Team:Virginia/Entrepreneurship
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Scientific Communications
Index:
Scientific Communications
Introduction
Building Manifold, we realized we have the chance to revolutionize the world of biosynthesis and synthetic biology simply by sharing what we learned. It is at the core of science to usher in innovation and advancement by teaching others what we learned so that they can build upon what we did with Manifold. Whether it is further advancements in pharmaceuticals or using Manifold in the food industry, we know that our platform technology is only one step away from helping others. The key is science communication. It is our job as the creators of Manifold to bridge the gap between synthetic biology and students who can utilize our technology.
Goals
Virginia iGEM’s goals through science communication is to inform people of how synthetic biology can be used to advance scientific knowledge by students of any background, educate about Manifold as a platform technology developed through using synthetic biology, and raise awareness of synthetic biology as a thriving research field. In all of our endeavors in outreach and scientific communication, Virginia iGEM aims to meet these goals to continue to advance synthetic biology and Manifold.
University of Virginia Activities Fair
Chris Nguyen, Victor Jian, and Robby Philips at the University of Virginia Activities Fair
To reach the greater student body, Virginia iGEM participated in the University Activities Fair to foster interest in synthetic biology. It gave us the opportunity to introduce current students to the world of iGEM and synthetic biology as a potential career. At this fair, we recruited over 100 students with interest in iGEM and look forward to introducing them to synthetic biology!
Community Suggestion Letter
Graphics from the Community Suggestion Letter
During the COVID pandemic, it was difficult for discussion of ideas to occur anywhere in the world. Virginia iGEM felt this when we could not participate with our peers in the iGEM community, whether at the Jamboree or other conferences. Advancements in science are propelled by cooperation and connectivity and we had to find a solution. One of the biggest challenges we found that teams faced was that iGEM teams were working toward completing a large undertaking of creating a synthetic biology project to help the world around us, yet it was difficult for us to share our ideas with the world. Virginia iGEM created the Community Suggestion Letter to be shared with our peers and the iGEM foundation to present ideas that would promote science communication during a pandemic within the iGEM community. We suggested a different approach to hosting the Giant Jamboree that prioritizes safety, yet allows teams to have the connectivity that iGEM and research is all about. After sharing this letter with the iGEM Foundation and with other teams through social media, we found that our letter was adopted in the form of the Jamboree parties. Virginia iGEM was successful in promoting science communication and awareness that scientific research should always be pushed forth by the discussion and sharing of ideas.
Undergraduate Research Network
From Virginia iGEM, Chris Nguyen and Nikki Akula presented Manifold to the undergraduate research community at the University of Virginia. The goal of this presentation was to help up-and-coming synthetic biologists find iGEM as a potential next step in their research endeavors. It is important for us to present Manifold as a platform technology for other researchers to use, which is one of the biggest goals for the Manifold team. This discussion also fostered questions about applications of Manifold from our ethical goals to understanding our true impact on drug discovery. The URN talk was the perfect opportunity for us to maximize science communication by presenting our new technology to potential users of Manifold and creating discussion about the synthetic biology community. Through this communication, we also understood potential questions about our project that allowed the Manifold team to have a deeper understanding of its potential ethical implications.
Mid-Atlantic Meet Up
Manifold at the Mid-Atlantic Meet Up
Science communication should not just be beneficial to one team; it should create an open discussion that will help all synthetic biological teams. Virginia iGEM attended the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Meetup with six other iGEM teams from the mid-Atlantic of North America. It was truly insightful to meet other synthetic biologists and a perfect opportunity to see how synthetic biology can be used to solve so many problems that students see in the world. The energy and excitement about iGEM were palpable at the meetup, as it is one of the first events that Virginia iGEM was able to participate in since the pandemic began. Science communication enables innovation that comes with the sharing of ideas during conferences such as the Mid-Atlantic Meet Up. It creates a renewal in eagerness in the community of iGEM after seeing fellow iGEMers and creating connections based in synthetic biology. Virginia iGEM strengthened relationships with other iGEM teams to commit to a future in synthetic biology through discussion which led to new ideas within Manifold.
