Education

What we did

Our iGEM team visited FA Hamilton Elementary School on multiple occasions to deliver interactive classroom presentations on topics within human and animal health. Each visit was designed to connect with the students’ existing curriculum, reinforcing concepts they were already learning while introducing new ideas within synthetic biology in an engaging and age-appropriate way. We used visuals, hands-on examples, and relatable stories to spark curiosity and show how science connects to everyday life, while also highlighting the role of synthetic biology in solving global challenges.

Why it's important

These outreach events were crucial steps for creating an accessible bridge between university-level science and elementary school learning. By aligning our sessions with the school curriculum, we supported teachers in building a stronger foundation for their students’ understanding of health and biology. Early engagement with science can inspire long-term interest in STEM, reduce intimidation around complex subjects, and encourage awareness of human and animal health issues that shape our communities.

Impact - From us

Through multiple visits, our team enhanced classroom learning by presenting scientific concepts in a way that was fun, memorable, and connected to the curriculum. Students were able to ask questions, make connections with what they were already studying, and explore science as something approachable rather than intimidating. Delivering these lessons also challenged us to simplify complex ideas and practice clear, engaging science communication.

“The iGem student-led program provided an engaging and meaningful learning experience for our Grade 5 and 6 students. The leaders guided the group through hands-on experiments, thoughtful discussions, and interactive activities that connected directly to biodiversity and its importance for both human and animal health. Their ability to explain complex ideas in an age-appropriate way ensured that students not only participated actively but also deepened their understanding of real-world science.

The facilitators were enthusiastic, kind, and adaptable throughout the sessions, responding well to the needs and interests of the students. They created a welcoming atmosphere where curiosity was encouraged, and every student felt comfortable asking questions and sharing ideas. Their energy and passion for science were contagious, sparking excitement and engagement among the students.

Overall, the iGem program was a valuable experience that combined learning with fun. The leadership skills of the facilitators shone through in the way they balanced structure with flexibility, keeping students focused while allowing space for creativity. The students came away with not only a stronger grasp of biodiversity and health connections, but also a positive memory of exploring science in a hands-on and collaborative way.

Thank you!"
- Elizabeth McIntyre, Junior Teacher, Fred A Hamilton Public School

Impact - On us

Teaching young students reminded us of the importance of accessibility in science, since knowledge only creates change if it can be shared and understood by diverse audiences. It also energized us, showing how enthusiasm for learning can spread quickly when ideas are presented in an engaging way. This outreach strengthened our sense of responsibility as scientists in training to contribute not only to research but also to public education and community engagement.

Testimonials

“This summer I volunteered with iGEM to participate in outreach events at Fred A. Hamilton Public School, where we visited a grade 5 & 6 classroom. During our visit, we delivered presentations on animal and human health, focusing on the role of microbes and biology. We used interactive methods such as crafts and class discussions to engage students in scientific topics in a fun and meaningful way. As someone pursuing a future in science, it was incredibly fulfilling to inspire and encourage young students to explore the world of biology. This experience allowed me to give back to the community while making a positive impact. The most rewarding part of the visit was seeing the students light up with curiosity and excitement as they shared their thoughts and engaged with the material. The curiosity of youth and the desire to learn are worth nurturing, and I felt proud to be part of a day that supported both education and fun!”
- Mia Moniz, iGEM Wet Lab General Member

What we did

Our work represents an important step towards integrating synthetic biology into Ontario classrooms, broadening student access to innovative science while reducing preparation time for teachers through ready-to-use activities. For the 2025 season, we focused on grades 5 and 6, our next steps include developing a reference library of our collection of adaptable lesson plans that are aligned with ministry standards. These plans can be reused, and modified over time, creating a sustainable resource for kindergarten to grade 12 educations.

Impact - From us

By providing accessible, curriculum-connected resources, the supplement supports educators across varying levels of expertise and schools with differing assets, ensuring greater equity in science education. As schools across the province face budget cuts, overcrowded classrooms, and inequitable access to resources, our lesson plans aim to take the burden off hard working teachers. Most importantly, it provides students with early exposure to cutting-edge science, sparking curiosity, building confidence in STEM and fostering pathways for future innovation.

Impact - On us

When the public is better informed on concepts in biology, it makes for a more conducive environment for the development of biotechnology. By providing materials to support students across Ontario, they grow up to be supporters of advancements in synthetic biology, exactly as the work we do on iGEM. By directly consulting teachers and the Ontario curriculum we become better educators to mentor those joining our team and to democratize science in the community.

