Hub.
Inclusivity Award
The Inclusivity Award recognizes exceptional efforts to include people with diverse identities in scientific research. Who is allowed to have a voice in iGEM, synthetic biology, and science more broadly? How have you developed new opportunities to eliminate barriers and allow more people to contribute to, participate in, and/or be represented by these communities? To compete for this prize, activities do not have to be directly related to your team’s project. Document your approach, how you improved inclusivity, and what was learned.
To compete for the Inclusivity Award, please describe your work on this page and also fill out the description on the judging form.
Inspiration
You can look at what other teams did to get some inspiration!
Here are a few examples: