Human Practice | GreatBay-SCIE

Overview

Driven by the ambition to confront the overlooked issue of household mold, GreatBay-SCIE is developing ArMOLDgeddon, an enzyme-based solution to clear a broad spectrum of molds, dedicated to protecting human wellbeing, safeguarding living environments, and promoting sustainable practices. To ensure our project truly addresses real-world demands, our Human Practice journey has laid the social, ethical, and scientific foundations for its responsible implementation.

Throughout our Human Practices, we have conducted over twenty rounds of interviews with potential stakeholders at five progressive stages. These interactions have not only provided first-hand insights into the reality of mold in everyday environments and shaped our understanding of mold's health and economic impacts, but also guided us in identifying hospitals, restaurants, and households as our proposed primary end users. Alongside this, conversations with synthetic biologists and market specialists enabled us to navigate technical challenges, improve product efficiency, and consider pathways for responsible production and distribution.

Thoughtfully integrating our Human Practices work with all branches of our project has been crucial for us to respond to stakeholders' concerns. We addressed doubts about product feasibility by developing user-friendly prototypes through the integration of wet-lab experiments, dry-lab modeling, and custom-designed hardware tailored to stakeholder needs. Feedback from service providers guided us to further optimise our design for safety and ease of use. Meanwhile, we also organised educational events to enhance public understanding of our approach, and explored entrepreneurial strategies to ensure availability while incorporating sustainability. Moreover, follow-up interviews helped us evaluate the real impact of our outreach, inspiring us to balance scientific innovation with public accessibility and trust. Through these interactions, we came to view our project not merely as a scientific endeavour but as a continuous dialogue between research and society.

We discover, we engage, we reflect, and we improve. With these principles, Human Practice has transformed ArMOLDgeddon from a laboratory concept into a socially responsive and ethically responsible project - one that grows alongside us, as students striving to contribute meaningfully to the world.

Mission Description

When we first sketched our project in the laboratory, we believed synthetic biology could make a difference, even if only in the small domain of mold elimination. Yet we soon faced fundamental questions beyond what literature could answer: Does the world truly need this? Can our idea become a real product? What makes our design unique compared to existing solutions? That is: NECESSITY, FEASIBILITY, and UNIQUENESS.

Realising that answers lay outside the lab, we embarked on our Human Practice journey - not for self-validation, but for exploration and dialogue. Guided by these core questions, we visited neighbourhoods, expert offices, and public spaces to ask, listen, and embrace critique.

Stages

Our Human Practice journey for ArMOLDgeddon was carried out in five stages, progressing step by step from understanding the problem, identifying the users, and building design feasibility, to bringing the product to market and expanding its impact. Each stage allowed us to systematically refine our solution and ensure it meets real human and societal needs.

Stakeholders Map

Understanding the full landscape of stakeholders is essential to ArMOLDgeddon’s Human Practice journey. Our stakeholder map reflects a purposeful network of our efforts in stakeholder interactions, much like neurons in the brain. All our potential stakeholders, ranging from the general public and potential users to experts and industry partners, are interconnected: insights from one participant often spark new questions, inspire further interviews, and contribute to a continuous flow of knowledge. This dynamic web highlights the interdependence of all stakeholders and how their interactions shape a responsible, effective, and socially attuned solution.

Stage1

Stage2

Stage3

Stage4

Stage5

*Click the stage buttons above to explore how our stakeholder engagement evolved.

Cycle of Reflection

This cycle builds the skeletons of our human practices, allowing us to learn from each encounter and refine our work iteratively. By reviewing our goals, actions, and outcomes, we ensure that our work is both responsible and responsive to stakeholder needs.

Our “4A” cycle of reflection is carried out in four interconnected stages:

Aspiration - Clarifying the purposes of each stakeholder engagement and the goals we hope to achieve through their input.
Action - Conducting initiatives, consulting stakeholders, and asking targeted questions to gather relevant information and insights.
Analysis - Examining the feedback and results we receive, identifying patterns, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
Adaptation - Acting on the feedback through assimilation, adjustment, and assessment. This stage ensures a two-way influence, where stakeholders shape our project while we make positive impact back on them.

This iterative process allows ArMOLDgeddon to evolve responsibly and effectively, creating a comprehensive cycle where learning, improvement, and societal benefit reinforce one another.

Stage 1 - Understanding the Problem

Cycle 1

Aspiration

Recognizing mold as a form of visual pollution that lingers the Southern China during “Hui Nan” days (continuous humid weather), we came up with the initial plans of ArMOLDgeddon. Through researching the characteristics, growth conditions, and adverse effects on public health and constructions of typical molds, we were assured that it is our responsibility to tackle these severe local issues that potentially concern a wider world. Therefore, to ground our project into real-world needs, we launched public surveys to understand the universality of mold issues, explore the values of our mold-elimination product in the market, and get an overall picture of the relevant demands and expectations of the public.

Action

We carried out a broad-spectrum online survey and spreaded it out on WeChat (a Chinese leading social platform), reaching people in all age groups all over China with various backgrounds. We also designed a “sticker wall”, a more interactive way to better engage people and collect feedback from the Southern China iGEM Communication offline event.

When designing the questions in the survey, we included questions asking about their living environment, satisfaction with current methods of removing mold, etc. to learn about their awareness of mold and demand for a new solution. The sticker wall included similar questions, aiming to increase our sample size representing the southern China region. By combining multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions, we were able not only to quantify patterns of mold issues but also to capture personal insights.

Analysis

The feedback confirmed the existence of a clear market demand. A majority of participants (79.3%) reported having attempted to remove mold in their homes, often highlighting the shortcomings of current methods - whether chemical removers or physical approaches like wiping with towels. Common complaints included limited efficacy, recurrence of mold, and unpleasant odors. Notably, 23.8% of respondents admitted having no knowledge of mold or its potential harm.

The sticker wall responses echoed these findings: almost all participants had encountered mold at home, with many relying on ethanol or general cleaning detergents. Across both channels, safety emerged as the top concern, followed closely by expectations for long-lasting effects, minimal surface damage, high efficiency, and a pleasant smell (Figure 1).