What we did

This summer, iGEM Guelph collaborated with Creative Encounters' Earth, Ocean, & Sky Camp to introduce Grade 4/5 students (ages 9-11) to the fascinating world of microbiology. The initiative was developed and executed by iGEM volunteers as part of the camp's Microbes & Me Mondays. Campers explored how microbes are everywhere—inside us, around us, and even helping us stay healthy. Through an interactive slideshow and guided activities, students learned:

• The basics of good vs. bad microbes
• The importance of lab safety and sterilization practices (handwashing, lab coats, PPE)
• How scientists use the scientific method in microbiology research

To make microbiology personal, each student created a mini-Petri dish keychain decorated to represent their own unique set of microbes, reinforcing the concept of the microbiome.

Impact - From us

This collaboration gave campers a hands-on introduction to microbiology while inspiring curiosity and confidence in science. By the end of the session, students:

• Understood that everyone carries a unique microbiome
• Practiced basic microbiology safety principles
• Experienced the fun of connecting art with science through “personal Petri dishes”

Testimonial

“This summer, I was able to experience iGEM's mentor sessions for our Grade 4-5 STEM summer camp called Earth, Ocean, and Sky. In this camp, one of the days was focused on microbes and their important role in human biology. In their session, iGEM volunteers walked our campers through a short, engaging presentation about what microbes are and their importance for our health. After this presentation, the volunteers introduced an activity where the campers were able to create keychains that commemorated what they had learned. After observing all of the iGEM sessions that ran for Earth, Ocean, and Sky this summer, I can wholeheartedly say that iGEM was an incredible mentor for our audience. All of their volunteers came with a positive attitude and were excited to engage youth with STEM, and were amazing role models for our campers.”
- Owen Hennink, Creative Encounters Co-Director

What we did

This March, iGEM Guelph participated in the University of Guelph's College Royal event. College Royal is the largest university open house in all of North America. At this event, members of the Guelph community are welcomed onto campus grounds to enjoy various activities managed by different student organizations. iGEM Guelph ran many fun activities for the public such as a biology themed word search, an anatomical maze puzzle, and an arts and crafts station where guests could create their own paper bacteria. Many community members of all ages stopped by to engage in the activities and to chat with iGEM volunteers about the team’s project and the incredible world of synthetic biology.

Impact - From us

The goal of College Royal is to give the public the chance to peak into what occurs in the University of Guelph and to give students the opportunity to pay back the community by educating and entertaining them. People both with and without scientific backgrounds were able to explore and learn about fascinating scientific concepts. iGEM Guelph used this opportunity to spread awareness about the complex ecosystem of microbes that exist beyond our sight. Participants were also encouraged to explore how we are taking advantage of these organisms to help make the world a better place. Lots of young future scientists had their interests in biology sparked by iGEM through educational discussions about the potential of synthetic biology as a tool for positive change.

Impact - On us

We learned how to design science themed activities for people with little-to-no interest and background in science. It was a fantastic challenge to create stations that engage the entire family, making it a fulfilling experience by establishing a meaningful connection with participants. Lastly, we learned ways to engage and teach adults through connecting with their children.

What we did

To welcome new students, iGEM Guelph hosted a Biosecurity Escape Room in which participants roleplayed as scientists locked in a lab by hackers after sensitive information was leaked. The Escape Room involved a series of puzzles with cues and items scattered in the room that would help participants identify the leaked pathogen's genetic modifications and figure out which organization infiltrated the lab. Multiple rooms were run at once with each team being timed to provide a competitive and immersive edge to the game.

Why its Important

Concepts such as dual use and dual-use research of concern is applicable to a wide variety of disciplines. Exposure to these terms early on in student's post-secondary schooling provides a new lens to engage critically with their course materials. Specific to synthetic biology and working with pathogens in Canada, our activity exposed future scientists in the field with the terminology and Canadian regulatory policy associated with their safe handling. Instilling this knowledge early on and continuing to circulate resources on biosafety and biosecurity mitigates the risks long-term.

Impact - From us

The event's turnout boasted 85 participants! Surveying and engaging with the student participants afterwards, they found the puzzles to be engaging and creative, regardless of their major and previous knowledge of biology. Introductory biosecurity concepts were introduced through the incorporation of a fictional STRAC list and fictional SSBAs (Security Sensitive Biological Agents). Overall, the Biosecurity Escape Room served as a fun way for first year students to meet new peers in their first week, get an introduction to synthetic biology and iGEM Guelph, and for them to be introduced to the importance of biosecurity, biosafety and dual-use research.

Impact - On us

To effectively run the game, iGEM volunteers and event planners got together to conduct a practice run and collected feedback. Team members who participated in creating the escape room's content gained introductory knowledge of what biosecurity is and its importance. The execution of the event provided an invigorating organizational challenge to manage such a high turnout. As a result of the event’s success, iGEM Guelph created a how-to-guide in the Contributions page for other iGEM teams and organizations to easily replicate the event affordably.

