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Your iGEM Journey Begins Here! We wish you a successful and rewarding season!

Essential First Steps


Familiarize yourself with the official iGEM competition rules, policies, and judging criteria:

  • Carefully review the Wiki Requirements page to ensure your wiki meets all necessary standards for judging and awards.
  • Understand the criteria and required wiki pages for Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals on the Medals page.
  • Explore the various Project Prizes and their corresponding wiki requirements on the Project Prizes Page.
  • Discover the eligibility criteria and wiki requirements for Special Prizes on the Special Prizes Page.
Problem

Cause and Effect of Climate Change

Fuels including coal, oil, and gas are the primary contributors to global climate change, accounting for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.
[1] When burned, these fuels release vast amounts of carbon dioxide, which traps heat in the atmosphere and accelerates global warming.

The consequences are severe — global temperature has already risen by approximately 1.2°C since pre-industrial times, leading to extreme weather events and rising sea levels.

One of the challenges in addressing this issue is that carbon dioxide is difficult to capture and store effectively. The excessive release of this gas, mainly from factories and transportation, has led to an overload in the atmosphere, intensifying the effects of climate change. The continued burning of fossil fuels further worsens this problem, making it essential to find alternative energy sources and reduce emissions to protect the environment.

As greenhouse gas emissions blanket the Earth, they trap the sun’s heat, further exacerbating the climate crisis.

Mission

Selected algae strains have tremendous potential to capture human-generated carbon emissions. Useful byproducts include biofuels, soil amendments, and industrial chemicals.

One potential solution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions is using algae as a fuel source. Algae not only produce biofuel but also absorb CO₂ during growth, helping to offset emissions from factories and transportation.

This approach offers multiple benefits beyond fuel production. Companies can generate revenue by selling both biofuel and valuable byproducts such as calcium carbonate, which can be supplied to pharmaceutical or chemical industries.

Additionally, factories that adopt algae-based carbon capture systems can receive verified documentation of their emission reductions, making them eligible for environmental incentives or tax benefits.

By offering both carbon capture and marketable products, this solution enables a sustainable business model that actively helps combat climate change.

Vision

Our vision is to build a globally scalable, algae-based bioenergy solution that not only reduces atmospheric CO₂ but also delivers economic value through sustainable product pipelines.

By integrating carbon capture, renewable energy, and circular economy principles, we aim to become a key player in the global transition toward carbon neutrality.

We envision a future where factories, farms, and transportation hubs use algae technologies to reduce emissions, improve their environmental footprint, and generate new green revenue streams — all while contributing to the collective fight against climate change.

Building Your Wiki


  • Content First, Design Second: Focus on clearly documenting your project, research, and activities. Design can be refined later.
  • Navigation is Key: Structure your wiki with clear and intuitive navigation. Visitors should easily find information.
  • Accessibility Matters: Use readable fonts, appropriate color contrast, and ensure your wiki is mobile-friendly.
  • Media Optimization: Compress images and videos to reduce file sizes and improve loading times.
  • Document Early & Often: Start documenting your project from day one. Don't wait until the Wiki Freeze.
  • Prepare for Deadlines: Stay up-to-date with important deadlines and events by checking the iGEM Competition Calendar.

Tips for Success


  • Clearly Define Your Project: Explain your project's goals, methodology, and expected outcomes in a clear and concise manner.
  • Show Your Progress: Regularly update your wiki with your team's progress, experiments, and results.
  • Engage Your Audience: Consider your global audience and use language that is accessible to everyone.
  • Human Practices & Safety: Thoroughly document your team's human practices activities and safety considerations.
  • Collaborate & Share: Highlight collaborations with other teams and institutions.
  • Have Fun and Learn! iGEM is a unique opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to synthetic biology.