In addition, the majority of mold occurrences in households were observed in bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms (Figure 2), which, in general, are the areas that typically experience high humidity. left2

Pie charts of survey results

Adaptation

Given the broad public concern over safety, we prioritised this aspect by selecting non-toxic components. To ensure long-lasting efficacy, we selected enzymes specifically for their high and long-term stability. Moreover, with concerns regarding possible surface damage, we not only advanced our research into the material compatibility and effects of our components but also planned to seek further insights from experts through upcoming interviews.

In response to the dissatisfaction caused by the pungent odor of conventional chemical approaches, we decided to enhance our product with a pleasant fragrance. To this end, we initiated literature research and identified terpenes as ideal candidates, with geraniol emerging as the most promising option after evaluating their properties.

Recognising the public’s generally limited awareness of mold and its risks, we immediately planned to start our education mission to raise understanding both of mold itself and of our product’s biological nature, which distinguishes it from the potential hazards of chemical alternatives.

Furthermore, by identifying the household areas most prone to mold occurrence, we could better tailor our product application and educational outreach to target the scenarios where prevention and treatment of molds were most urgently needed.

Cycle 2

Aspiration

Building on our previous research into the health risks posed by mold, we sought to connect with an expert experienced in treating thousands of patients affected by mold-derived illnesses. Through such interactions, the dangers of mold and its adverse effects on public health - especially among vulnerable groups - could be better understood.

Action

We interviewed a doctor, the Director of Hospital Infection Control at a leading hospital in Guangdong, focusing on four key areas: the prevalence of mold-related diseases, evaluations of current solutions and their shortcomings, insights drawn from clinical experience regarding analysis from diagnostic data and professional prevention means, and the hospital’s perspective on synthetic biology products as an indicator of specialists’ openness to novel biotech-based solutions.

Analysis

From the doctor’s answers, we were first able to confirm the strong correlations between molds, infections, and allergies. In a southern China scenario, fungal infections (which are mostly molds in this case) account for more than 20% of infections recorded. This percentage could be even higher in local wards in Shenzhen. To be more specific, mold contact is directly correlated to multiple types of allergies and is especially notorious in local hospitals, where vulnerable populations like young children may get asthma or rhinitis after common contact with mold. All those were assured with data provided by the specialist. Groups like the elderly, or people with immunodeficiencies or cancer, all have significantly higher possibilities of being infected by mold and could even have fatal consequences if combined with other diseases.

Meanwhile, despite such a large health concern, current solutions had two big disadvantages: high costs and a long therapy cycle. Patients - especially ones in underdeveloped areas - might not have the time and financial conditions to withstand such a recovery cycle that is so extensive and costly.

In terms of current obstacles, one major point of the resolution was to target the “undiseased” (the state before a disease occurs). Currently, Chinese hospitals were not investing enough effort in preventing mold in the first place, potentially bringing even more issues to the future. The doctor also informed us that the public lacks enough awareness and knowledge to remove mold frequently and effectively. Some of them hired housekeeping companies to remove it.

Within the “undiseased”, misconceptions were very common, and fixing these misinterpretations is crucial for resolving the crisis. Large portions of people believed that using AC could ventilate the indoor environment, eventually preventing mold infestation; however, the AC itself could actually act as a growth space for mold if not cleaned properly and frequently, as the doctor emphasized.

The doctor expressed a strong interest in our product initiative, but also raised concerns about its safety to humans and effectiveness in eliminating mold, mainly.

Adaptation

To the doctor’s concerns, we first put effort into special groups of people that is immunocompromised by interviewing a specific patient within this community with care for case-specific details, such as the individual’s concerns about mold. Also, we were curious about the government’s regulations on the serious mold issue, which guided us to interview the Shenzhen Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A visit to AC manufacturer Gree Electric Appliance Company is also planned to explore mold-conscious designs specifically on AC. To understand the extent of effort households put into mold prevention and awareness of mold’s danger, we started contacting the housekeeping company at the beginning of our next stage to obtain a big picture.

In order to address the doctor’s concerns about our product’s safety and effectiveness, we never stopped our research and chose our components to adhere to this strict rule.

Public education, including social media and lectures, was directed to this way to reduce misconceptions among the “undiseased”.

WeChat Official Account

Introducing pathogenic spores to increase awareness of prevention in the “undiseased”

Cycle 3

Aspiration

From our previous interview with the doctor, we acknowledged that precautions against mold infections were essential. We would like to understand the current precautions that the local government is implementing to control the spread of mold-related diseases. Moreover, we would also like to further explore the necessity and significance of our project, a new mold eliminator, as well as to gain suggestions on our project from government authorities.

Action

Therefore, we contacted the Shenzhen Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and reached out Ms. Shi, a representative of Shenzhen CDC who specializes in mold-related issues. In the interview, we asked details about the mold infection and mold-driven allergic reaction: their mechanism and transmissibility. Specifically, we have included questions like the relationship between the presence of mold at home and the chance for mold infection, the harm of mold, the necessity of introducing mold and its damage to the public, and her personal opinions on our product as our direction for improvement.

Analysis

We gained a more precise and sharper understanding of the topic of mold harm and infection. First, all fungal infections are infectious diseases, meaning they can spread from person to person, and individuals with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable. Homes with the presence of mold are also especially vulnerable to mold infections. One main infection and spreading method of mold is highly resilient spores. Although fungal cells are often immobile on surfaces and are generally harmless, spores have high mobility, and not eliminating them could frequently result in the recurrence of mold. However, the primary target of most current mold-removing methods is the mycelium, rather than the spores, indicating a wrong trajectory of development.

Another significant deficiency exists: the CDC currently devotes little attention to fungal diseases and infections compared to other diseases, resulting in a lack of investigation and data on these conditions. Ms. Shi pointed out a similar point about the necessity of educating the public about the harm of mold - society now has little recognition of its effects, and governmental organizations also have not devoted enough effort to increasing public awareness about mold yet.

On the experimental side, Ms. Shi suggested that resistance is a potential problem that could emerge with our enzyme-based mold eliminator. She also recommends performing experiments on mold to verify the efficacy of our enzymes and experiments on animals to ensure the product’s safety.

