Team:TEC COSTA RICA/ExcellenceInAnotherArea

Excellence in Another Area

Interdisciplinarity has the ambition and objective of integrating knowledge to give a new epistemological look at knowledge.

Design Social Sciences Other

Establishing this mindset from the beginning of the project and having it as its core has made our solution really meet the needs of our users and extend the positive impact on the scientific community. We invite other iGEM teams to follow this line of work in their own projects and highlight the key role of involving designers early in the project to succeed in this area.

Our proccess

Every user-centered design process is based on these 5 stages. Empathy, define, devise, prototype and test. This methodology allows achieving results with a high level of innovation and user satisfaction. We are looking for ways to apply these phases in a general way within each of the development areas of our project. The turning point in this methodology, as its name implies, is to focus all development on the user and to really solve the needs they have. For our team, on the part of the designers, it was important to expand the user concept. This, because normally it is believed that the user is only, in this case, the scientist who will use our tool; but not only, in this case users are also our judges, each person who uses the wiki, each igemer who sees our exhibition materials at any meet up, etc. This was a big challenge for non-designers to tackle, but at the end of the road, we think we embraced it so well, that the results were better than expected. One of the best contributions that this mindset had within the project was that the applications for it were extracted directly from the feedback of our end users. This allows us to devise and validate, in a single step, the potential for use and usefulness of our tool. On the other hand, this mindset is reflected in each of the resources used during the development of the competition. From the promo-video to the wiki.

Design Thinking

Branding

As a team, it was important for us to create a brand that was consistent and communicated the essence of our project effectively. Which is why we dedicated time towards defining what this looked like for all of us. The process began by defining the characteristics we wanted to represent with our brand. Furthermore, our team was sure that we wanted to incorporate the idea of time, DNA or bacteria in our design. After receiving this input, we were able to set to work on created a logo that met with most if not all our requirements, defining our color paletter and our chosen typography. Our brand is not something that is only visible in our logo but in consistency throughout our work, that makes it unique to our team and recognizable.

Storytelling

Due to the characteristics of our project, we knew that its effective communication would not be easy, so we have created a narrative through our project, which has facilitated the communication and interaction of the team both internally and with users. Our documentation serves as good reference for other teams to build on this area and develop their own stories. This narrative evolved during each iteration of use it had. In meet-ups, interviews with users, internal team practices, among others. This did not allow us to validate with small steps over time, what was the most effective way to communicate our project and the specific messages that we want to transmit with it. The narrative, in addition to seeking the effectiveness of communication, is important to maintain the interest of the viewer. This mainly due to the complexity of concepts and topics to be dealt with in general during the competition. In products like the presentation video, even the promo video, this narrative played a fundamental role in our successful development of these.

Comunication

In relation to the narrative, an aspect to which we pay special attention, both in the wiki and the videos, the search for synonyms and grammar work was of great value. This allowed us to play with the tones and ideas, to maintain the attention of the viewer / reader and in the same way clearly communicate what was desired. As an interdisciplinary team, we know scientific communication is complicated for both people who are not in STEM, or in a different field, but also for scientists to develop. Therefore, the two previous points unite on the integral communication of the project. For this, design has been applied in every sense with a functional interest in mind: our desire is for our content to not be just pretty, but to precisely be able to communicate what we mean and who we are in an efficient and easy to understand manner. This is applied throughout the entire project, from the wiki and its content, to the management of the brand in social networks and the video-presentations used throughout the competition. For this endeavour we used other iGEM teams’ wikis and content as reference and inspiration, and in turn, we hope ours can serve the same purpose.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to have several designers and developers on the team, we decided to pay special attention to our wiki. Ux as a creative discipline has grown exponentially in recent years. Its direct impact on digital products has made people increasingly demanding with the sites they access. For this reason, we focus on having a complete design process with our wiki. Following the idea of thought dictated by the user-driven mindset, in conjunction with communication efforts, our design process followed all the stages that a procedure of this type normally follows. An exploration and definition phase, where we explore the requirements of the competition, in conjunction with the specific needs of our project. With this we created a base architecture, with which we began to develop the exploration of different ways of presenting the information, normally called wireframes.

