Team:TUDelft/Communication
Education and Public Engagement
For a technology to succeed, acceptance of the usage by the population is required. This acceptance can only be achieved by proper communication about a new technology. On this page, we will show how we incorporated education and public engagement into the communication about our vitamin detection test.
Outreach
Whether technologies succeed or fail in terms of implementation, does not only depend on technicalities. Also, proper communication about our work is required to have an actual impact. To include a broader range, e.g. laypeople, we communicated about the iGEM competition itself, synthetic biology principles, and the importance of contributing to a solution for hidden hunger through synthetic biology. Here, we describe how we achieved this.
Blog for biotechnologie.nl
We will write five blogs, of which three have already been published, about our project and the iGEM experience. We have written these three blogs for Biotechnologie.nl, a digital platform that publishes news articles in Dutch on the advances in biotechnology. The articles are written for a non-scientific audience in an accessible way. The platform is issued by NEMO Kennislink, a well-known Dutch organization that aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and non-experts. All our blogs can be read here.
We dedicated our first blog to the worldwide impact of hidden hunger and how our project aims to tackle hidden hunger by measuring vitamin levels.
The second blog introduced our vitamin detection test AptaVita in more detail, including the technical details.
The third blog shows our iGEM team's experience with hidden hunger and how our iGEM project has started discussions about food choices and vitamin intake within our own team.
Philosophical Table - Synthetic biology
In collaboration with the Koninklijk Instituut Van Ingenieurs (Royal Institute Of Engineers; KIVI), an international community of engineers from all over the world working in The Netherlands, we organized a philosophical discussion about synthetic biology with AptaVita as a case study. The philosophical discussion was held in Dutch, for a more fluent discussion with our local community, on the 24th of September 2021. The goal of this philosophical table was to discuss with students, but also other interested people, about ethical, social, and ethical issues of our AptaVita test.
We first introduced the participants to synthetic biology and its daily applications. After that, we explained how our vitamin detection test, developed with synthetic biology principles, can help to increase data availability on hidden hunger. Finally, we took an hour to discuss various statements about our project. We used mentimeter to engage the audience, thereby making the online discussion more interactive. Based on the participants’ responses, we built up the discussion. The entire philosophical table can be watched here.
Result of metimeter (1/8)
What are your associations with synthetic biology?
Result of metimeter (2/8)
What are your associations with vitamin pills?
Result of metimeter (3/8)
Everyone has the right to a varied diet.
Result of metimeter (4/8)
When there is no access to a varied diet, deployment of biotechnology is allowed.
Result of metimeter (5/8)
What has your preference: vitamin pills or genetically modified crops?
Result of metimeter (6/8)
What is your preferred sample: saliva, urine, blood, mucosa, or sweat?
Result of metimeter (7/8)
CFS has fewer insecurities compared to GMOs.
Result of metimeter (8/8)
Is technique always the solution? When is it not?
The results from the statements showed us that synthetic biology has different associations, including "the future", but also "ethical issues". We also asked our participants about their association with vitamin pills, and the answers ranged from "fit girls" and "rich countries" to "replacement of fruits" and "unnecessary". The majority felt that biotechnology should be allowed to give everyone a varied diet and that genetically modified plants form a better solution to hidden hunger than the distribution of vitamin pills. However, the issues that they raised included the impact on local communities because the seeds of genetically modified plants often only last for one year, making them dependable on profit-driven companies. Regarding the cell-free system (CFS) that our team uses to develop our vitamin deficiency biosensor, half of the participants did not feel that the CFS has fewer uncertainties than genetically modified organisms (GMOs). They mainly felt this way because of unforeseen consequences, such as the wrong folding of a protein and implications on the ecosystem. Finally, it was discussed if technology would also be the solution for problems such as hidden hunger. The audience questioned whether technology would be necessary to solve the problem, implicated moral issues, and situations in which technology would not make a difference, such as politically unstable situations. The philosophical table gave us new insights into the acceptability of our technology to be considered for future implementation.