Adaptation

To better understand the issues of mold resistance, we initiated systematic research and explored potential approaches to evaluate both the safety and efficacy of our formulation.

Since all fungal diseases are infectious diseases, we joined the Infectious Disease Village, aiming to eradicate the pathogens, spores, as the first point to break the chain of infection. Specifically, in order to better target mold and spores and decrease the chance of fungal infections, we designed our product to include enzymes specifically for their capability to degrade both hyphal and spore cell walls, thereby eliminating mold growth and infection at their origin.

To tackle the issue of low awareness, beside the educational events we planned to launch, we also began creating the ArMOLDgeddon Booklet - a comprehensive guide compiling all our research and practical knowledge. This booklet served as a concise and reliable guide to boost public understanding of mold and its prevention.

Stage 2 Identifying the Users

Cycle 1

Aspiration

To comprehensively scope the stakeholders who are interested in our project the most, we considered that hotels and restaurants might be the potential settings to apply our products, as mold is widely regarded as a hygiene issue and their customer reputation depends heavily on the quality of their environmental cleanness.

At the same time, mold occurrence was a common problem in households, including our own. Partnering first with housekeeping companies that provide specialised mold-cleaning services would allow us to gather valuable insights into the typical situations households face, as they frequently encounter such problems and could help us identify common environmental characteristics among affected households.

Furthermore, learning from the doctor and the CDC, we recognised that vulnerable groups are particularly susceptible to mold-related infections and could suffer significantly from respiratory conditions such as allergic rhinitis. Listening to these patients’ perspectives would be crucial in refining our product to better address their needs of eliminating mold in order to prevent the exacerbation of symptoms.

Action

We therefore interviewed a Shenzhen hotel owner, a small restaurant owner, and the owner and employees from Hua Mulan Domestic Service Company. In these interviews, we asked questions to understand their experiences with mold, the methods they currently use for removal, and their expectations for a new product that could effectively address their pain points.

Specifically, from the domestic service company, we obtained valuable insights into the environmental conditions of families particularly susceptible to mold. At the small restaurant, with the owner’s permission, we examined and documented the working environment, while also discussing their business routine, including opening hours and cleaning schedules, with particular focus on mold-related issues.

Additionally, we interviewed a patient with care, who was attentive to her living environment. She shared her experience of being hospitalised and her observations of mold growth within the hospital ward.

Analysis

The hotel, unfortunately, does not require the product, as its mold issues stem mainly from water pipe leakages, which they prefer to fix directly by demolishing the wall.

A key issue highlighted by all other stakeholders was the unpleasant odor of existing mold removers, which highly aligned with the findings in our public surveys. The domestic service company employees often wore a mask when using chemical reagents. In restaurant settings, the harsh and lingering smell not only disrupted the dining atmosphere but also discouraged staff from performing thorough cleaning, as ventilation and odor dissipation required additional time. For the patient, the pungent and irritating odors from both her hospital’s cleaning solution and the mold removers used at home worsened her physical symptoms.

Interviews also revealed common conditions for mold growth. The domestic service company noted that lower-floor living spaces, low cleaning frequency, moisture, “Hui Nan” days, and wallpapered walls favour mold growth. The restaurant’s compact space, combined with steam and cooking fumes, creates warm, humid conditions ideal for mold. The patient observed mold near ventilation ducts and on ceilings, accompanied by musty odors causing additional psychological distress of being infected.

Current mold removers were also criticised for ineffectiveness. Chemical reagents often damaged wallpaper and failed to remove mold completely. The domestic service employee could only remove surface mold, through their traditional cleaning protocol and solutions. The restaurant owner stressed the need for safer, milder cleaning methods that work within time constraints, as current chemicals had side effects to both human respiratory system and building structures at sufficient doses.

The patient noted that hospital cleaning staff only mop floors with chemical disinfectants, leaving hard-to-reach areas like ceilings and AC ventilation ducts with mold untreated, and at home, mold returned within two weeks despite physical scrubbing.

Regarding operation time, one domestic service employee suggested that it should be approximately five minutes. All stakeholders suggested that new mold removal methods should be easy to operate, effective, and provide long-term prevention.

Adaptation

Feedback from the domestic service company inspired further interviews with households as they possess strong decision power on the choice of mold remover. The interviewed restaurant, while not setting industry standards, represents many small businesses, guiding product design for this user group. Concerns about wallpaper damage and residues prompted our exploration of alternative formats like mold-removal stickers. Mold residue and toxin issues remain key topics for future research and interviews.

The patient highlighted hospital applications: enzymes (proteins) are non-irritating, easy to use, and antimicrobial, suggesting potential benefits in wards. We planned further interviews with hospital staff.

From stakeholders’ feedback, a major focus for improving our project design was the efficiency and long-term effectiveness. In particular, observations from the restaurant highlighted the need for ArMOLDgeddon to be not only effective but also easy to apply, quick, and compatible with daily operations, while the patient emphasised the desire for complete elimination. These prompted our exploration to enhance enzyme stability and efficiency through the interview with an enzyme engineering expert about the technique of computational modeling.

We also refined our educational approach. Instead of simply highlighting risks that might exaggerate the anxiety, we provided specific, reassuring guidance to housekeeping staff and enriched our booklet.

Cycle 2

Aspiration

From the questionnaire, we found that mold was particularly common in households in Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. The domestic service company also noted that their customers - households - have significant decision-making power when choosing mold removal services. Consequently, we now concentrate on such households as our key stakeholders to understand their criteria for selecting mold removal products, enabling us to tailor our project to specific user needs and expectations.

Additionally, as the patient observed mold growth in air-conditioning units during her hospital stay, we decided to interview a specialist in hospital ward hygiene to understand their cleaning protocols and explore how to improve the practicability of our products.

Action

We conducted a home visit with Ms. Li, a coastal resident in Guangdong Province. We first photographed the hotspots of mold in her house, which, again, closely matched the typical locations reported by the public in our questionnaires. We then discussed the dangers of mold and her expectations for biological mold elimination agents. Noting that air conditioners were another key source of mold, we explored the possibility of designing an anti-mold filter with her input.

