Updates on social media
Our team has constantly updated on our instagram account (@igemhkssc), where we designed posts about recent activities, basic information on eczema, and a brief summary of what iGEM is. To keep up with trends and gain more views, we also posted reels using the latest audios. This account provides us with a convenient platform to keep everyone updated and raise awareness of our project while having fun ourselves.
iGEM Family Day Stall
The primary goal of our iGEM Family Day stall was to educate the public about general hygiene practices in an engaging and interactive way while also raising awareness about synthetic biology and our iGEM project.
We believe the stall was a success because we effectively communicated key hygiene practices, such as proper handwashing and disease prevention, to a diverse audience. Children especially enjoyed our interactive game, which helped reinforce these concepts in a memorable way. Additionally, many attendees left with a better understanding of how synthetic biology can address public health challenges.
This event allowed us to reach a broader demographic and gather valuable insights into public awareness of hygiene and synthetic biology. The feedback we received will help refine our project’s outreach strategies, ensuring future initiatives are even more impactful. Overall, the stall strengthened community engagement while advancing our project’s direction.
ECA Recruitment Talk
The primary aim of the ECA recruitment talk was to educate people about eczema, spread awareness of iGEM and synthetic biology, as well as to attract more students to join our team.
During the talk, we introduced iGEM and our project to over 1000 students and teachers. Students were very enthusiastic, especially during our Q&A session, where we were able to answer many lingering queries regarding joining the team.
We believe the talk proved successful, since we received over 100 applications which allowed us to grow our team significantly. The positive feedback received from attendees also indicated a strong desire for more information on eczema management and synthetic biology innovations. We planned to build on this interest by organizing follow-up workshops and informational sessions, allowing us to engage further with our new recruits.
Overall, the recruitment talk was a success, effectively raising awareness about eczema and promoting our iGEM project. We are excited about the potential of our expanded team and look forward to the innovative contributions they will bring to our work in the upcoming year.
Team Barbecue
The primary goal of our barbecue was to encourage team bonding and get to know our new recruits.
We organized a casual but fun gathering, inviting both returning members and new recruits to join us for an afternoon of food and games. The event proved to be a great success, as it provided an excellent opportunity for everyone to interact in a relaxed setting.
During the barbecue, team members shared personal stories and experiences during last year’s Jamboree and trip. The icebreaker activities we planned allowed new recruits to feel more comfortable and integrated into the team.
We are grateful for the enthusiastic turnout, which not only strengthened our existing bonds but also fostered new ones. Many expressed excitement about contributing to our initiatives and collaborating with their peers.
Overall, the barbecue was a wonderful way to kick off the new season, and we are excited to learn alongside our new team members
Students' Day Game Stall
The main objective of our Student’s Day game stall was to strengthen students’ knowledge of eczema and synthetic biology.
We designed an interactive quiz that engaged students whilst educating them about the complexities of eczema and the principles of synthetic biology. The stall attracted a diverse group of participants, from curious younger students to older peers eager to learn more about our research. This engagement allowed us to identify common misconceptions about eczema and synthetic biology, which we can address in future educational outreach.
Overall, the Student’s Day game stall was a success, and we look forward to future events and continuing to promote awareness and understanding within our school community.
Students' Day Drama Performance
The primary goal of our talent show performance was to explain the functions and importance of iGEM through an engaging drama.
We created a fun script that illustrated real-world applications of synthetic biology and the role of iGEM in addressing these challenges. During the show, we used props such as costumes and swords to explain complex ideas in a simpler way. This allowed our audience, which included students of varying ages, to better understand synthetic biology.
The talent show served as an effective educational tool. After the performance, we held a brief Q&A session, encouraging attendees to ask questions about iGEM and synthetic biology. This interaction provided an opportunity to clarify concepts and dispel any misconceptions.
UCCKE x SSC Workshop
This collaborative workshop was designed to deepen students' understanding of iGEM and synthetic biology through engaging, hands-on experiences. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical applications, we aimed to make complex biotechnological concepts more accessible and inspiring for all participants.
We sincerely appreciate UCCKE's partnership and expertise, which enabled all participants to explore synthetic biology through interactive activities like pipette art and gel electrophoresis. Our iGEM project presentations and knowledge-sharing quizzes provided valuable insights, while demonstrating diverse approaches to synthetic biology applications.
The workshop successfully made biotechnology both exciting and educational through its practical focus. Exposure to UCCKE's project broadened our perspective on potential iGEM directions, offering fresh inspiration for our own project development. This collaboration has strengthened our foundation in synthetic biology while fostering meaningful connections within the iGEM community.
Street Interview to Investigate General Public's Knowledge of Eczema
Our street interviews aimed to assess public understanding of eczema while simultaneously raising awareness about this common skin condition. Through these interactions, we sought to gauge existing knowledge levels and identify common misconceptions that could inform our project's educational approach.
The interviews proved highly successful, allowing us to both educate participants about eczema and introduce them to iGEM and synthetic biology. We also gained valuable insights into the public's baseline knowledge, which will help shape our awareness campaigns. Many participants expressed surprise at how little they knew about eczema's causes and treatments.
This outreach initiative enabled us to engage a diverse audience we might not have reached otherwise. By combining eczema education with introductions to synthetic biology, we created meaningful conversations about science's role in addressing health challenges. The collected data will directly contribute to refining our project's focus and developing more effective public communication strategies.
Informative Posters
Our team aspired to create a poster with simple, bite-sized summaries of the common symptoms, medications and triggers of eczema, such that people with minimal knowledge on it can have an immediate grasp on the general idea of it while only taking a brief look. We included photos and text with simple terms, such that the information is easier to digest and more comprehensive.
We believe that this can act as a general guide to everyone, from young kids to elderly, thus further raising community awareness for both the disease itself and those struggling with it, and consequently reinforcing the importance of our project.
Wet lab handbook
To pass on experiences to next generations of iGEMers in our school, our IHP team has decided to collaborate with the wet lab team to craft a wet lab handbook, which documents common lab apparatus used, safety precautions or points to note based on our experiences, quizzes on biology concepts involved, and most importantly, protocols arranged in an orderly manner. This can provide the newcomers with a less overwhelming start into wet lab and more structure in their learning.
To further extend the use of this booklet, our team has decided to make this booklet public, such that everyone interested in synthetic biology can benefit from it.
NSOC Booth
Our team hosted a game booth during our school’s New Students’ Orientation Camp (NSOC), with a target audience of mainly 11-12 years old pre-teens. The goal of this was to raise awareness and promote our school’s iGEM team, assisting in the recruitment process of next year’s team formation. We also wanted to make good use of this opportunity to educate them on basic synthetic biology and eczema knowledge through fun games.
To reach this aim, our team leader gave short presentations with the aid of a powerpoint, and also made the briefing interactive via trivia questions on eczema, iGEM and our school’s team history. To end the session on a good note, our team prepared snacks for the new students to take home, and also printed copies of Skin Sync, a matching game related to different skin conditions that is designed by our members, to further broaden their awareness on different dermatosis and to leave a strong impression on our team.