Solution upload on the Innovative Food Systems Solutions portal
The Innovative Food Systems Solutions (IFSS) portal, which is a platform set up by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), connects people worldwide working on innovative food solutions. To spotlight AptaVita, we uploaded a new solution, "screening communities for micronutrient deficiencies," onto the IFFS portal. Our solution is an example to accompany the general solution. Furthermore, we added our contact details to enable input or feedback from the scientific community, policymakers, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), investors, and others. The solution "screening communities for micronutrient deficiencies" can be found here.
Podcasts
We joined the NAWI Graz iGEM Podcast to talk about vitamins, their importance, and our project. You can listen to the recording here.
Student lunch lectures
To familiarise students with a similar background as us with the iGEM competition, our project AptaVita, and the possibilities of synthetic biology, we provided two student associations, S.V. Life and S.V.N.B. Hooke, with lunch lectures.
Education
The development of novel and impactful technological innovations is important. However, it is equally important to communicate this to the world and make the knowledge available to everyone. This can create more openness and willingness to use the technology. We believe that society needs to have a basic understanding of synthetic biology to understand and critically evaluate the role of synthetic biology in solving real-world problems. This way, people may be more likely to open up to the advantage of synthetic biology for society. We have focused in particular on educating young children and the elderly. We feel that it is essential to already give younger children (4-12 years old) a glimpse of the synthetic biology world as this is the age when the children can get inspired for future perspectives. The elderly were already past their main education time when the field of synthetic biology developed. However, the elderly should also have a voice in synthetic biology and we can learn from their life experience and opinions about synthetic biology.
Science Days
During the yearly Science Days in Delft, many parents come to this event together with their children to learn about science in a fun and interactive way. We were present on this years’ Science Days to talk about synthetic biology and our vitamin detection test. We created a 3D edible animal cell model by using fruits and vegetables, inspired by the edible animal cell guide created by Jennifer Findley. We decided to build a 3D edible animal cell model with vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables to promote the importance of vitamins. To further engage children in learning about synthetic biology, we wanted to use stuffed animals representing the cell, DNA, and bacteria from Giant Microbes. The children responded very well to the fruit cell and the giant microbes that we brought with us. This helped us to create an opening to engage the children in the conversation about cells, DNA that we can change, and the importance of vitamins. Also, the parents were interested in the details about our vitamin detection test and were curious how it worked and if they could also use it in the future.
Arts and Crafts Workshop for afterschool care
Arts and creativity is often thought to be disconnected from learning science [1]. However, the process of creative thinking is stimulated via arts. At the same time, the creative process simulates learning. This is the idea behind incorporating arts in teaching science subjects. Art can be used as an effective and enjoyable way to teach science and allows students to present their ideas and understanding of science in an authentic manner [2].
This was also the idea behind our art workshop. First, a general introduction was given about the basics of synthetic biology. To guide this process, flip cards about synthetic biology basics can help the teacher to make the story interesting and engaging. After this, cards about the subparts of the cell are to be handed out. Each card has an image of the subpart and a text about the function in the cell. The children are asked to make something using the card chosen by them as an inspiration. Throughout the workshop, their artwork does not have to look exactly like the image. More interesting is asking the children how their creature can perform the tasks explained by the card. The ability to fantasize about this, yet express a correct explanation and understanding, is how creating art evolves to learning about scientific concepts. We implemented the Arts & Crafts workshop at Jan Loris & Marie, a local after-school care. After our general explanation using the flip cards, a group of children each worked on one cell compartment.
Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village
We have had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with the iGEM team from the University of Tel Aviv, Israel. They came up with the initiative to educate students from the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) in Rwanda. This also gave us the opportunity to interact with students from the Sub-Saharan Africa region and to learn about their perception of synthetic biology which was very beneficial to our project.