From this exploration we create an adaptive system. This system allows us to define different graphic styles, maintaining unity and harmony throughout the brand's design. This system also facilitates the programming of the wiki, since it maintains specific guidelines throughout the design and structure. This system was specifically designed with the objective of allowing the adaptability of the information and limiting the "endless scroll" to the extreme. In the research of references that was carried out for this process, we realized that the vast majority of wikis abused this resource, which is extremely detrimental to the user experience on any site. For this reason, the adaptability of the information became more important, since the structuring of the sections and their presentation had to be very well designed each one. So we decided to dedicate a large part of the process to correctly defining the system before the final development of the wiki.

Overlook & Relevance

Interdisciplinarity is vital. Not only is it key for creativity but also for a holistic approach to solving problems in our society. As scientists we know that everything is connected, but, due to highly specialized environments, it’s easy to lose track of the bigger picture. In our training it is usual to look at society for problems to solve, but not at our solution for problems. Even during basic science research, where foreseeable applications are unspecific and diverse, many concerns can be raised when looked at by social sciences. Science, its founding and development is moved by social and political interests, and as such can be a portrayal of the society we live in. This means that underlying issues such as privilege, imperialism (ecological and social) and consumerism, can taint scientific development and specifically, its applications. Because of this, it’s highly relevant to clearly state the extent of applications intended for the developed tool(s), make stakeholders aware of the possible negative social implications and find ways to have them commit to an ethical development and final use, condemning its misuse and abuse. This paves way for social considerations to be made without hindering scientific progress.

Increasing and diversifying potential solutions for a problem

One of the first questions to be asked isn’t how can synthetic biology solve this issue? But instead, is a synthetic biology approach right for this particular problem? For this question to be answered in the best possible manner it’s necessary to brainstorm to not only come up with new solutions but to describe the issue thoroughly. For this, an interdisciplinary group must be assembled in order to understand the different dimensions and implications of the problem. The multidisciplinarity ensures the presence of several perspectives, and the inclusion of social scientists allows an in depth look at society as a root cause and possible user, along with diverse methodologies to study these subjects. Open discussion will also favor creativity and the creation of a solution that’s feasible and possible in as many dimensions as possible. The understanding of the problem is key to addressing it correctly.

Better understanding of the possible impact and implications of a synthetic biology project

Once the path to achieve the development of the solution is laid out, a robust risk assessment must be done, and, in order for this assessment to be accurate, social scientists must be involved since the impact and implications are directly related to society itself. For this we have created the Educational module of this section.

Ethical considerations from the bottom up: responsibilities and management

Ethical considerations can be made through the understanding of risks, impacts and implications. When including social scientists and other stakeholders such as politicians, policy makers and professionals, the extent of the considerations and their impact can be amplified. The groundwork for ethical applications, regulation and use for the developed tools can be introduced before the tool has even been developed. This works as an advantage for scientists and developers in many ways. Firstly, they can ensure that the regulations are fair and open to innovation by helping to guide the process and being directly involved in it. Also, political considerations can be taken into account beforehand, giving developers the opportunity to have a voice on decision making before the issue moves to bureaucratic spheres. Conversation can also be made with different sectors and stakeholders, even possible users, to fully understand consequences and obstacles and include plans to prevent and mitigate them instead of only addressing them as a contingency measure.

True comprehension of users as study objects

The methodologies implemented regarding the study of people greatly vary between social and basic sciences, mainly because of their purposes. Nonetheless, this might not be evident for people educated in basic sciences, since there’s usually not a class to address these concerns in STEM oriented curriculums. This is why involving social scientists can aid the change in perspective and help introduce improved hypotheses and methodologies.

Improved application of engagement methodologies

Related to the aforementioned point, synthetic biologists and biotechnologists may not always have a true understanding of the techniques used for interacting with other people in order to obtain their opinions and perspective. This is why the involvement of social scientists is key to setting the investigation subject and its goals, the operationalization of objectives and the planning out of the methodologies to achieve them. In social sciences this stage is as important as carrying out the work, which is why special attention must be paid to it.

You can find these principles applied to our project in Human Practices.

Investigation Methodologies Guided Questions Thanks

Investigation

Social Investigation

In this conceptual box we can visualize 3 sections of Social Research: origin, conceptualization and purposes. Allowing us to broaden and deepen our knowledge, as well as to emphasize the particularity of Social Research, having as its origin a social reality that contemplates subjectivity and objectivity within its analytical and investigative framework.