We also visited Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital and met senior nurse Mr. Li. We asked questions regarding the compatibility of our product’s development direction and advantages with the needs of hospital environments. We also obtained the hospital’s cleaning protocols from its affiliated cleaning company.

We obtained the cleaning protocol and found that it lacks specific guidelines for mold.

Analysis

Ms. Li reported cleaning mold in her home three times within a single month but demonstrated limited knowledge of the health risks posed by mold, supporting the doctor’s emphasis on public education. She expressed strong aversion to the pungent odor of oxidising chemical agents and prioritised safety - including concerns about corrosiveness and chemical residues - and cost-effectiveness. Unlike the domestic service company, which emphasised a five-minute removal requirement, Ms. Li did not consider speed a priority. Regarding our intentions on developing the mold-resistant AC, she raised concerns about whether any filters we develop would be compatible with existing models.

Concerning hospital ward hygiene, Mr. Li confirmed that certain areas still experienced mold recurrence and highlighted the need for an effective, safe, and non-irritant mold eliminator. He outlined four key criteria for evaluating product compatibility: general applicability (across surfaces and common mold types), safety (non-stimulant for vulnerable groups), ease of operation (simple to apply and relatively low unit cost), and environmental friendliness (biodegradable). He also emphasised the importance of testing for skin and eye irritation. He also noted that chlorinated chemical detergents were commonly used for cleaning in the hospital, which were effective but had drawbacks such as a pungent smell and a short storage life.

Adaptation

Both Ms. Li, the coastal resident, and Mr. Li, the senior nurse, emphasised product safety and affordability. Consequently, we assessed our project’s safety through literature review and future expert interviews, while recognising that further testing on biodegradable properties and optimisation of enzyme production would be needed to establish favourable market pricing. Ms. Li’s feedback on AC filters prompted us to investigate mold-resistant hardware technologies and explore collaborations with AC manufacturers.

To better understand practical challenges and inform our next steps, we plan to conduct hands-on experiences with mold removal in the following cycle.

Cycle 3

Aspiration

Through the feedback from previous stakeholders and research on existing market mold removers, we identified several common drawbacks that are particularly concerning: ineffective, slow to act, producing irritating odors, or even causing skin and eye damage. The most effective way to gain firsthand insights into the user experience and directly face the challenges of mold-infected individuals was to test these products ourselves. There, we aimed not merely observe or rely on verbal communication, we also actively engaged and examined the problem ourselves to ensure we could provide our customers with the most effective support.

Action

To perform a mold removal trial ourselves, we contacted another resident, whose apartment is on a low floor and suffers from mold infestation. We used a mold remover sold on the market (MIOLTTA) to try to remove mold from the resident’s home, and also communicated with her about the common features of mold and some concerning aspects.

Analysis

We confirmed that mold commonly appears on living room and bathroom ceilings, bedroom doors, and staircases, with growth varying by material - frequent on gypsum lines but rare on diatom mud walls. When testing the product, we found MIOLTTA more effective than water, as stains were easier to remove. However, cleaning of high ceilings in the living room was difficult, clothing could be damaged, the product emitted a strong odor, and both we and the interviewee experienced throat irritation, emphasising the need for a safe, odorless solution.

The interviewee also noted that extreme humidity in southern coastal China prevents people from living on the first floor (as we observed, all the community buildings leave their first floor as an open space, a pattern common in many housing estates in southern China), causing recurring mold growth and repeated spending on removal. The resident also expressed a desire for a safer, more effective mold remover, although speed of action was not mentioned.

Open space on the first floor of the housing estate

Adaptation

To address the difficulty of cleaning high places such as ceilings, especially for the elderly or individuals with disability, we decided to design specialised hardware with a long spray head. In addition, the locations where mold was most commonly observed were documented and incorporated into our educational ArMOLDgeddon Booklets to raise public awareness.

Pre- and post-treatment comparative images

End User Summary

After analyzing valuable feedback from the interviews we conducted in stage two, we confirmed our stakeholder priority hierarchy. For ArMOLDgeddon, hospitals have the highest priority. This is because the immune-compromised people are most concentrated in hospitals and they are the most sensitive to mold infection. Restaurants ranked the second, for they are dealing with food, which will be directly consumed by customers. There is great necessity for them to keep their food clean, both from mold and chemical residues. Individuals are our third most important stakeholders, compared to the former two, they do not have such urgent demand for safety. However, they are still concerned about the well-being of themselves and their family.

Hotels follow next. As most of their cleaning and maintenance tasks are handled by professional cleaning partners, their direct need for a dedicated mold removal product is relatively moderate. This type of stakeholder primarily expresses their feedback and needs in our last stage - expanding impact. The second least urgent user is the department of cultural relics protection, which also mainly provides responses in the fifth stage. While the preservation of cultural heritage is undoubtedly important, ArMOLDgeddon is primarily designed with human health and practical daily use as its core focus.

The last user on the list is domestic service companies. According to our interview with them, they did do various mold removal jobs, but the products they used were provided by their customers, the individual households.

A pyramid ranking chart of end users for ArMOLDgeddon (the higher a type of user is located on the chart, the more important they are to us)

Stage 3 Building Feasibility

Cycle 1

Aspiration

It is essential that we could integrate our project design with our hardware to address the common issues highlighted by the stakeholders. According to the doctor and Ms. Li, as the air conditioners represented a significant breeding ground for mold, we then spared no efforts to try to design an anti-mold AC. To advance this idea, we would need to seek help from specialists with industry-specific expertise to answer our technical questions.

In addition, to strengthen our understanding of mold-killing mechanisms and improve our experimental approach and hardware design, we should also consult experts in mold-related fields. Engaging with them would ensure our solutions to be effective and innovative, and help us address wider concerns such as the potential toxicity of both the degradation by-products and the substances released from mold cells during breakdown.

Action

We visited Gree Electric Appliance Company and also conducted an interview with an air filter specialist to gain a clearer understanding of the air filter industry landscape and to identify user needs. The discussion centred on essential product specifications for AC filters and common concerns regarding filter hygiene, particularly microbial contamination. We also explored the possibility of integrating enzymes into filters and requested a professional assessment of its feasibility.