The goal of this initiative was to give the students a first introduction to the potential of synthetic biology to contribute to a better world and to make them enthusiastic about this field of study. As the TU Delft iGEM team, we presented a lecture about synthetic biology to develop biosensors and introduced them to the concept of biological logic gates. Furthermore, we tried to reinforce the learning process by using examples that they already came across in the lecture by the TAU_Israel iGEM team, such as the usage of fluorescence by the Green Fluorescent Protein as a readout signal.
The students formed a great audience, listening intensively to our presentation about synthetic biology used for our test AptaVita and asking various questions. We hope that this initiative will be continued in the following years. Therefore, we have contributed to a guide with tips and tricks on engaging the ASYV students in synthetic biology, which can be found on our Collaborations page.
Lectures for the elderly
We also wanted to include the elderly in the discussion about synthetic biology. As synthetic biology is a recently upcoming field, there is a possibility that the elderly are unaware of its advancements and the underlying techniques. However, the elderly in society do have the most life experience and might therefore have different opinions regarding synthetic biology and our project. Last year’s TU Delft iGEM team started this initiative in collaboration with the Dutch foundation "Oud Geleerd, Jong Gedaan" (Learnt by old, done by young), which promotes students to give multiple lectures to the elderly. We decided to continue with this initiative to educate and engage the elderly about the basics of synthetic biology, the importance of vitamins, and our vitamin detection test.
Our lecture series was called "Vitamin B(etter)" and consisted of four subsequent lectures that we were able to present live in the "Boekenberg" Library in Spijkenisse, the Netherlands. The lecture series taught the elderly about the basics of microbes used in synthetic biology, synthetic biology in their daily life, and the development of our biosensor AptaVita.
In the first lecture, we taught them about the current vision on life, consisting of the seven characteristics of life: responsiveness to the environment, growth, ability to reproduce, breathe, maintain homeostasis, passing traits onto offspring, and being made of cells. We told them about cells being the building blocks of life and how this cell exactly functions.
The second lecture introduced the elderly to the concept of biotechnology. We explained how genetic modification works and the applications that it already has in our daily life. The elderly were optimistic about most of these applications, such as the production of cheese and insulin with GMOs. However, they did feel negative towards the idea of gene drives to prevent malaria or designer babies. Moreover, they felt that more regulations need to be implemented to avoid misuse of these new technologies.
The third lecture focused heavily on the importance of vitamins and health issues related to hidden hunger. Some of the elderly take additional vitamin pills, sometimes based on doctors’ advice after a blood test. Afterward, we introduced our vitamin detection test as a tool to increase data on hidden hunger, thereby aiding in setting up well-informed intervention programs. They agree on the need for easier vitamin testing, however, they are skeptical of behavioral changes and changes within the marketing of fast-food chains.
The fourth lecture explained the concept of biosensors. We showed them examples of sensors we come across in our daily lives, such as water cookers and light sensors. Based on these sensors we explained what the components are that biosensors consist of, e.g., sensor, transducer, and processor. From there we moved to the concept of biosensors and showed the example of a glucose biosensor and our own product AptaVita.
Vitamin Cookbook
The vitamin cookbook is a collaborative effort between our team and the Ionis and UNBC iGEM teams. Although the primary goal of our AptaVita project is to gather more data about vitamin deficiencies, ultimately, we would like to create ways to tackle these deficient intakes. Engagement with stakeholders showed us that the preferred intervention method by doctors would be dietary advice because of its long-term solution. Therefore, this vitamin cookbook collaboration is a good starting point to raise awareness about the vitamin content of recipes, especially traditional Ugandan recipes. For the vitamin cookbook visit our Collaborations page.
References
- Hoachlander, G., & Yanofsky, D. (2011). Making STEM real. Educational Leadership , 68(6), 60-65.
- Kuhn, M. A., Greenhalgh, S., & McDermott, M. (2016). Using creativity from art and engineering to engage students in science. Journal of STEM Arts, Crafts, and Constructions , 1(2), 2.