Innovative educational tools and outreach activities have the ability to establish a two-way dialogue with new communities by discussing public values and the science behind synthetic biology.
Our team believes that education is the foundation of long-term change. To make synthetic biology and climate innovation more accessible, we designed our algae system to be not only functional but also educational. By installing it in schools and community spaces, we transform clean energy technology into a hands-on learning experience.
Our algae system demonstrates real biological processes in action. It allows students to observe how algae absorbs carbon dioxide, grows in controlled environments, and produces usable fuel. This real-time interaction helps bridge the gap between textbook science and practical environmental solutions.
Our system supports education in multiple subjects, including:
Main Goal: Achieve carbon neutrality or have the lowest total carbon emissions by the year 2050 (within 25 rounds).
Educational Purpose: The game is designed to help players explore:
| Card Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Chance Cards | Optional opportunities like emission reduction, CSR activities, or grants. |
| Fate Cards | Mandatory events such as disasters, policy changes, or carbon taxes. |
| Resource Cards | Strategic advantages like renewable energy partnerships or immunity effects. |
| Industry Cards | Each player begins with one; defines starting stats and may trigger unique events. |
Chance Card – Solar Panel Installation
You decide to install solar panels on your factory roof. Though expensive at first, they help reduce long-term emissions.
Effect: Cash -3000 | EPS +1 | Carbon -2000
Condition: Can only be used after completing a carbon audit.
Fate Card – Typhoon
A super typhoon damages your facilities and disrupts production.
Effect: Cash -2000
Players with lower carbon emissions reduce losses by half.
| Theme | What Players Learn |
|---|---|
| Emission Reduction | Strategic planning and investment are required to lower emissions. |
| Industry Inequality | Industries differ in access to resources and climate vulnerability. |
| ESG & CSR | Sustainable practices boost corporate value and long-term success. |
| Policy & Uncertainty | Regulations and disasters add unpredictability and risk. |
| Financial Trade-offs | Balancing emissions with profitability simulates real-world strategy. |
Bank: A non-player role that provides subsidies, grants, and financial support.
We developed educational activities that allow students to explore synthetic biology and clean energy through our algae system. These include:
Our outreach efforts aim to make synthetic biology less abstract and more personally meaningful to students.
We collaborated with teachers, school administrators, and mentors to integrate our tools into local classrooms. Partners like UBI Taiwan have supported educational pilots, and professors at National Cheng Kung University helped guide the science curriculum around algae biology.
In future phases, we plan to:
Date: June 12, 2025
Speaker: Dr. Lance Chang, Synthetic Biology Specialist
Today, our iGEM team visited National Taiwan Ocean University for a lecture by Dr. Lance Chang, who specializes in synthetic biology. He’s not only active in research but also runs his own biotech company. He previously presented his work at NASA, focusing on applications for space exploration.
A key highlight of the talk was the Cell Ark, which is a storage system for essential cells, such as probiotics or cells from endangered species. It’s designed for space missions, where storage space is limited. The system allows large numbers of identical cells to be stored in a single tube, making it practical for astronauts who may need specific biological materials, like medicine, while in space.
Dr. Chang also introduced how synthetic biology can be applied to develop safety probiotics, covering key processes:
He mentioned several leading synthetic biology companies working on similar ideas:
Another interesting example was the use of synthetic biology to reproduce the scent of an extinct Hawaiian flower, Hibiscadelphus wilderianus, which was later sold to a French fragrance brand.
Other institutions mentioned:
He also focused on sustainable materials like PLA (polylactic acid) and PHA, as well as the role of algae in biotech. One example was astaxanthin, a compound from algae and shrimp. Light, algae, water, and shrimp were presented as the key components for building future bio-based systems.
The visit gave us a better understanding of how synthetic biology is being applied in real-world contexts. From food and fragrance to sustainability and space. It also gave us useful ideas and perspective for developing our own iGEM project, in which we gained more knowledge of not only synthetic biology but also the key element of our project, the algae.
By using algae as an educational tool, we inspire students to take ownership of sustainability. Our goal is to show that science is not just for labs or textbooks, but something you can see, build, and improve. Through this, we hope to empower the next generation of climate innovators and synthetic biologists.