Our Journey
As cliché as it sounds, as a first-time team, everything truly felt like venturing into the unknown. The idea of an iGEM team was initially tucked away somewhere on an archived Figma board. So as we delved into this competition, everything seemed so foreign. The scale of the competition, the amount of planning, scheduling, organization, and paperwork seemed like something miles beyond our reach. However, one thing that was never in question was passion. The passion for science, completing a large project, a biology career, or simply building a college resume. 17 students, two advisors, countless hours in the lab, and hundreds of tireless phone calls at ten pm. Bit by bit, we built a structure. We chuckle, saying, “If there is a will, there is a way,” whenever something “impossible” appears on the agenda. That saying is the accurate representation of our unwavering spirits. Along the way, there were definitely disputes, doubts, and moments when the amount of work just came pouring in that made us question whether we could actually pull this off. However, with incredible strength and persistence, we pulled through – as teammates, as friends, and as something greater than ourselves.
3rd, 2025
February 4th
Starting from February 4th, 2025, our iGEM team started weekly student-presented seminar sessions to brief everyone on the basics of iGEM and synthetic biology before we dive into deeper topics we’d encounter during the experiment progress. Students referenced materials from a study guide, and through making their own slides, they absorbed the information and order of operations. The topics ranged from basic cell biology to harder topics like cloning techniques, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and bacterial screening. This helped us form a good foundation and allowed us to have some kind of idea of different processes for when we went to the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in the summer.
2025 iGEM Study Guides
June 12th
On June 12th, HIA's iGEM team made its first public appearance with a progress update during a school-wide assembly. Large-scale competitions like iGEM remain a foreign territory for many middle schoolers and high schoolers. So, in this presentation, we not only formally introduced our project, but we also talked about motivations, our members, and the work we’ve done along the way. This earned a lot of interest from both the faculty and students, many of them coming up to us afterwards to ask questions about our project and the iGEM competition.
June 30th
June 30th was the date of our first formal interview with the doctors from Ton Yen General Hospital. We had the privilege to speak with doctors from the department of infectious diseases and thoracic medicine, as well as the director of the department of laboratory medicine. They shared their experiences, opinions on our experiment plan, and suggestions for us to improve our original outreach methods, allowing us to view our engagement from an external point of view and factor in more variables and unpredictabilities.
June 30th
On June 30th, our Instagram account was established, and the first few posts introduced the different members of our team, featuring our research, human practice, and dry lab and IT teams. This was a breakthrough for us, as it was the first time we had been publicly announced as an iGEM team to such a large global community. This was a moment of cheers and joy; never did we think that we would make it this far. When we thought we would be stuck at a few 40 followers, the team has excelled and reached up to 120 followers and a simple 15k views in a month. This may not seem like much, but to us, this is a height we never thought we would reach.
Second week of July
In the second week of July, our team stepped into the lab for the very first time. This moment was something we had been anticipating for months. With the patient guidance of the NYCU students, what began as unfamiliar territory quickly turned into a place of discovery. Each member of our research team faced steep challenges, but instead of being intimidated, they leaned in, eager to learn and overcome them. Techniques that had once seemed distant or impossible became skills we could proudly call our own. That first lab wasn’t just about experiments; it was about proving to ourselves that with resilience, mentorship, and teamwork, we could overcome barriers and take our very first steps into the world of real science.
July 17th
On July 17th, we conducted a second interview with National Cheng Kung University’s Professor Hung, who specializes in medicinal chemistry and new drug development, to consult about our experiment plans. At that time, our future vision was targeted towards the use of this in the medical field and the development of a new drug. Nearly all members from each branch of our team joined the online discussions, raising questions about any concerns/hardships they are currently facing and gaining advice for possible future implementations for our project. We received a lot of feedback, which we took into consideration and fostered deeper discussions with our advisors, as well as Professor Chen, the NYCU iGEM team advisor, to discuss how we can improve our plans.
