Overview
We expanded our project outreach to people of diverse backgrounds that encompass all age groups, socio-economic status, and multiple ethnicities. We believe that the relation between the participation in synthetic biology and knowledge of such fields are tied closely together. Thus, the three key words we focused on for inclusivity are access, awareness, and opportunity, gaining feedback from the less privileged and providing experiences to the general society.
The categories covered in the following award that demonstrate our initiative in an endeavors are as follows:
- Age groups: We hosted events that covered inclusivity of all ages, from elementary school students to seniors. Definite categories are ages 4-13, 13-18, adults, and seniors (60+). Being high schoolers ourselves, we did not want age to define participation in the world of research and synthetic biology, rooting in the main motivation behind encompassing multiple age groups.
- Socio-economic status: From the homeless to upper middle classes, we incorporated the voice of as many unique identities (i.e. living situation, daily habits, access to healthcare, etc.) into our project as possible. Another part of inclusivity is the multifaceted representation of society’s access to the opportunities many people in life take for granted, which is a barrier we sought to break down.
- Ethnicities: Our team is composed of people of all different ethnicities and cultures, so we understood the need to break down yet another barrier—the language barrier. We did so by making our project accessible to those interested in Chinese, and collaborating with teams from Taiwan to bridge the discrepancies between how we each conducted our projects in the same realm of research.
Further details are provided below for each event, their goals, our lessons learned, and how this can be applied into greater context.
Events
Probiotics & Homelessness
Group(s) of People Involved: Low SES, homeless, adults
Goal:Understand the barriers preventing people from accessing healthcare
Access/Awareness/Opportunity: We actively sought to increase the ability for those who are overlooked to voice their opinions in health. Seeing as our track and end goal for such a project is to develop a therapeutic (probiotic), their opinions contribute to understanding how to make the probiotic accessible to more than just those that can afford it.
Description
Something commonly disregarded in our community is the gut health of the homeless, as many of them search for any place that can offer a next meal. Recognizing that access to gut health care is often overlooked among the homeless (an estimated 72,308 individuals in Los Angeles County alone), we sought to bring synthetic biology out of the lab and into their lived experience. Our team distributed free probiotic supplements on the streets around the Diamond Bar community and engaged participants in open conversations about gut health, documenting their perspectives on barriers they face. In this way, we frame our scientific outreach as a two-way exchange: valuing the voices and needs of a group often excluded from scientific dialogue. Our initiative not only offered immediate support but also provided insights that shaped how we communicate about synthetic biology to under-resourced populations.
Note: Due to respecting the participants’ privacy, we are unable to include pictures of the interviews at this time. However, we have summarized our findings from the verbal interviews we held into a written format below.
We passed out water and yogurt to the homeless, with our mascot Milibi (which aims to spread positivity in people’s lives) representing Calimod. The yogurt was representative of probiotics that reflected a product we wanted to create through our project, passed out to many to add a spark into their life.
Key Findings
Awareness and Priorities: Many individuals experiencing homelessness shared that they rely on food drives and donated meals for their daily sustenance. Because of this, gut health rarely crosses their mind—their primary focus is on finding their next meal. Some even hesitated to accept the yogurt drinks when told they were “probiotics for gut health,” but were more receptive when offered a “refreshing drink.” This underscores how basic needs and trust must be met before conversations about health can take root.
Barriers to Healthcare: Participants frequently cited distrust of medical institutions, often recalling friends or acquaintances who had been overcharged, harmed, or mistreated in hospitals. A lack of insurance and negative past experiences further discouraged them from seeking care, reinforcing the challenge of introducing synthetic biology–based therapeutics to such communities. Limited formal education beyond high school also meant that many were unfamiliar with terms like “therapeutic proteins,” “bacteria,” or “plasmids,” requiring patient explanations.
Reactions to Probiotics: Skepticism was common—especially about the idea of “good bacteria”. Many assumed bacteria were inherently harmful and needed reassurance that gut microbes are essential for digestion and overall wellness. While the homeless community was often uninterested due to more pressing needs, participants from nearby wellness and fitness groups showed genuine curiosity and even interest in buying probiotics after learning about their benefits.
