2.1.1 Activity Introduction

To understand the public's mastery of knowledge related to artificial sweeteners, several groups of team members carried out interview activities in the form of "quick questions and quick answers". The interview has set up a stepped bonus mechanism, with 5 yuan per question. Participants can choose to continue answering questions to accumulate the bonus. If they answer incorrectly, the bonus will be reset to zero or the answering will be stopped. The interview focused on common sugar substitutes for sugar-free milk tea, the relationship between the calories of sugar substitutes and obesity, and the types of sugar substitutes suitable for high temperatures involved by some teams. The aim was to collect the public's understanding of relevant knowledge through interactive Q&A.

2.1.2 Activity Planning

• Grouping and material confirmation

Each group consists of three people with clear division of labor: one person is responsible for photography (recording the entire event scene and the interaction footage of the interviewees), one person is responsible for recording (simultaneously recording the key viewpoints of the interviewees), and one person is responsible for interviewing (leading the Q&A, distributing questionnaires and guiding the knowledge quiz). Participants can receive a small gift.

• Site inspection and target screening

Arrive at Changtai Plaza in Shanghai in advance and target three types of stores such as milk tea shops, ice cream shops and cake shops. Conduct interviews in locations with dense foot traffic that do not affect the operation of the store. Observe consumer characteristics such as whether they are alone or in groups, as well as different age groups. Give priority to customers who have just purchased sweet treats and have stayed for a longer period of time.

• Interview and knowledge quiz session

First, ask the interviewee if they agree to video or audio recording, and then conduct the interview. If the answers in the quiz are incorrect, relevant knowledge can be supplemented and the blind spots of the respondents regarding sugar can be synchronized. After the quiz, gifts will be given to the respondents and they will be thanked for their participation.

• Sorting and statistics

Statistically analyze valid data and record the number of stores covered by each group and the total number of respondents. The photographers imported the videos and photos of the day into the team's shared folder and classified them by "Milk tea shop", "ice cream shop" and "cake shop" for archiving, which is convenient for subsequent summary and use.

Figure 1 Members are interviewing passers-by

Figure 2 Members are interviewing passers-by

Figure 3 Members are interviewing passers-by

Figure 4 Members are interviewing passers-by

2.1.3 Preparation of gift

We have prepared a souvenir for everyone who participates in our street interviews. Given the hot weather, we prepared a small fan and a cooling sticker in each hand. We also had some snacks like cookies and candies, as well as a business card introducing our team. The card had a basic introduction to our team and a QR code for our official social media account. We hope that through this street interview, not only can more people learn about the knowledge related to artificial sweeteners and synthetic biology, but also pay attention to our project and our team.

Figure 5 Prepare gifts for passers-by who participate in the quick question and answer activity

2.1.4 Our team card

This is the business card of our team. It provides a basic introduction to the team's information. We have marked the team's name, the research direction and the team slogan. At the very bottom of the front of the business card, the QR code contact information of our team on three social media platforms is clearly marked. People can follow our team's official account by scanning the QR code to learn about our daily work during project advancement and obtain popular science knowledge related to artificial sweeteners and synthetic biology, etc.

Figure 6 Team card

2.2.1 Activity Introduction

The purpose of our educational projects is to disseminate knowledge and enhance public awareness of topics such as biology, synthetic biology, artificial sweeteners and related health issues. For this reason, our team pays special attention to groups related to health problems caused by sugar, including diabetic patients, children, etc. We held educational activities for the Shanghai Xuhui Siqiao Technology Research Center and the Shanghai Xuhui Tianlin Sub-district Party-Mass Service Center, and endeavored to impart knowledge related to carbohydrates and introduce the concept of sweet protein to young children. Meanwhile, we also conduct popular science education to enable children to initially distinguish the source of "sweetness", thereby stimulating their interest in synthetic biology and encouraging them to participate in learning synthetic biology. For these groups, we have designed a series of relevant educational materials and activities to popularize complex concepts. In addition, our team has also released online educational content on social media platforms such as Douyin, Rednote, and Bilibili.