July 22nd
On July 22nd, we consulted Dr. Fu, a doctor of the department of neurology from National Taiwan University Hospital, to gain extensive opinions from the medical field. We wanted to see how doctors from different hospitals and of different expertise have diverse experiences regarding this global issue. He shared his stories and cases enthusiastically and provided us with feedback on our upcoming educational plans.
July 27th
We attended the annual BioAsia Taiwan in Nanggang on the 27th of July. The experience was truly one of a kind. As we walked into the venue, we saw many halls filled with booths and innovations before us. We walked around, exploring booths and initiating conversation with the agents of different companies we researched prior, and that is when we scored the interest of companies like StarMoon Tech and MedChem Express. We went there with the intention of learning about innovations that can inspire our research team and form sponsorships for our project, and this step has allowed us to form a more meaningful discussion.
July 31st
July 31st marks the last interview with medical professionals as we interviewed Dr. Wang from the National University Hospital. It was a new experience for us as we wondered if Singapore’s medical system operated differently from Taiwan’s, and whether the responses we got locally would be different from his experience. He very kindly briefed us about his experiences and proofread the storybook we were going to use in the Start Academy visit.
August 1st
After the month-long collaboration with NYCU, the NYCU human practice team, alongside a few research and dry lab members, visited Hsinchu International Academy to record a podcast about the partnership. We reflected on all the accomplishments from the past month and discussed plans and visions for our project.
2025 iGEM Podcast
August 4th&5th
On August 4th and 5th, our iGEM Human Practice team leapt out of the lab and into the heart of our community. For the very first time, we stood not just as students, but as educators and advocates, carrying the responsibility of shaping how others see the dangers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). At Star Academy, we developed and led a two-hour curriculum for over 130 students, teaching them not only why AMR is a danger but also how small actions, such as handwashing and following doctors’ orders, can have a significant impact on the world of hygiene and health. To us, this was more than an outreach event. It was the moment when all our preparation, passion, and vision began to touch real lives. Standing in front of those students was just the first step in a much larger journey, and it made us realize that our project goals align with the intended targets of the “Best Education” award.
August 6th
On August 6th, we had the honor to visit the Hsinchu Health Bureau for a consultation with the director and deputy chiefs of the Hsinchu branch. Not only did they answer our questions regarding how administrative units promote the prevention of this issue, but they also provided us with inspiration regarding merchandise. They mentioned that a significant portion of their focus is on the environment, as Taiwan’s hot and humid climate is an ideal breeding ground for vector mosquitoes that cause the Dengue fever epidemic. Environmental AMR played a big part in their community sterilizations, and they have to switch the medicine regularly, because many do not work anymore due to resistance development. They also provided us with information on how we can incorporate local customs or Hsinchu’s Hakka culture into the book to add authenticity and flavour to our work.
August 7th
On August 7th, our iGEM human practice team took a significant step in raising awareness, gaining funds, and communicating with our local groups. We arrived at Ton Yen Hospital, one of our main partnerships, setting up a booth and a donation box. Despite our lack of experience in the field of marketing and influence, we began to warm up and showed confidence in communicating with the elderly community of the hospital. Although we were running short on funds, the donations we received were adequate. This activity served as a significant stepping stone for us, marking our first successful fundraising effort.
August 26th
As school begins, we realized that we should share the work we’ve done over the summer with our local community. On August 26th, we decorated our own bulletin board with information about our activities and the iGEM program. As the bulletin was posted, we observed many students stopping to read its content, which is an excellent sign of interest in our project.
September 16th&23rd
On September 16th and 23rd, our iGEM human practice team conducted an outreach activity in the school to sell ice cream. This activity helped the team raise money for some travelling expenses, outreach materials, and partial equipment purchases. We planned carefully over the course of three weeks for the event; late-night calls and personal purchases were all made to perfect this activity. Nevertheless, the first round faced challenges and was not as smooth as we had planned. However, after further reflection, we made additional adjustments and was fully prepared for their second sale in school. This event reflected our commitment to making every effort count, regardless of its size, as we worked toward representing our school and Taiwan on the international stage.