Subsequently, we visited the Guangdong Institute of Ecoscience and Soil to meet with experts, including Mr. Huang. They introduced us to their product, an innovative chemical-based mold remover that remained in the experimental phase but had already undergone its initial trials.

We also conducted literature reviews and contacted several authors of relevant studies. Fortunately, we received a warm response from Professor Thierry Fontaine of the Laboratory of Biology and Pathogenicity of Fungi at the Institut Pasteur. During the online interview with him, we discussed the effectiveness of enzymes on fungal cell walls, the potential pathogenicity of mold residues, and alternative methods for testing our product under iGEM Safety Guidelines.

Analysis

Several stakeholders, such as the patient, raised concerns about the potential release of harmful substances from mold after treatment with our remover. Experts from the Guangdong Research Institute explained that common indoor molds do not produce metabolites of significant toxicity, noting that “such toxins are negligible compared to the harmful oxidisers commonly used.” Professor Thierry confirmed this conclusion.

From our visit to Gree, we observed that while some newer designs include general antimicrobial features, older models often lack these entirely, and none sufficiently target mold. This highlights the need for designs specifically toward mold resistance. The air filter specialist explained that current air conditioners use standard HEPA filters (0.3-micron pores) that can effectively trap mold spores (≥2 microns). This resulted in a critical shortcoming, though: trapped spores feed on accumulated organic matter to grow and break the filter, eventually spreading into the whole living space. For normal filters, regular replacement was recommended as cleaning may be complicated and ineffective. In light of the integration of enzymes into filters, he suggested low-temperature binding techniques but raised concerns about the costs, enzyme activity under high airflow and humidity, safety, and stability. He also advised conducting cost estimation through large-scale user surveys.

The Guangdong Research Institute experts also stressed the fact that ventilation systems were some of the most common places for mold growth. Currently, there are two main ways for mold removal: the first one relied on strong oxidizing agents, which vigorously reacted with everything on the surface, but also posed health risks like irritation, which cannot be avoided by masks; the second one was our mechanism without violent chemical reactions and only targeted specific parts of mold. Mr. Huang also explained that mold spores are most vulnerable during the germination phase. They also provided information about the mechanism of their product: their solution is sprayed onto walls, causing spores to adhere due to Brownian motion, which in turn reduces the spore content in the air. In addition, the experts emphasized that commercial success required addressing consumer behavior, especially capturing their attention with the final exterior packaging. Therefore, informative promotion would be essential to communicate the safe and effective nature of our product.

Professor Thierry, then, first confirmed the need for more efficient enzymes, and helped us identify another key enzyme - α-glucanase - that would significantly enhance the cell wall degrading efficiency. He offered 2 solutions to test enzymes: using alkali-treated cell wall carbohydrate isolates or chemically cross-linking glucan and chitin to simulate the structure of the cell wall.

Adaptation

Inspired by the mechanism of spore adhesion via Brownian motion, we investigated the design of wall-coating hardware to continuously reduce spore concentration, alongside enzyme immobilisation on AC filters. We were looking for further guidance through future interviews with a specialist in enzymology.

Following Professor Thierry’s recommendation to include α-glucanase, we immediately began a literature review on potent α-glucanases and adjusted our experimental plan to incorporate it into our final product. He also highlighted the difficulty of degrading mold cell walls and the need for highly efficient enzymes, prompting us to employ AI modelling techniques to optimise our current enzymes for greater activity.

For commercialisation, we followed the air filter expert’s advice by conducting large-scale stakeholder interviews and incorporating public surveys to estimate costs. Inspired by the Guangdong Research Institute, we planned to promote our product to the wider public through the future packaging design, emphasising our safe and effective mold-elimination mechanisms, which distinguish us from chemical-based products that pose unavoidable risks to the respiratory system that even masks cannot prevent.

Cycle 2

Aspiration

With various ideas of potential improvements, such as long-lasting reactions, lower prices, higher enzyme activity, and broader applicability, we had reached the point to crystallize these theoretical constructs into feasible experimental plans. However, due to limited knowledge, we were confused and disoriented as to which methodologies could be applied to our project, especially those on enzyme feature improvement and enzyme immobilization. Therefore, we arranged interviews with specialists in fields of enzyme engineering and immobilization, aiming to gain a more comprehensive knowledge scope of the applicable methodologies.

Action

We interviewed two experts, Mr. Su and Professor Desen Ke.

Mr. Su specializes in enzyme biosynthesis and protein development. Our discussion mainly focused on improving enzymes via a modelling approach that targets the desired improvement outcome: stability, activity and soluble expression. The other expert, Professor Desen Ke, specializes in enzyme immobilization. Apart from feasible means of immobilization, our discussion also centered on the evaluation of possible product forms.

Analysis

The discussion provided valuable insights. The enzyme engineering expert proposed a new improvement direction using protein modelling to generate de novo enzyme sequences with enhanced properties. He introduced Message Passing Neural Networks (MPNN), an AI tool that designs optimal amino acid sequences from a protein’s backbone. Mr. Su cautioned that AI models could produce false results, recommending a two-step screening: first, in silico validation against specific criteria, then wet-lab testing to confirm enzyme characteristics.

At the end of the interview, Mr. Su summarized a general workflow of our modelling effort:

Obtain the enzyme structure
Protein design
Rigorous screening
Validate the candidates in the lab

Architecture of ProteinMPNN [1]

Our interview with Professor Ke focused on product design and enzyme stabilisation. He recommended dividing applications into two: direct mold deactivation and growth prevention. For removal, fine sprayers and hydrogels are effective, but due to enzyme instability in solution, a powdered form activated in water would be preferable for sale, enhancing its stability and shelf life. For prevention, wall coatings and atomisers could cover large areas, including hard-to-reach corners.

Enzyme immobilisation is crucial across all forms. Methods discussed included γ-CD encapsulation, alginate encapsulation, and PEGylation, with PEGylation deemed most promising. For AC filter applications, Carbohydrate-Binding Modules (CBMs) were suggested to enable enzyme attachment.