Figure 7 Team members conduct offline science popularization activities

Figure 8 Team members are interacting with children

Figure 9 Group photo of team members and children

Figure 10 Group photo of team members

2.2.2 Courseware

This presentation is community science popularization content for children, presented by two team members, with the theme revolving around "Sugar and Sweetness". The courseware is divided into four parts. In the first part, the theme of "sugar" is introduced through interactive questions, and in combination with common scenarios where children love to eat sugar, it is pointed out that eating too much sugar can harm teeth. The second part distinguishes between natural sweetness (such as the sweetness inherent in nature like fruits and honey), processed sweetness (such as sweeter snacks made from processed foods like candies and jams), and healthy sweetness (the natural sweetness that is beneficial to the body when consumed in moderation), emphasizing the need to plan sugar intake reasonably and protect teeth by brushing them frequently. The third part designs three small games to enhance interactivity. Finally, in the summary section, compare natural sweetness with processed sweetness and assign family sweet exploration tasks to guide children to distinguish between natural sweetness and processed sweetness in daily life. The overall style of the courseware is lively and in line with children's cognitive characteristics. It aims to help children correctly understand sweetness and sugar and develop healthy eating habits.

2.2.3 Teaching plan

For kids who have never been exposed to genetic programming as well as synthetic biology, complexities similar to the editing and construction of genes are often difficult to understand.

Considering that children can not concentrate for a long time, they prefer interactive factors.

When choosing the template for the courseware, we took into account that the children are still young and prefer cartoon and comic styles. In order to allow the children to participate more actively in the class and integrate into the environment. After careful selection, the final template was chosen as shown in the lesson plan.

We had a difficult time setting our teaching objectives. At first, we wanted to expand on our project, but we thought that concepts like gene editing might not be easy for children to understand, so we ended up talking about the difference between natural and processed sugar. We increased the proportion of interactive games to make the class more enjoyable for the children

In order not to make the class too serious, we made the tone of the lectures more friendly, and combined onomatopoeia with object demonstrations and analogies to assist the children's understanding. We used multimedia to enrich the lessons by inserting short video animations into the courseware.

When designing the activities, one part of the lesson was for the children to draw a picture of their future sweets. We were worried that the atmosphere would be a bit dry and boring if the students drew underneath, so we inserted cheerful audio into the drawing section to increase the sense of atmosphere.

Finally, we prepare some cartoon pens and stickers to reward the children when they answer the questions correctly and participate in the activity to win.

2.2.4 Educational activity paper 

• Preparation purpose and usage scenarios of activity paper：

Prior to the educational activity held at the Party-Mass Service Center of Tianlin Sub-district, Xuhui District, Shanghai, we prepared activity sheets to be used in conjunction with the teaching during the science popularization event. These sheets are designed to encourage discussions among children aged 6 to 12 and enliven the on-site atmosphere.

• The design core and objectives of activity paper：

The core design concept of our activity sheets is to integrate knowledge about sweet proteins with children's interests. Centered around "sweet foods", they allow children to draw with their own hands, thereby lowering the threshold for understanding the concept of sweet proteins in synthetic biology. Meanwhile, interactive designs are incorporated to enhance children's sense of participation, aiming to achieve the dual goals of knowledge transmission and activity effect feedback.

Figure 11 Teaching Activity Sheet

Figure 12 Teaching Activity Sheet - Student Feedback

Children's Feedback

Children actively engaged in our activities, drawing creative "future sweets" and asking questions like, “Can sweet proteins replace sugar in ice cream?” Their star ratings on activity sheets averaged 4.8/5, reflecting high satisfaction. Comments showed they grasped the concept of natural vs. processed sweetness and expressed curiosity about synthetic biology, inspiring us to refine future educational content.

• The activity paper we use:

Style, color tone, and background element design of activity paper：

In terms of design style, the activity sheets adopt a lovely, cartoonish and childlike style. The overall color scheme features soft pink tones, creating a gentle and friendly feeling. This not only caters to children's natural fondness for pink but also strengthens the atmosphere of the "sweetness" theme, effectively capturing the attention of children aged 6 to 12. The background of the activity sheets is decorated with many cartoon-style small desserts, which can stimulate children's imagination and make them engage in painting creation more easily and happily.

• Content layout and feedback function of activity paper：

At the top of the activity sheets, the theme of our science popularization activity "Sugar is Gone? Sweetness Remains!" is marked in cartoon fonts. In the area below, children can write their names and ages. We use the lovely guiding words "Use your little brain and draw the sweet food in your mind with your hands" to encourage children to create paintings in the reserved blank space. There is a star rating area at the bottom of the activity sheets. By collecting and analyzing the scoring results as feedback, we can evaluate the quality of our science popularization activity and the children's satisfaction with it.