September 20th
On September 20th, we received our first-ever donation from MedChem Express after various follow-up emails and contact with Ms. Michelle (agent). This was massive for our team. As a first-year iGEM team, we never felt more grateful that a company was willing to support us and embark with us on this treacherous path of struggles and teamwork.
October 1st
On October 1st, our team carried out a school-wide iGEM outreach activity that marked one of our most ambitious efforts yet. With the competition deadline drawing closer, we challenged ourselves to push beyond our limits and refine every detail of our presentation. After three weeks of careful preparation, we delivered a structured lesson and interactive activities to every class at Hsinchu International Academy, reaching both middle school newcomers and graduating high school students preparing for careers in science. This event allowed us to create an inclusive space where students of all levels could engage with synthetic biology, antimicrobial resistance, and the larger mission of iGEM. Many students expressed interest in pursuing careers in the medical or biological fields. In contrast, others became newly curious about synthetic biology, reflecting the success of our outreach in sparking both awareness and aspiration. Beyond simply sharing information, this event reinforced the idea that education can inspire future contributors to global health solutions, and it demonstrated the impact of bringing science directly into the classrooms of our own school community.
October 3rd
On October 3rd, as a reflection of our activity, we selected a few graduating students who have shown a particular interest in becoming part of the medical field, pharmaceutical field, biology field, or iGEM in general to interview. These interviews were not just follow-up exercises, but a chance for us to reflect on the impact of our activities and see how our efforts were shaping genuine aspirations within our school community. By listening to their perspectives, we gained valuable insights into how students at the threshold of their academic and career paths view synthetic biology and fight against antimicrobial resistance. This experience became a milestone in our journey, as it showed us that our outreach had evolved beyond simply spreading knowledge to inspiring the next generation of scientists and innovators.
October 5th
Lastly, on October 5th, we interviewed with Dr. Lourena Arone Maxwell, a phytopathologist who specialises in environmental factors that affect plant health and overall ecosystem/habitat health. Her speciality has significantly contributed to our project by providing us with feedback on our SDG directions and the project's connection to the SDGs. She helped us redirect the project's primary focus. Initially, we focused more on the application in the environment; however, after the interview, we learned that what we achieved in our experiment is more suitable for studying the issue and serves as a model for future developments. Thus, we are now more determined than ever to make that change, to work harder and reach further in the future, progressing from creating a model and study for future scientists to being the ones to create that impact through methods such as CRISPR. Despite our young age, we have a goal in mind. Although it may not be something we can achieve this time, it is certainly something we can work towards in the next few competitions.
FUTURE VISION
Looking forward, we hope our project’s solution will be feasible for implementation in the given environment. Since antimicrobial resistance (AMR) not only threatens human health but also spreads through soil, water, and ecosystems, our long-term goal is to adapt our synthetic biology tools to reduce the environmental reservoirs of resistant bacteria. By targeting enzymes that degrade antibiotics, we aim to restore the effectiveness of existing medicines while also preventing the spread of resistant genes through natural habitats. After conducting interviews with professionals in the medical, pharmaceutical, and environmental fields, we have become even more determined to create this impact, contributing to SDG 3, 4, and 15, while applying our experiment in the scientific field. Though this may not be something we can achieve this year, it is something we plan to accomplish after hard work and careful planning throughout the years.
IF WE WERE TO DESCRIBE OUR JOURNEY USING ONLY
ONE ADJECTIVE, IT’D BE THE WORD “TENACIOUS”.
Though the road may be full of daunting obstacles and mountains that seem way too tall to be conquered, we drove through the chaos, reached a consensus despite our differences, and formed a bond that united our spirits. As the human practice team, we strive to promote our project through outreach activities, promotional campaigns, and public educational events. As each outreach concludes, videos and photos flood our Google Drive, eventually well-sorted into individual folders.
But what is most valuable to us isn’t how many great angles we get from interacting with the public, or how many elaborate and impressive lesson plans we wrote; instead, the vivid stories we can tell from just one look at a picture – that is the most essential and precious evidence of all.