Concerns about molds developing resistance to our enzymes and terpenes were addressed by Professor Ke, who assured that resistance to structural-degrading enzymes (addressed by CDC) was highly unlikely. He also affirmed the safety, effectiveness, and biodegradable nature of our enzymatic approach to tackle the mold issue.

Adaptation

Inspired by Mr. Su, we started our modelling journey for enzyme improvement, designing better chitinases and glucanases aided by the power of artificial intelligence. Following the general workflow proposed, we soon completed screening, locating the potential candidates, and commenced wet lab testing of our MPNN-generated enzymes.

The discussions on product forms with Professor Ke helped us confirm our commercial outlook, contributing to the diversity of our product designs. Methods of enzyme immobilization provide critical direction for our future experimentation, including wet lab effort on CBM expression. All the insights on technical improvement lay a solid foundation for our next stage of action.

Stage 4 Bringing to Market

Cycle 1

Aspiration

After assuring the technical feasibility, our next step was to move towards better accessibility to the public by beginning integration into the market. This would also give us the chance to test our product against national official safety guidelines and relevant certification standards, making it responsible and officially validated.

To prepare for market entry, we needed to understand our position in the existing mold-remover market, also to know the pricing and marketing strategies. By consulting experts actively involved in market development, we could ensure our marketing plan to be realistic, practical, and progresses at an appropriate pace.

Action

We interviewed Mr. Fu, who specialises in communication between customers and mold-removal firms, along with two experts from a leading domestic investment bank in China. Our discussion focused on the current and potential market for enzyme-based mold removers. We also examined relevant health and environmental regulations and received expert guidance on product development and potential risks.

Analysis

All specialists confirmed a significant market demand for mold removers, particularly in residential spaces, warehouses, hospitals, and basements. Our product appeared especially suitable for contexts requiring mild cleaning solutions, such as hospitals or vulnerable communities. Since mold problems were often recurrent, there was a continuous demand for effective removers. Moreover, experts highlighted that northern regions also face substantial demand: during winter, indoor heating leads to condensation, creating ideal conditions for mold growth. Mr. Fu further emphasised that customer needs varied, underscoring the necessity of offering products in different forms to address mold issues in various situations, for example. He also noted that different hotels might have varying rationales for adopting different methods, which encouraged us to interview another hotel to further explore their specific context and needs.

All the experts agreed on the importance of both prompt mold removal and effective inhibition. Mr. Fu also suggested agar plate testing as a practical method for assessing the product’s feasibility.

From the investment bank experts, we gained insight into the process of securing start-up capital and the key factors investors prioritise, such as a strong Unique Selling Point that would be natural and safe. Meanwhile, one the experts specialized in law helped us identify the certifications required prior to launch - namely, the Hygiene and Safety Permit, Disinfectant Product Registration, and Safety Approval for Gene-Edited Strains - and advised on steps to strengthen future compliance. Looking ahead, our development would require raising capital through multiple financing rounds and a potential public listing, alongside standardising production processes and scaling up to large-scale operations.

Adaptation

To gain expert guidance on standardising production processes and scaling up operations, we intended to interview a specialist in the commercial production of bio-based products.

To better adapt to different usage scenarios, we were designing multiple product versions and offering varied packaging sizes to minimise waste caused by degradation once the seals are opened, as we recognised the significant difference between individual and business needs regarding the scale and frequency of application. Agar plate testing would be incorporated into our future development plan to assess feasibility. We also included the steps the investment bank experts suggested for obtaining the necessary certifications.

Additionally, to further evaluate our product and its market potential, a roadshow has been conducted for a few investors.

[More details on Entrepreneurship Page]

Screenshot during the roadshow

Cycle 2

Aspiration

To bring our benefits to a wider community, estimating production costs and establishing a complete commercial production process would be crucial foundations, as emphasized by the air filter specialist. However, given our limited experience in large-scale biosynthesis, our initial estimates may lack accuracy and practicality. Therefore, by seeking further expert guidance, we can ensure that our scale-up process is both realistic and feasible.

Action

We thus interviewed with Mr. Zhong, an expert in the commercial production of bio-based products. Our interview mainly focused on cost analysis and the procedures from experimentation to large-scale factory production.

Analysis

Mr. Zhong introduced High-Cell-Density Cultivation (HCDC), which can increase enzyme yields over tenfold compared to lab scales. For downstream processing, he noted that our application does not require extremely high purity (since ArMOLDgeddon is applied directly to surfaces, minor impurities do not affect its safety or effectiveness), and suggested spray drying (a technique that turns a liquid solution into a dry powder by rapidly drying it with hot air, allowing easy storage and application) as a practical method to obtain dry powder, as Professor Ke previously suggested.

Mr. Zhong outlined two production options. OEM partnerships (Original Equipment Manufacturer partnerships involve a company producing products that are branded and sold by another company) could ease early production but risk technology leakage, manageable by protecting enzyme formulations. Self-production would demand a mature process yet cut costs by about 40%, making it a long-term goal. He suggested locating facilities where energy and water are cheaper to enhance sustainability.

He noted that waste management, especially wastewater, would be a major cost and shared a virtual cost analysis for planning. He estimated roughly one year from lab to pilot scale, two years for stable small-scale production, and three years for large-scale OEM production. He also stressed the importance of standard biosafety protocols to manage risks.

Adaptation

Mr. Zhong provided us with an accurate procedure for mass production and detailed cost analysis, which became the basis for the development of our entrepreneurship strategy. His insights help us identify the timeline in the commercial production of bio-based products, allowing us to make a more accurate and realistic development plan.

[More details on the Entrepreneurship Page]

As larger-scale production lowers costs, this also created the opportunity to provide free or subsidized, inclusive products to vulnerable groups in poor economic conditions who need them most through more collaboration with diverse official organisations in the future.

Additionally, Mr. Zhong suggested that we could employ microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to treat wastewater and utilise microbes for anaerobic digestion of organic waste, making the production process more sustainable and contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production).

Stage 5 Expanding Impact

Cycle 1

Aspiration

Having gone through four stages, we were now more confident about our product and prepared to explore its wider applications. Rather than only addressing household, restaurant, and hospital uses, we aspired to extend the impact of ArMOLDgeddon to two broader domains.