2.2.5 Propaganda poster

With the theme of "no sugar, no sweet taste", we focus on the self-developed "sweet protein freeze-dried powder", introduce ourselves as iGEM-SYNSO, and use synthetic biology to research and develop this product, which shows that sweet protein is a natural protein of tropical plants, sweet rather than sugar, natural safety, zero calories, and can replace traditional sugar, list the problems of obesity, dental caries, and diabetes risk increase caused by excessive traditional sugar, and propose that sweet protein is a solution to control sugar and enjoy sweet, indicating that the project aims to solve the problem of traditional sugar substitution and guide attention. The creative inspiration comes from the public's health needs, exploring the natural zero-calorie characteristics of the product, grasping the audience's psychology of "enjoying sweetness and fearing health risks", and using eye-catching sentence structures to enhance its dissemination power. Efficiently convey product information, highlight health advantages, stimulate demand, guide attention, shape a professional and healthy brand image, and assist in promotion. The entire pull-up bag is visually guided by health as its core, with a fresh and natural green color scheme paired with white to highlight its natural safety characteristics. The title uses lively and eye-catching artistic fonts, with repeated phrases such as' Sugar is missing? 'to enhance visual impact. The main text should be in a clear and easy-to-read Song typeface or black font, with key information such as "0 calories" and "natural safety" highlighted in bold or bright colors, overall concise and clear.

Figure 13&14 Propaganda poster

In the science popularization segment, we built a social media communication matrix covering Rednote, Douyin, and Bilibili, aiming to use targeted content to bridge the gap between the public and scientific research, and to convey the concept of sugar reduction along with the value of related technologies.
On Rednote, we focus on “lifestyle-oriented science content,” using photo-text posts paired with hashtags such as “A Must-Read for Sugar Watchers” to interpret the potential issues of sugar substitutes and highlight the advantages of sweet-tasting proteins, evoking emotional resonance among young people and health-conscious audiences.
Douyin emphasizes “short, snappy knowledge points,” featuring laboratory vlogs and daily sharing. The public can quickly grasp the underlying technical logic through fragmented content delivery.
Bilibili prioritizes “in-depth science communication,” publishing 5–10 minute videos that systematically explain the principles of synthetic biology, the research history of sweet-tasting proteins, and the current state of the sugar substitute industry, catering to audiences interested in scientific details.
Through these efforts, we have not only informed the public about the limitations of sugar substitutes and the health benefits of sweet-tasting proteins, but also showcased the application potential of synthetic biology technologies. This has laid a foundation of public awareness for the project and fostered public recognition, supporting the translation of research outcomes into real-world applications.

3.1.1 Douyin

Within a week of its establishment, our official Douyin account has gained the attention of over a hundred fans, and the average view count for each piece of work is around 4,500. In the future, we will continue to update the content of our official Douyin account, sharing with netizens the daily life of our team in promoting projects, and spreading through tax changes to help the public quickly understand the logic and technology.

Figure 15 Douyin Social Media

3.1.2 Rednote

On Rednote, our team account, "Synso (iGEM)," focuses on disseminating "everyday science popularization content." Through carefully designed illustrations and relevant hashtags, we closely integrate the scientific knowledge of sweeteners into users' daily lives.

Our content strategy focuses on the following aspects:

Creating everyday science popularization content: We use a combination of illustrations and text to translate complex biosynthesis technology into accessible and accessible content. Leveraging trending hashtags like "#sugarcontrollermustread," we systematically address the potential issues with traditional sugar substitutes and highlight the unique advantages of sweeteners as a natural and safe sugar substitute. This content format not only resonates with young people and those with health concerns, but also effectively promotes the concept of sugar reduction and the value of related technologies.

Team image presentation: By sharing content about our team's daily work and laboratory life, we showcase the true face of scientific research and bridge the gap between scientific research and the general public. This authentic content format helps build public trust in our team and project. Interactive Communication: The social nature of the Rednote platform enables us to directly interact with users, answering their questions about sweet proteins and synthetic biology, further enhancing scientific outreach and user engagement.

Through our continued operation on the Rednote platform, we have not only successfully disseminated scientific knowledge about sweet proteins to our target audience, but also effectively raised public awareness of the potential applications of synthetic biology technology. This has laid a solid foundation for social awareness of the project and provided strong support for the translation of research findings into practical applications.