Trust and Communication: The event highlighted the importance of credibility and framing. Building trust through clear explanations, flyers, and a brief promotional video helped bridge initial skepticism. A small interaction captured this vividly:
“Would you like some probiotic yogurt?”
“Nah man, I don’t care about that health stuff.” – Homeless participant near I-15, Hacienda Heights
““Would you like a cool beverage?””
“ “Yea, thank you so much.” – Homeless participant near LA Fitness, Diamond Bar
This contrast revealed how the framing of a product, especially one tied to scientific research, can profoundly affect its reception in underserved populations.
Lessons for Inclusivity: Providing probiotics was not just about sharing a health product but about learning how to start the conversation. Meeting people where they are—acknowledging immediate needs, avoiding forceful persuasion, and showing genuine respect—proved essential. These lessons highlight that inclusivity in synthetic biology outreach requires sensitivity to social and economic barriers as much as to scientific knowledge.
Gut Health Survey
Group(s) of People Involved: Middle SES, adults-seniors 60+, Chinese descent
Goal: Understand how adults in their daily life take care of wellness and health; spread knowledge about inflammation and our 2025 iGEM project on cytokines
Access/Awareness/Opportunity: We sought to expand awareness of gut health and synthetic biology among adults and seniors often excluded from research dialogue. By creating bilingual, community-based discussions, we reduced language and cultural barriers while inviting participants to share their perspectives on health. This exchange revealed knowledge gaps that many of the common society has.
Description
While scientific dialogue about gut health often overlooks older adults, we aimed to bridge that gap by going directly into their communities. Partnering with local church and wellness groups, we hosted an accessible bilingual event, offering both English and Chinese presentations to ensure that language was not a barrier. We introduced the basics of inflammation and our 2025 iGEM cytokine-focused project, then invited participants to share their own habits and experiences with gut health through an anonymous survey completed by more than 60 adults and seniors. By passing out probiotic yogurt drinks such as Yakult alongside our discussion, we made the science tangible as well. This exchange revealed both a widespread curiosity about the link between gut microbiota and inflammation, and practical challenges many faced (such as inconsistent dietary routines, limited health literacy, and misconceptions about probiotics). By documenting these findings, we not only brought awareness of biomedical research into the daily lives of a group often underrepresented in science conversations, but also gained insights that now guide how we design and communicate inclusive probiotic-based interventions.
The attendees who showed up on one of the many occasions in which we conducted the survey and lecture session.
Our surveys were provided to the attendees in two different languages (Chinese & English). Data was collected about the participant’s name, age, gender, and general health assessment questions; a few responses are listed above.
A closer look at our research survey’s contents & questions:
Seniors filling out the forms we passed out on gut health and given yakult probiotic drinks.
STEAM Fair
Group(s) of People Involved: Children (aged 4-13), Middle & High schoolers (13-18), Adults (30-40s)
Goal: Provide opportunity for younger children and those unexposed to research to gain an understanding and appreciation for biological research
Access/Awareness/Opportunity: We centered this event on creating opportunities for children and students to experience hands-on science that is often inaccessible outside of formal labs. By guiding participants through pipetting, mock gel electrophoresis, and magnetic bead activities, we opened the door for them to see themselves as future contributors to scientific research. These interactive moments transformed curiosity into a tangible first step toward engagement with biology.
Description
At the STEAM Fair hosted at Diamond Bar High School, we focused on breaking down early barriers to participation in science by making synthetic biology both approachable and fun for children and families. Our booth invited students as young as four to practice real lab skills: learning to use pipettes, loading colored dye into mock gel electrophoresis wells, and experimenting with magnetic beads inspired by our own project workflows. These hands-on demonstrations demystified laboratory techniques, giving younger children and unexposed middle- and high-schoolers a sense that they, too, could belong in scientific spaces. By also sharing brochures about our research and introducing Milibi, our project mascot, we bridged technical knowledge with storytelling, creating a welcoming entry point into synthetic biology for diverse age groups and sparking curiosity that can grow into future participation in research.
UCLA Children's Hospital
Group(s) of People Involved: Families and children receiving care at UCLA Children’s Hospital, members of the broader local community who attended fundraising events
Goal: To connect our synthetic biology outreach with a meaningful cause by using our mascot, Milibi, to spread positivity and encourage community members of all backgrounds to engage with both our project and the needs of children in healthcare.