Likewise, when using a scientific method that formulates a hypothesis within an investigation based on some of the 7 purposes of Social Research, and when the prescriptions are used in it, the attempt to give meaning to social life arises. On the other hand, we have the format of the guide interdisciplinary. The same that includes expectations from the basic sciences and the importance from the social sciences. Allowing us to expand and deepen the development of interdisciplinary research, as well as emphasize essential characteristics that should be used in the guidelines of a research project. Finally, we can observe how the articulation of two fields allows us to use tools that lead to greater validation of data and expansion of knowledge, thus trying to solve problems of the world and human reality.

Social Investigation

Interdisciplinary Guide

Methodologies

Applying Social Science’s Methodologies

In social sciences the methodology and the techniques used in the Investigations are always determined by the problem that is to be solved. In contrast, basic sciences often utilize predetermined techniques to solve different problems without taking in account the utility of varied approaches to resolve said problems.
There is great value in the exercise of assessing the different possible methodologies that could be applied for the hypothesis in the research. Using these social techniques in basic sciences can widen the range of possibilities in which research can be made and thus enrich the scientific community.
In the following comparative table it can be seen how the three main types of research in social sciences work, and the ways in which they are used depending on the needs of the investigation, the nature of reality that is being explored, the objectives and the process of the investigation.
All these factors determine and change the way investigations are worked throughout the whole stages and are in a continuous communication with the question for the evolution of the research.

Research	Qualitative	Quantitative	Comparative (mixed)
Nature of reality (Ontology)	Reality is changed by the observations and measurements made in the investigation.	Reality isn´t changed by the observations nor the data recollection.	If the reality is changed depends on the methodology and techniques used.
Purpose of the investigation (Objectives)	Understand, describe, discover and generate hypotheses.	Predicting, describing, confirming and testing hypotheses.	Respond to a problem statement or contextualize a research object.
Relation between Object and Subject	There is close physical interaction between researcher and phenomenon, there is also contact and exchange.	There is distanced and separated interaction.There is Little to no intervention.	The researcher's approach determines the closeness to the object of study.
Methodology	Field work. Participant observation. Case studies. Research and action.	Statistical data. Experimental techniques. Random techniques.	Triangulation of methods. Combination of techniques.
Points of Interest	Qualities: Essence and processes.	Amounts: how many, how, why.	Combination of both approaches.
Characteristics of the research design	Flexible. Enveloping. Emergent.	Default. Structured.	Complex. Reporting. Dynamism in the process. Handling of both approaches.
Stages	Natural and familiar.	Unknown and artificial.	Depends on the part of the process.
Samples	Small. Non-random. Theoretical.	Large. Random. Representative.	Varied.
Data collection	The researcher is the primary tool. Interviews. Observations.	Scales. Tests. Surveys. Questionnaires. Computers.	Tools that respond to the objective. Data analysis. Researchers are trained in both approaches.

Methodologies

Applying Social Science’s Methodologies

In the same way methodologies can affect and change the process of the investigation, the same techniques in social sciences are applied to different methodologies. This is thanks to cross field work in which social sciences work together to achieve different investigations and thus sharing their varied views for research. Singular techniques that can be applied not only to different methodologies but also to different disciplines are used in particular investigations as well as in more general and interdisciplinary works.
The use of these techniques are always going to be determined by the question in the investigation, but the methodology and theoretical framework can alter and blend these techniques so they can answer the problem. How investigations in social sciences are worked is something that basic sciences can mirror in order to expand the ways science is understood and share between the different views and disciplines of both basic and social traditions.

Methodologies

The methodological techniques are a vital step to put forward the investigation in sciences. These techniques can vary from a wide range of perspectives and theories, but in social sciences there are some basic techniques that are worked by different disciplines inside social sciences. Depending on the approach the investigator gives to the investigation or the type of information that is required these varied techniques are used in social sciences. Therefore the methodological techniques are applied to the studies that are more suited by their type of tools for the information gathering process required by the investigator. It's also important to note that if the subject of study is a sensible subject or is based in human groups the needs of the person, group or subject is also taken into account for the process of selecting the methodological techniques.

