Team:CSU CHINA/Education
Overview
With the advent of the information age, our team has integrated the advantages of the Internet and physical activities, and designed educational activities for a wide range of users. We hope that by promoting mutual learning and dialogue between different ages and different professions, more people can understand, participate and shape synthetic biology, so that type 1 diabetes can get more attention, and our project can be improved in the exchange of feedback.
Publicity Lecture
1.Overview
Based on previous research and interviews, we found that people do not know enough about synthetic biology and have misunderstandings about type I diabetes. As part of the adolescent group with a high incidence of type I diabetes, high school students have high plasticity and a strong desire for knowledge. We hope to practice our educational concepts and complete the transformation from theory to application through the publicity activities in two high schools.
2.Intention
Teenager group is a high-risk group of type I diabetes. In order to change the inherent concept of diabetes as a ‘senile disease’ and strengthen teenagers‘ understanding of type I diabetes, and improve our project based on the feedback obtained from scientific dissemination, we carried out publicity activities in two high schools.
3.Content
Finally, we invited students to fill in the questionnaire as feedback on the project.
Our group photo with students of Yali High School and Changjun High School
4.Feedback and Prospect
After the presentation, according to statistical analysis, the students had the following insights on some issues, which further inspired us to think about the project:
38% of the students thought iGEMers should pay more attention to practical problems in the field of medicine, which is consistent with our project research direction.
As for the factors restricting synthetic biology technology, 26.9% of the students believe that it is related to the lack of sufficient clinical cure evidence, followed by "most hospitals lack relevant supporting medical equipment". Therefore, we need to consider the acquisition of clinical evidence and the improvement of supporting facilities in the further development.
Students' concerns about synthetic biology are more focused on Safety (29.1%), ethical issues (21.8%) and immature technology (21.8%). Therefore, in the process of project design, we need to give priority to safety, ethics and technology, and focus on them during the lecture.
For more about the inspiration of the application on our project, click...to learn more.
Laboratory Visit
1.Overview
"Paper will sleep shallow, never know the matter want to practice". After receiving the questionnaire feedback from Yali high school and the expectation of the cooperation team from National University of Defense Technology, we arranged a laboratory visit. Reproduce the whole process of the experimental design, development and improvement of the sweet guard project, so as to deepen the understanding of the project. At the same time, get their suggestions and feedback in practice.
2.Activities
3.Feedback and Prospect
After visiting the laboratory, we got feedback from the students of Yali. They said that this visit made them better understand our project, the design idea and principle of the experiment. Besides, they said that this educational activity deepened their love for biology and had a positive impact on future career planning. This is what education means for the future.
The laboratory visit ended successfully. The students have gained practical experience which is difficult to obtain in textbooks. "Practice is the only criterion for testing truth", from the acquisition of knowledge to the independent proposal of problems, the germination of scientific research thinking also arises. Synthetic biology is a subject full of creativity. Today's laboratory has become a stage for students' thinking and scientific research. Exploration and innovation, we are always on the road!
Spark Science，A Civil Science Popularization
1.Overview
On the 2021 National Science Day, we participated in the theme activity of ‘Spark Science’ in cooperation with NUDT_CHINA and XMU_CHINA to carry out large-scale mass science brand popularization. The content of the activity mainly includes the explanation of synthetic biology and light control components, the display and operation experience of experimental instruments, the labyrinth game of protein combination, and the distribution of survey questionnaires. Through the combination of personal explanation and animation, video and games, it brought a new popular science experience to the public.
2.Intention
The theme activity of ‘Spark Science’ is sponsored by the Changsha Kaifu District Committee of CPC and the Kaifu District People’s Government of Changsha It is the first large-scale mass brand science popularization activity in Kaifu District. The ‘Spark Science’ activity, which carries light, hope and confidence, takes serving development and benefiting the masses as the main theme, gathering sparks and helping to ignite the light of Kaifu science and technology innovation.
We hope that education will not be limited to high school students, but also to give the public a new understanding of type I diabetes. Eliminating the misunderstanding that diabetes is a ‘senile disease’. Let the public put forward some suggestions and opinions on our project on the basis of more understanding and caring for the group of type I diabetes patients. For the education of synthetic biology, we hope to pull it from simple theory to practice in reality, so that more people can understand this emerging discipline.
3.Content
4.Feedback and Prospect
This educational activity covers multiple age stages, with the highest proportion of recycled questionnaires aged 18-30. The way we get the public to understand diabetes is at most the experience of acquaintances around us and the Internet. Popular science and textbooks for medical staff are also a high proportion of sources. Therefore, it is appropriate for our project to target the general public, especially the high-prevalent youth. The Internet, experts and education packages used in our education are also loved by the public. This is also the direction that we will continue to work hard in the future.
What we think…
During this 7-hour popularization activity, iGEMers have witnessed the burning sun at the noon and the sunset of this city along with the nightfall, the stars and the moon above the busy road.
The temperature was going down, time was flying by, people came, stopped and left. Pulling the camera away, everything was running and going, there is no frame to be freeze permanently. The world is constantly changing, this is the law of this world.
But let’s zoom the camera in, we will notice that among these changes, there is one thing that never changes: the popularization of iGEMers never stopped, every frame of our activities is repeated.
Are we breaking the law of this world?
Maybe we are.
Popularization is a reverse conduction of knowledge, the knowledge flows from highly educated people to the public.
Popularization is a Mjölnir, holding it, we can breake the transparent information fort.
