Human Practices

We ask every team to think deeply and creatively about whether their project is responsible and good for the world. Consider how the world affects your work and how your work affects the world.

Public engagement &Education

biobricks create and play

Occasion: Chinese Agricultural University
Date:4.27
Target crowds: All ages(4-60)
Number of participants: more than 100

Overview

We designed five interactive game scenarios of synthetic biology in the form of a popular science game market. Enable everyone to experience the charm of synthetic biology firsthand while enjoying immersive entertainment. Even though the activity took place at the date 4.27, The Phagri cycle of biobricks create and play lasted for 50 days.

P(Purpose)

At the very beginning of the design, we set the goals we wanted to achieve through this event.

●Enable the public to experience the charm of synthetic biology firsthand, learning in the playing.
●Help everyone, especially non-biological professionals, easily understand the expertise of synthetic biology.
●Promote and introduce our project Phagri to the public.
●Set up a questionnaire to integrate the perspectives of all possible stakeholders.

H(Hammer)

While conducting the design, we also carried out the following work to ensure the successful implementation of the design.

●We Wrote an event planning document.

Our planning document clearly explains the background, content, methods for popularization of relevant science knowledge and rewards of the seven mini-games. It has also written a clear activity process, emergency response plan, and feedback mechanism for the later stage of the activity. In addition, detailed rules have been attached to fully ensure the implementation.

Click to view the PDF of the planning document

●All games are originally designed.

Two players of each game by CAU - China cooperative designed and wrote the game rules (for the scene game host and participants), stating related prizes and materials.

Click to view the PDF of the game details

●A variety of publicity was adopted

We designed and produced promotional posters and preview push notifications to warm up before the event began.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2
●Questionnaire Design

We designed a questionnaire to collect feedback from stakeholders (in this case, every participant) regarding the sustainable development goals and the project background.

Fig. 3 Fig. 4

A(Assemble)

Through the training before the formal event and the reasonable task allocation during the event, we successfully achieved the assembly and construction of the design.

●We have created the triangular distribution structure.
Fig. 5

triangular distribution structure: To ensure the smooth progress of the event, there are three responsible people in each detailed task, with different focuses. (Chief-Cooperator-Assistant)

Chief: Mainly responsible for this task.

Cooperator: The main tasks that the character is responsible for are closely related to this task, and there is a relationship of handover and cooperation.

Assistant: Do not participate in the implementation of the task but help to keep track of the task progress and identify any omissions or deficiencies.

Fig. 6
Figure 1：Detailed task list and allocation structure implementation table.
●We successfully held the biobricks create and play - the highlight of The Phagri cycle!

The igem team from Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) came to the scene to assist us. As staff members, we guide the game and intersperse scientific knowledge in our guidance. But on another level, we are also participants, sharing the joy of the game with everyone.

Come and have a look at our live performance!

Fig. 7
Figure 2: Game 1 Slide the can "missile" to simulate the precise identification of bacteria by the tail thread of a bacteriophage.
Fig. 8
Figure 3: Game 2 With time limit of 3 min, according to the requirements of the task card, use colored building blocks to assemble the correct base sequence.
Fig. 9
Figure 4: Game 3 Mold the designated biobricks with colored clay within two minutes and explain their functions. A dual test of hand speed and brainpower.
Fig. 10
Figure 5: Game 4 Compete clip marbles. Colored beads were used to simulate the promoter gene - terminator "structure", the winner can DIY unique gene bracelet.
Fig. 11
Figure 6: Game 5 At the end of the biobricks create and play, write down your wild thoughts on synthetic biology on the message board.
●Extra gain: We truly felt the power of the team!
Fig. 13
Figure 7: Group photo of team members
Fig. 14
Figure 8: Move and arrange the on-site items together.

G(Gauge)

●We set up anonymous questionnaires.

Click to view the PDF of Questionnaire of the biobricks create and play

Gauge the public’s perception of specific issues through data to guide the design and improvement of our projects; Everyone’s feedback helps us reflect on the shortcomings of the activity design and improve the direction of subsequent HP work.

R(Reflect)

●Personal reflections

In response to the gap between design and reality and what we have learned throughout the entire Phagri cycle, game designers have reflected and summarized.

Fig. 15 Fig. 16
●Analysis of the Survey Results
●Evaluation of the significance and effectiveness of the event

The activity significantly enhanced the participants’ understanding and interest in synthetic biology.

Among the 62 participants, 98.39%(Question 3) believed that the activity helped them understand the field, among which 45.16% gave feedback that it was “very helpful”. 75.81% (Question 5) expressed “very interested” and wanted to explore further. In addition, 70.97% (question 4) consider synthetic biology “interesting”, and 54.84% are optimistic about its application prospects.

Conclusion: it suggests that activity effectively broke the subject distance, stimulate the public to explore.

●The public’s (mainly college student groups) understanding of the SDGs goals

The public has a basic understanding of global issues but lacks depth.

85.48% (Question 7) are aware that “hunger is a serious problem, but it doesn’t occur around us.” This kind of “far-sighted cognition” reflects the public’s macroscopic concern about the issue and the disconnection between the local aspects. It is necessary to enhance the popularization of science related to reality.

conclusion:College students, as the core group promoting world development, have one-sided and disconnected understandings of world issues.Therefore, it is important and necessary to incorporate sustainable development into our subsequent educational and popular science work.

● Awareness of Antibiotic Resistance and Project attitude

Regarding the issue of antibiotic abuse, 54.84% of the respondents indicated that they were aware but not clear about the countermeasures, suggesting a gap in cognition and action.

Thinking about our project，stakeholders to accept degree is high, 91.94% holds a positive attitude, no one questioned the feasibility.

Conclusion: This indicates that the public is open to innovative solutions to some degrees.

I(Iterate)

●Inherit and maintain

The biobricks create and play successfully popularized synthetic biology in an interesting way (91.94% of the participants were “very happy”) and raised public awareness of sustainable development issues.

●improvement

In the future, we will continue to optimize the “problem-Solution” practice link, stimulating public attention while enhancing action-oriented awareness.

●iteration

Based on this iteration, we have continued to carry out targeted cognitive guidance work for different age groups, participating in activities such as the Movers4Climate Green Rural Youth Initiative, multi-location practice visits and so on.