Educational Videos
It is always daunting stepping into an organization as large as iGEM without a full understanding of synthetic biology. Up and coming synthetic biologists may want to get involved with synthetic biology research but have no idea how to start their projects. To help mitigate fears associated with starting an iGEM project, Virginia iGEM created educational videos designed for new researchers to understand basic lab procedures and modeling that they may have to do. These videos are designed to be quick and easy series that teams could watch together and apply skills into their projects, without having to do the trial and error that comes with starting new lab procedures. One of the biggest problems that the Virginia iGEM had faced was understanding how lab procedures are done. To help new iGEM teams get a head start on their projects, we created videos to teach basic skills in the lab from running a gel electrophoresis to transforming bacteria. Out of the lab, getting involved in modeling might also face some challenges. Virginia iGEM’s modeling committee outlined some starting points for new iGEM teams to use to get started on their projects. Often, the starting point is the most difficult part of the process, and we hope to make that part easier for new iGEM teams!
NanoSTAR Institute
nanoSTAR Institute Pitch for Manifold
The Virginia iGEM Team had the amazing opportunity to present Manifold to a group of stakeholders from the nanoSTAR Institute, a platform for nanoscale research and commercialization of products at the University of Virginia.. We wanted to collaborate with this research group to negotiate a possible implementation of Manifold in their manufacturing process of industrial liposomes. In our pitch, our team was introduced to prominent entrepreneurs and professors, including Dr. Mark Kester, Dr. Helena Snyder, Dr. Mool C. Gupta, and Dr. W. Bernard Carlson. These discussions facilitate possible directions that Manifold could go after the research phase. Most importantly, we found that directions in entrepreneurship through Manifold. Additionally, these stakeholders assisted us in integrated human practices as we attempted to understand Manifold’s impact on society. As a result of our developing relationships, the nanoSTAR Institute offered a second opportunity to present Manifold to their group of stakeholders. From this second meeting, our team received valuable feedback from their team, where we eventually reached an agreement with the nanoSTAR Institute. We would continue to develop a working prototype of Manifold and see where this technology went, while the nanoSTAR Institute would provide legal guidance as we applied for a full patent. With the help of the nanoSTAR Institute, we not only developed meaningful relationships with these stakeholders but further received invaluable guidance as we continued to engineer Manifold.
Social Media Outreach
Homepage of Virginia iGEM’s Instagram
Homepage of Virginia iGEM’s Twitter
Virginia iGEM Reposted by iGEM Headquarters
To raise awareness of Manifold as a tool for researchers, we found that social media was the best way to attract potential stakeholders and users. Through short videos and posts, Virginia iGEM took viewers on the journey of an iGEM project while highlighting aspects of modeling, wetlab, and human practices. This allowed us to show how we used certain modeling techniques, such as through AlphaFold, and utilized tools given by sponsors such as the blueGel system by miniPCR. Social media outreach enabled us to reach a wider audience to garner interest in synthetic biology and Manifold with viewers who might not have had any exposure to the field. On the other hand, social media became a tool for us to communicate with companies that might be interested in investing in Manifold as a project. Social media helped us reach other iGEM teams to participate in conferences virtually and in person, through the pandemic. We bridged the gap between exposing new viewers to synthetic biology and iGEM while forming networks with current iGEM teams and companies interested in supporting synthetic biology research.
Guide to Synthetic Nanoreactors
To help other synthetic biology teams to start a project related to synthetic nanoreactors, Virginia iGEM created a guide that compiles how we got started on our project as well as resources and recommendations for getting started. We hope to make the process of starting a new project a little easier through this guide.
Guide Here!
Conclusion
One of Virginia iGEM’s biggest goals is to create interest in synthetic biological research while presenting Manifold as a tool that can be utilized by any researcher. We hope to make iGEM accessible to students, no matter their background by providing them with videos on how to get started on lab work and modeling. Through science communication, we connected the public to new synthetic biologists while using discussion and questions that were raised to shape Manifold. We look forward to seeing the accomplishments in the field of synthetic biology using Manifold.
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Chemistry Building
485 McCormick Rd
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22903
485 McCormick Rd
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA 22903