Access/Awareness/Opportunity: We emphasized awareness by linking our project to a familiar and compassionate cause: pediatric health. By distributing water bottles decorated with our approachable mascot Milibi, along with a QR code leading to a UCLA Children’s Hospital fundraiser, we invited people who might not typically engage with science to see it as connected to their community and its well-being. This simple, welcoming gesture helped lower the barrier between scientific research and the public, creating a point of connection that encouraged broader participation in conversations about health and innovation.
Description
At multiple community events, we introduced Milibi as more than a mascot; he became a friendly bridge between synthetic biology and the families we sought to support. By sharing water bottles wrapped in Milibi’s cheerful image and providing a QR code to the UCLA Children’s Hospital Engage Fundraiser, we demonstrated that scientific projects can be intertwined with empathy and public service. This approach made our work approachable to people of all ages and backgrounds, showing that science can foster community connection rather than remain in the laboratory. Through these efforts, we expanded who feels invited to be part of the conversation around health and innovation, furthering the inclusivity goals of both our project and the iGEM community.
Water bottles wrapped in our Milibi sprite with a QR code attached to them, encouraging those who come across them to donate.
Multiple children were enthusiastic about supporting the cause and showcasing our Milibi sprite. On the board was a QR code that led to an Instagram page where you could join the community.
Children's Book
Group(s) of People Involved: Elementary school students
Goal: Promote synthetic biology concepts in an engaging manner that inspires younger kids
Access/Awareness/Opportunity: We aimed to broaden awareness of synthetic biology by using a storybook format that speaks to the imagination of children. By weaving scientific ideas into a colorful narrative with a relatable young protagonist, we transformed abstract cellular processes into something familiar and exciting for the younger generation. This creative approach allowed early learners to see that science is not distant or reserved for experts, but accessible, visual, and part of stories they can understand and enjoy. In doing so, we planted the seeds of curiosity that may inspire future engagement with science.
Description
We created our children’s book to show that science can be as exciting and welcoming as a storybook adventure. Through the eyes of a curious young girl and her guide, Plazzy, readers step inside the cell and discover that biology isn’t something distant or reserved for experts. The playful illustrations and imaginative storyline make concepts like DNA and mitochondria feel approachable, helping kids from all backgrounds picture themselves exploring and asking questions about the natural world. By approaching children’s education with a new lens (of stories, not just textbooks) we opened the door a little wider for more young voices to see a place for themselves in science. Essentially, we lowered the entry barrier to scientific concepts for early learners and created a resource that teachers and parents in diverse communities can use to begin conversations about synthetic biology.
Examples of our children’s book art can be found below, along with dialogue and character design:
Research Workshops
Group(s) of People Involved: High school students, middle & upper middle class
Goal: Provide students with opportunities to gain new research skills in synthetic biology
Access/Awareness/Opportunity: We planned research workshops to open opportunities for high school students to step into real research environments, many for the first time. By partnering with Irvine Valley College, we offered access to advanced laboratory spaces, professional mentorship, and hands-on practice in biotechnology techniques that most high school curricula cannot provide.
Description
The research workshops are currently in development as we meet with a PhD advisor to finalize the curriculum and file for grant support. By planning alongside faculty at Irvine Valley College (IVC), we aim to provide high school students with access to advanced laboratory equipment, hands-on training in biotechnology techniques, and guidance from both college mentors and our own CALIMOD team members. This multi-level volunteer structure is designed to make the experience less intimidating and more approachable, showing that mentorship and opportunity can come from peers as well as professionals. Even as we prepare to launch, the program’s framework reflects our commitment to expanding opportunity in science by lowering barriers to participation and creating an environment where young learners feel welcomed and equipped to pursue research. The program’s scholarship awards and completion certificates were created to encourage participation regardless of financial background, showing students that opportunity in science can and should be available to all. Beyond teaching skills, the workshop’s career panel helped reimagine science and invited students to see themselves as future contributors to research and innovation.
Above is a picture of one of multiple meetings with Victor Pham to discuss partnership opportunities and viability of hosting a biotechnology workshop at IVC.