Figure 16 Rednote Social Media

3.1.3 Bilibili

We have released in-depth popular science videos on Bilibili, using systematic, professional and easy-to-understand language to convey knowledge about sweet proteins, biological principles and the sugar substitute industry, etc., stimulating the public's interest in learning synthetic biology. In the future, we will continue to update on this platform, hoping that more people can shorten the distance with scientific research through our works.

Figure 17 Bilibili Social Media

Our game introduces our team members in a relaxed and enjoyable way. The body of the Greedy Snake is composed of the team members' avatars (ugly images), and the snake head is our team's logo. Under the guidance of the logo, we will eat sugar made of sweet protein.

Link: https://synso.vercel.app/

Figure 18 Web game screenshot

To enhance public understanding of synthetic biology and its role in healthy living, we partnered with the UCS-A team for a live-streamed webinar, engaging a wide online audience. Focused on blood sugar and weight management, the event prioritized science communication while showcasing our projects’ contributions to metabolic health.

Figure 19&20 Team members are conducting online seminars with other iGEM team

We delivered accessible content to demystify synthetic biology:

Our Team: Introduced our freeze-dried sweet protein powder as a zero-calorie sugar substitute to promote healthier diets.

UCS-A Team: Explained their GLP-1 pathway research, highlighting its potential to manage blood sugar through enhanced insulin secretion.

Interactive Q&A sessions encouraged public engagement, addressing common questions about synthetic biology and its health applications.

A brief discussion between team leaders explored research synergies, market positioning, and future improvements, noting the complementary potential of both projects in metabolic health.

The webinar effectively educated the public on synthetic biology’s role in healthy living, fostering dialogue and interest. By integrating our sweet protein powder with UCS-A’s GLP-1 research, we aim to provide accessible, complementary solutions for blood sugar and weight management, supported by continued public education efforts.

Our educational projects targeted diverse groups, ranging from community children and young consumers to the broader online public. We aimed to ensure that synthetic biology knowledge could be understood and embraced by a wide audience. At Changtai Plaza in Shanghai, we engaged consumers through quick Q&A activities; at the Tianlin Sub-district Party-Mass Service Center, we held interactive classes for children; and through platforms such as Douyin, Rednote, and Bilibili, we reached an even larger online community. This multi-level participation model expanded our outreach and truly achieved two-way communication with society.

To make scientific knowledge more accessible, we designed and produced a variety of educational resources:

• Interactive courseware: Presented everyday scenarios and sugar intake examples in a cartoon style to help children understand the difference between “natural sweetness” and “processed sweetness.”
• Activity sheets and games: Enabled children to express their vision of “future sweets” through drawing and play, allowing them to learn while sharing their own ideas with us.
• Team cards and posters: Introduced our project, provided QR codes for further engagement, and extended offline interactions into online spaces.

These materials emphasized fun and participation, making science education easier to understand and more engaging for children, young people, and the general public.

We created multiple ways for the public to directly experience science:

• Quick Q&A sessions: Allowed consumers to test and enhance their knowledge about sugar and sweeteners in an entertaining way.
• Classroom activities: Children engaged in games, drawings, and quizzes, learning while playing.
• Web-based mini-game: A snake game incorporating team elements and sweet protein concepts, making science more engaging and memorable.

These hands-on experiences demystified science and helped us gather valuable feedback from participants.

In our community classes, we encouraged children to think critically about the relationship between sugar and health through questions and discussions. During street interviews, we collected public misconceptions and promptly explained them. These discussion-oriented approaches turned education into a two-way process of knowledge sharing and active listening.

To ensure the effectiveness of our educational efforts, we established feedback mechanisms:

• Activity sheet rating sections: Children rated their classroom experience, helping us evaluate popularity and effectiveness.
• Street interview data analysis: We assessed public accuracy rates and identified knowledge gaps, which informed later content adjustments.
• Social media interactions: Public comments and messages provided direct input on their concerns, which we addressed in follow-up content.

These feedback channels ensured that our education projects were continuously optimized in both content and delivery.

We actively built a communication matrix across Douyin, Rednote, and Bilibili, using a variety of formats such as short videos, photo-text posts, and long-form explanatory videos. By combining online and offline channels, we expanded our audience and strengthened public recognition and engagement with synthetic biology.