Methodological Techniques	Characteristics
Surveys and Questionnaires	Direct and fast tool. The dimension of a sufficient sample is calculated and the questions are applied randomly. Questions of attitude or opinion about a product or service.
Interviews	Investigator asks questions to obtain information. Individual or in focus groups. 3 types: Structured, Unstructured and Mixed.
Observation	Participant: lasting interaction with the people and groups to be investigated. Same questions from surveys and interviews. The observation problem is related to the description etic (external observer) and emic (involved in a social process).
Documentation	It is a complementary stage of preparation for the other techniques. It is done by means of comparison and the study of other surveys, statistics or antecedents. Cabinet, laboratory or library work.
Experimentation	More elaborate and consistent tool to contrast the evidence of various groups. Same treatment as the survey or participant observation. Assign random groups to analyze.

Questions

Understanding your project’s impact: guided questions

Selecting a problem:
- What is the issue you want to tackle?
- What are its origins and root-causes? Are they social? Is it a symptom or the actual disease? Is there any structural issue behind this?
- Is there anyone else tackling it? How?
- Should synthetic biology solve this issue? Will it really solve this issue completely? If it solves it partially, what aspects aren’t you tackling? Why? Is this ok?
- Should this problem be addressed from other perspectives as well?
- Whose interests are being taken into account? Why?

Choosing a solution:
- Think about your proposed solution(s) and other possible ways to tackle this problem (not necessarily related to synthetic biology or even science itself), what do these other options imply? What does your approach imply? On a scientific level? On a social level? On an economic level? On a cultural level? On a political level?
- Compare the alternatives, which of them has the most impact on some levels? Which? On all levels? Is the impact positive or negative? Could it be both?
- In contrast to the other alternatives, is your project the best suited, most robust solution? Is it feasible?
- What will you need in order to guarantee or improve this feasibility? (F.E.: Risk assessment. Environmental impact assessment. Involving other areas. Target population (who is the target user). Policy involved. Future outlook. Etc.)
- Think about the aspects of the problem you left out. Is your solution actually solving a problem or just transforming it/making it someone else’s? To include these aspects, who else should be involved in order to truly solve this problem? How can you set forward on making the necessary allegiances? Is it possible to do so? How?

Assessing your solution and its implications:
- Can your solution be used in any other way? Can it be weaponized? Can it be used to fulfill imperialistic purposes regarding the environment or others?
- Is the real interest to solve the problem or to monetize from solving the problem? Is this ethical? Is your marketing plan in the best interest for everyone involved? Will it be beneficial to some but not all?
- How can this solution be influenced, and how can it influence others? Would your solution behave as an excuse to continue exhibiting consumerism, hoarding of resources, imperialism, environmental degradation, and justify other unethical and unconscious behaviors?
- Is it necessary to educate the user? The general public? Why? Is it your responsibility? How should this be addressed, by whom and in which level?
- Have you searched and listened for concerns regarding your solution? Who have you involved? Are you excluding any relevant stakeholder? How can you broaden your capacity to listen?
- How can you commit to the ethical and moral use of your technology? How can you involve stakeholders and encourage them to do the same? Do you have a say on it’s possible use? How can you get a voice? How can you amplify other’s voices? How can you hold users, regulators, stakeholders and yourself accountable? Can consequences be instituted? How? By whom?
- Your science will be mercantilized, how will you deal with that? Will “selling” your project compromise its integrity? How can you prevent that? How transparent should you be? Is your science going to be accessible?

Thanks

Special Thanks

This approach could not have been explored in the outstanding manner and extent in which it was presented if it weren’t for the involvement of Alhana Chavarría Montero and Ilvo Adrián Guillén. attributions.

Intellectual Property & Regulation

In our country, Costa Rica, we have the great responsibility to preserve the biological resources we have, and this complicates the bureaucracy to carry out research processes related to the synthetic biology area. This motivated us to investigate the current biotechnological legal frameworks in our country, the bodies responsible for ensuring compliance, the necessary permissions and requirements, among other aspects based on the previous research carried out for the same purpose in Mexico by the UANL team and Ohio state's team in 2020. This can serve as future reference for other teams who wish to do this research, and for Costa Rican scientists to refer to when needed. You can find more information on these topics at collaboration and {Human Practices}

Intellectual property PDF