Lecture the same content to 100 people, there are at least 100 people more on this world holding this information. This is the meaning of public popularization and the goal we are always holding.
The “Spark Science”came to the end, the steps of spreading the knowledge never stop.
For more about the inspiration of "Spark Science Popularization Activity" to our project, click...to learn more.
1.Overview
In order to adapt to the wave of the digital age and the special situation of COVID-19, we have designed a multimedia education package covering multi age stages, which is available for open source downloading. It is also convenient for readers in remote areas. Because mass education has the characteristics of popular science, we adopt animation, PPT, e-book and other methods. We will draw attention to synthetic biology, type 1 diabetes and our projects with vivid pictures and interesting activities.
2.Intention
The education package can be displayed in our lectures and downloaded by readers all over the world. In addition, we provide feedback forms and communication platforms for online and offline activities of science communication.
Part I.Instructions for multimedia education package
This is a one page instruction document, which explains the content and significance of the education package and provides an interactive platform and contact information.
Part II.Animation "I hope" - a self-description of a type 1 diabetic patient
We animated the way to simulate the life of a type 1 diabetes patient from birth to school frustration, job rejection and so on. Let readers of different ages understand and experience type 1 diabetes. We hope to pass positive energy to more patients, family members and the general public through the active treatment of the animated protagonists and their expectations for new therapies.
Part III.Lecture slides
In order to give a more detailed introduction to synthetic biology, type 1 diabetes and our projects, and get tangible feedback, we have adopted a slide show. The slide includes mainly the background of type 1 diabetes, such as definition, classification, epidemiology, etiology, complications, treatment, etc., and also includes the principle, design, related technology, development prospects, and the composition and activities of our team, so as to attract a lot of attention to the current situation of type 1 diabetes and the potential of our project. In addition, in order to adapt to internationalization, we use bilingual PPT for display.
Part IV.Feedback and invitation
At the end of the education package, in order to get project feedback and further strengthen the depth of education, we adopted the combination of electronic form and paper form to understand the public's views on the multimedia education package. At the same time, through screening, invite appropriate readers (such as high school students) to the laboratory to further understand our project and deepen communication and feedback.
To download the complete education package, please click here...
Virtual experiment-Insulin Dosage Calculator
1.Overview
The diet control of patients with type 1 diabetes is an important factor affecting the development and prognosis of the disease. In addition to special diabetic meals for hospitalized patients, the majority of type 1 diabetes patients and their families need self-regulation in their daily lives. Our virtual experiment provides patients with a calculator for personalized insulin dosage, and at the same time allows non-patients to experience the delicate and difficult diet control of type 1 diabetes. What our project expects to achieve is to reduce their troubles.
2.Intention
In an interview with a patient with type 1 diabetes, we learned that due to individual differences and complicated insulin types, it is difficult for patients to control their diet accurately and personally at home. Based on the carbohydrate counting method, we designed an insulin dosage calculator. Through virtual experiments, patients can obtain the carbohydrate coefficient according to their age and insulin type, and generate the amount of insulin that needs to be injected per meal; for non-patients, they can learn about type 1 diabetes during the virtual experiment. Let them realize the importance and difficulty of insulin control in existing therapies. So as to pave the way for understanding our project.
3.Content
First, we learn about the method of measuring carbohydrates in food through a video. Another video to understand the basic concepts of carbohydrate counting method and carbon water coefficient:
Carbohydrate counting method is to calculate the number of grams of carbohydrates or the size of food servings in daily meals and snacks, and to correlate food intake with blood sugar levels or insulin doses. It can achieve the purpose of not only controlling blood sugar, but also increasing food selectivity.
Principle
First, in the case of stable blood sugar, calculate the carbohydrate coefficient (ICR).
Average daily carbohydrate coefficient (ICR)=(Total carbohydrates throughout the day (g))/(Total insulin throughout the day (U))
The value of ICR can be affected by age or weight, simplifying the total amount of carbohydrates throughout the day:
<7 years old is 300~350g, 7-13 years old is 350-450g, >13 years old is 450-500g.
In addition, when determining the type of insulin(fast-acting insulin), it can be simplified to:
Average daily carbohydrate coefficient (ICR)=(500 (g))/(Total insulin throughout the day (U))
For more details, please refer to "A New Method of Diabetes Diet Control: A Guide to Carbohydrate Counting Method"
Practice
Let’s experience our insulin dosage calculator!
4.Feedback and Prospect
After a simple virtual experience, the user understands the importance of insulin's hypoglycemic effect and simulates the amount of insulin required in a specific situation. But the actual situation is far more complicated than the calculator formula. For example, changes in body weight will cause changes in ICR. Normal weight is generally 10-15g/u, overweight or obese can reach 5g/u, and weight loss is 20g/u; seasonal changes will cause ICR changes, generally summer carbohydrates The coefficient is relatively high, because the temperature is high and the metabolism is high, so the carbohydrates that can be neutralized per 1U of insulin are also high. The influence of female menstrual period on ICR, the metabolism is high during the holidays, and the ICR will generally be high. The amount of activity has an impact on ICR, and activity means that the metabolism is enhanced, and the carbohydrate coefficient will increase accordingly. The GI/GL value of food has an influence on the rapid and slow rise of blood sugar; and the influence of other diseases.
When users experience, the most feedback lies in the conflict between personalization and ease of operation. This is also the shortcoming of exogenous insulin supplementation in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Based on this, the self-sensing of embedded cells in our project to synthesize, release and regulate the function of insulin is a huge advantage.