First, we sought to investigate how our product could contribute to the preservation of ancient buildings and cultural artifacts, which were particularly vulnerable to mold contamination due to their porous and moisture-retaining composition. Protecting such heritage sites would allow our work to safeguard cultural memory and regional identity on a larger scale.

Second, the mold issue would potentially pose worldwide threats. Therefore, we planned to engage with the hotel industry again(for a different rationale), but globally, especially in humid regions where mold infestation compromises both infrastructure and guest experience. By positioning ArMOLDgeddon as a practical and adaptable solution in these environments, we aspired not only to address local mold challenges but also to contribute to global public health resilience and sustainable living environments.

Action

To understand whether our mold-removal products could benefit stakeholders in the cultural relic protection industry, we first researched mold prevalence on historical buildings and existing treatment strategies. We then interviewed specialists Mr. Cao (Shenzhen Ancient Monuments Conservation Association) and Mr. Xu (Sichuan Creek Exhibition & Display Co., Ltd.) to validate our findings and introduce our product initiative. These discussions helped us understand how our enzyme-based solution could support the preservation of cultural heritage, extending our product’s value beyond everyday settings to promote safer and more sustainable mold management across diverse environments.

To begin putting our effort into adapting our solution for diverse global environments, we conducted an interview with Ms. R (Front Office Manager at a hotel in the Maldives), as part of our effort to understand mold management under different climatic and operational conditions.

Analysis

All three stakeholders repeatedly highlighted concerns such as the structural damage mold can cause to artifacts or buildings and the essential role of proper ventilation. Concerns about the health of workers in regular maintenance work were also raised: an example is one of Mr. Cao’s friends getting sick each time after he cleaned up mold from site of maintenance. Is it also noted that, although digital preservation has become increasingly widespread, safeguarding physical copies remains essential for protecting cultural legacies.

Mr. Cao confirmed that mold was indeed common among cultural heritage buildings. He introduced a traditional material called “Sanhetu”(Tabia) which tended to crumble and fall off easily when affected by mold, a phenomenon observed on wood as well. With these, he advised us to prioritize effectiveness in our product design. One of the suggestions was making a mold eliminator that can be applied to delicate, small areas, as some artifacts are either particularly tiny or have small gaps that traditional methods cannot easily reach. In addition, variations across different materials (including pH) should be considered, and maintaining a lower price will also be favourable.

Mr. Xu confirmed that organic artifacts were highly susceptible to mold, which could even corrode supposedly resistant materials like Stellera paper. Although the workers in museums and exhibitions had a high perception of preventing mold transfer, they revealed that current solution had failed to address and prevent mold growth on artifacts efficiently and thoroughly. Furthermore, both traditional and modern mold treatments - including neutralization, radiation, and fumigation - have serious drawbacks such as releasing irritants.

The interview with the hotel manager, Ms. R, provided us with information that there is an annual monsoon season from June to August, during which the air becomes very humid. This condition, combined with high temperatures in the Maldives, would inevitably cause small black spots of mold to appear on walls. During this season, they hired a cleaning company for help. Ms. R was aware that the company used chemical reagents, but after cleaning, the rooms needed ventilation for at least hours before they can be used. She specifically used the phrase “goes to the brain” to describe the smell. Ms. R also showed dislike to chemical reagents due to the potential of these harmful reagents entering the ocean with sewage, which can cause severe damage to nearby organisms living in the sea. Additionally, the scientific mold-eliminating methods and updated, safe products are scarcely advertised, particularly in remote regions, limiting their awareness and access.

Adaptation

Learning from Mr. Cao, we planned to design a titration-based device as an alternative form of our product. This approach aims to tackle minor infestations with precision, preventing the potential damage that could result from applying large quantities of mold-removal agents to sensitive relics, which could effectively address the problems encountered by Mr. Xu and his colleagues.

With regards to Ms. R’s unwillingness to use chemical reagents due to ocean pollutions, we were prompted to make our product more sustainable by designing and aiming to test ArMOLDgeddon as a safe and completely biodegradable product through further experimental toxicity testing following national rules (included in the Future Development Plan), ensuring no risk to aquatic life and aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 14.

Looking ahead, we also hope to collaborate with organisations such as the local NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations) and community organisations to extend our reach to underdeveloped regions that lack online accessibility or have poor economic conditions, ensuring a greater diversity of communities can benefit from our work.

Cycle 2

Aspiration

Since at the last cycle, Mr. Cao noted that one of his colleagues experienced irritation in the trachea due to exposure to mold at the Shajing Ancient Market, we scheduled an on-site visit to this historic site to explore more potential application scenarios of our project. By engaging directly with local sites and stakeholders, we can identify practical mold-related challenges and tailor ArMOLDgeddon to meet real needs. Our goal is to improve indoor environmental safety and hygiene in diverse settings, from homes to cultural heritage sites, ensuring our solution delivers measurable benefits.

By this stage, our ArMOLDgeddon booklet has been completed. We planned to deliver it to the community that really demand it, for example Shajing Ancient Fair. Through this, we aimed to expand our impact: not only promoting healthier living environments, but also contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage and the resilience of urban spaces.

Action

We visited the Shajing Ancient Fair in Baoan District, Shenzhen, and its open historic neighborhoods. During the visit, we documented a number of sites, including the Longjin Stone Pagoda, the Cheng Ancestral Shrine, oyster shell walls, sections of old street walls, and modern decorations such as graffiti and statues, some of which were affected by mold. We also spoke with the owner of a grocery store about local concerns regarding mold and shared our knowledge on the subject.

To further support the community, we prepared and distributed booklets offering information on mold and practical ways to manage it. Some local residents demonstrated limited knowledge of mold and its hidden risks - one person even asked, “What is mold?” - but understood after we showed her the images of mold included in our booklet.

Analyze

We first noticed the high humidity in the area, which is a key factor contributing to mold growth. Weathered artifacts often develop a loosened, porous structure, creating a favourable environment for mold to thrive. Based on the prevalence of mold we observed, as well as our discussion with the grocery store owner, we were intensely aware that we might have underestimated how widely, frequently and severely our people were in need of a novel, effective mold remover. We also gained valuable insights into practical challenges, including a lack of awareness in some areas about both the risks of mold and effective prevention strategies. This suggested that future outreach efforts could benefit from being more on-site and inclusive of a wider range of locations, rather than focusing solely on local areas and major cities.