What we did

For the Let's Talk Science, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry event, our iGEM team has designed two interactive activities that highlighted the “magic” of science in an engaging and hands-on way for their event on November 8th, 2025. Alongside providing them with two booth designs, pre-made resources, and materials, iGEM volunteers will also be on site to provide support. The first activity is a DNA extraction activity where kids and their families could see genetic material appear right before their eyes, turning an invisible concept into something they could tangibly see and hold. We also provided them with resources for the Petri dish keychain station where participants created colorful, spooky, and science-inspired keychains to take home as a reminder of their experience.

Impact - From us

iGEM Guelph provided a unique disciplinary perspective of synthetic biology, molecular biology, and microbiology to their event. Our booth and activities are designed to provide an engaging and welcoming space for a wide age group of children and even parents to explore science in a fun and interactive way. Our resources encouraged curiosity, and through planned prompts inspire conversations. Ultimately, it helped participants see science as something approachable and exciting rather than intimidating. By sharing our knowledge in creative formats, we support the event's goal of making science accessible to a broad audience while strengthening connections between our university and the community.

Impact - On us

This collaborative initiative required the close collaboration with Let's Talk Science to see the deficits in their diversity of activities, which age groups are underrepresented, alongside resource and space specific details. Knowing that our resources are being successfully used outside of iGEM outreach is reinforcement to carry on with our material-development initiatives. Although we have not yet seen the enthusiasm and curiosity with our own eyes yet, being reached out to by Let’s Talk Science reinforced our motivation to continue building outreach opportunities and showed us how powerful community-centered science engagement can be.

What we did

iGEM Guelph created Treasure Boxes, curated lesson kits filled with hands-on science activities designed for students in grades 1-4. Each activity was carefully chosen to be curriculum-appropriate with the Ontario Ministry of Education standards, engaging, and easy to follow, allowing young learners to explore science in a fun and accessible way. The boxes were delivered to classrooms, giving teachers ready-to-use resources that brought scientific concepts to life for their students. Its contents are easily re-creatable with accessible materials that we would encourage other organizations, iGEM teams, or educators to adopt, visit the Contributions webpage to access the materials. Lastly, the College of Biological Sciences Office of Educational Scholarships and Practice provided us with a generous grant to carry this project out.

Impact - From us

Through the Outreach Boxes, we extended our impact beyond in-person visits by providing educational materials that could be used anytime in the classroom. By designing activities that aligned with the curriculum, we made it easier for teachers to integrate science into their lessons while sparking curiosity in students. Our contribution helped bridge the gap between university-level research and early education, demonstrating that science can be both exciting and approachable.

Impact - On us

The College of Biological Sciences Office of Educational Scholarships and Practice provided us with a generous grant to carry this project out. Working on the Outreach Boxes allowed us to reflect on the importance of accessibility in science education. Creating activities for younger age groups challenged us to simplify concepts without losing their meaning and to think creatively about how to keep students engaged. It was inspiring to know that even without being physically present, our work could make science more inclusive and fun for children. This experience strengthened our commitment to community engagement and showed us how small, hands-on activities can create lasting excitement for science.

What we did

Our iGEM team has scheduled a professional development workshop for mid-October titled “From Lab to LinkedIn: Your Guide to LinkedIn as a Biological Science Student.” The goal of the event is to equip participants with practical skills for building a professional online presence and navigating networking opportunities within the scientific community.

The workshop will feature live demonstrations with interactive, peer-to-peer activities. Students will be guided through creating and customizing their LinkedIn profiles, supported with before-and-after examples to highlight effective strategies. A dedicated work period will also allow for participants to update their profiles with guidance from team volunteers.

To conclude, students will have the opportunity to apply their new skills in a networking session with their peers. By blending education with practice, the event will create a space for students to begin shaping their professional brand.

Why its Important

For students in the biological sciences, translating laboratory skills into professional opportunities requires the ability to present oneself effectively online and to develop strong networking skills. This workshop directly addresses that gap by providing accessible, step-by-step guidance on LinkedIn, a platform that plays a central role in academic collaboration and career development. We will be hosting the workshop in October, as it aligns with the timing of most university job fairs and internship recruitment cycles, when students will be actively searching for winter co-op opportunities.

Impact - From us

Through this workshop, our team aims to support students in growing their confidence in networking and building their professional presence. Participants will leave with improved LinkedIn profiles, actionable takeaways from our presentations, and new connections formed through our interactive activities. Organizing this event has pushed us to think beyond technical science and focus on the interpersonal skills required to succeed in both academia and industry.

Impact - On us

Planning “From Lab to LinkedIn” has given our team valuable experience in developing and delivering professional development programming. It reminded us that science is not only about experiments and results, but also about building relationships, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities for collaboration.
This event has strengthened our motivation to prepare not only ourselves but also our peers for the realities of academic and professional careers. By leading this initiative, we are growing as communicators and mentors for accessible professional skill-building in science.