Photographs of the local environment revealing significant mold problems.

Adaptation

The future development of our product should take into account the protection of ancient artifacts, incorporating specialised design, thorough testing, and exploring potential new hardware and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Moving forward, we plan to conduct more in-person activities across diverse regions to ensure a sustained and widespread impact, not only contributing to reducing mold-related health issues but also fostering collective resilience and cultural preservation. By doing so, our work can advance SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), while also demonstrating how synthetic biology can be responsibly translated into real-world applications - making our impact more inclusive, sustainable, and entrepreneurial.

From Pages to Practice: Measuring
the Ripple of ArMOLDgeddon

To translate our research into something tangible for the public, we created the ArMOLDgeddon booklet - a comprehensive yet accessible guide that compiles the knowledge we gathered from scientific literature, expert consultations, and stakeholder insights. It introduces what mold is, outlines potential health risks, and addresses misconceptions, but does so with care: we deliberately structured the content to reassure readers and reduce panic, balancing risks with practical, science-based prevention and deactivation methods.

The booklet also served as the foundation of our follow-up interviews, where we delivered it directly to stakeholders like households and gathered feedback on its clarity and usefulness. This interaction confirmed that our resource raised awareness, corrected misunderstandings, and encouraged safer household practices, while also highlighting public interest in enzyme-based alternatives.

By combining written knowledge with face-to-face and online engagement, this initiative ensured our work moved beyond pages - shaping attitudes, supporting healthier decisions, and amplifying the real-world ripple of our project.

Documentation

Chinese Version

English Version

Stakeholders Assessment

To fully analyse our stakeholders’ role in ArMOLDgeddon, we assess them across both influence and impact.

INFLUENCE captures the ways stakeholders can shape our project across the entire timeline - from early concept design to product deployment and educational outreach.
IMPACT measures the tangible benefits or relevance of our project to them.

This dual-axis assessment allows us to absorb insights comprehensively and optimise engagement across all streams.

Explanation

Influence: ≥10.5 → Significant Influence; < 10.5 → Normal Influence

Impact: ≥4 → High Impact; <4 → Low Impact

Significant Influence - High Impact

Examples: Individual Household, Immunocompromised Patient, Hotel (Maldives), Building Construction Monitoring Center, Cultural Relics Expert
We manage these stakeholders closely by regularly seeking their feedback. Their perspectives directly shape product design, safety measures, and application strategies. Their input is vital to ensure ArMOLDgeddon is effective, safe, and responsible for real-world use.

Significant Influence - Low Impact

Examples: Allergy and Immunology Doctor, Shenzhen CDC, AC Filter Corporation, Enzyme Engineering Specialist, Mold Removal Research Institute, Enzyme Immobilisation Expert, Mycologist, Market Integration Expert
We engage these stakeholders by consulting them for expert advice and considering their concerns. While they may not use the product directly, their knowledge strengthens scientific credibility and informs best practices.

Normal Influence - High Impact

Examples: Small-sized Restaurant, Nurse, Shajing Ancient Fair
We keep these stakeholders informed as potential users. Understanding their needs improves usability and adoption, even though their technical expertise may be limited.

Normal Influence - Low Impact

Examples: Housekeeping Service Company, Hotel (Shenzhen), Gree AC Company, Mold-Remover Market Specialist, Mass Production Expert
We monitor these stakeholders periodically. They may not be actively engaged now, but their insights or participation could become valuable as the project evolves.

Rubric

Influence (20 in total)

Categories (1-5 each)

Technical Expertise - Guides our lab work, product design, and hardware development, helping optimise enzymes, formulations, and delivery tools.
Information Provision - The stakeholder provides basic information about mold, as well as insights from their personal experiences encountering and removing it, helping us understand real-world conditions and design practical, effective solutions.
Market Implementation - Shapes how effectively our product can be deployed and accessed when entering the market.
Sustainability & Future Development - Advises on long-term improvements, lasting impact, and alignment with broader societal goals.

Impact (1-5, with an extra point for education if applicable)

Measures the overall benefit of our project to the stakeholders. It also considers how relevant the product is to them and how likely they are to adopt it.

Extra Point - Education: Education provides a direct way to impact stakeholders, enhancing their understanding of mold and prevention strategies. Stakeholders who benefit from our educational activities receive one additional point for this impact.

Summary & Reflection

From homeowners and hospitality staff to microbiologists and public health specialists, our Human Practices for ArMOLDgeddon allowed us to align our enzyme-based mold-eliminating solution with real human needs. Throughout this process, we conducted mutual communication with diverse stakeholders, including individuals, hospitals, the foodservice sector, the cultural relics preservation field, etc. There, we incorporated their feedbacks to comprehensively refine various dimensions of our product, ranging from safety and efficacy to accessibility and practical usability. Each time, our interactions became both a mirror and a window: a mirror that reflected our assumptions and forced us to reassess them, and a window that opened us to perspectives we had never considered. These interactions, whether supportive or critical, were essential in shaping a responsible, effective, and socially considerate product.

Our Human Practices journey reflects the continuous effort of GreatBay-SCIE 2025 to bridge science and society. By engaging the public through our educational initiatives, integrating entrepreneurial planning, and designing hardware thoughtfully tailored to stakeholder needs, we ensured that our product is both scientifically sound and practically relevant. Beyond mold deactivation, we promoted awareness of environmental hygiene, vulnerable populations’ safety, and sustainable household practices. With the curiosity and dedication of high school innovators, we remain committed to refining ArMOLDgeddon and exploring strategies that harmonise human well-being with a safe, mold-free living environment.

All Interview Plannings

Documentation

English Version

Chinese Version

Reference

Dauparas, J., et al. “Robust deep learning-based protein sequence design using ProteinMPNN.” Science, vol. 378, no. 6615, Sept. 2022, pp. 49-56, doi:10.1126/science.add2187