Prelude

Education has always been the core that sustains our project; it bridges science and society, transforming laboratory discoveries into shared understanding.

For HZAU-China, education is not a lecture delivered, but an ongoing conversation, where curiosity meets empathy and innovation emerges from care.

This year, our educational journey unfolded along two intertwined paths:

• Humanistic Health Education: A series of initiatives rooted in Principle III, Patient-Centered Approach, focusing on empathy, health literacy, and social awareness.
• Scientific Dissemination and Collaboration: A collective effort to make synthetic biology accessible, responsible, and meaningful through interdisciplinary dialogue and cooperation.

Together, these two threads form a unified vision: that true education does not merely spread knowledge, but nurtures understanding, responsibility, and connection between science and humanity.

Humanistic Health Education — From Care to Understanding

Our journey of humanistic education began with a quiet yet profound realization: some illnesses are not only physical conditions, but also emotional silences.

Hemorrhoids, for instance, are often hidden behind embarrassment, particularly among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women. The stigma surrounding such conditions creates an invisible barrier between patients and care.

To break this silence, we initiated a series of patient-centered outreach activities designed to transform discomfort into dialogue and sympathy into understanding.

Through creative education, we invited people to speak, learn, and laugh about what was once unspoken, turning health knowledge into warmth and empathy into the first step toward healing.

To address the knowledge gap and stigma surrounding hemorrhoids among women, especially expectant mothers, we organized the "For Her Health" campaign on Mother's Day.

Pregnant women represent one of the groups most susceptible to hemorrhoids due to physiological changes during pregnancy, and they are also more prone to psychological distress when faced with such private health issues.

Therefore, this campaign aimed to improve awareness of intestinal health and hemorrhoid prevention among mothers and families, while creating a supportive environment that encourages open discussion of maternal health.

During the event, we designed educational games such as "Spin-the-Question" and "Draw & Guess" to replace passive listening with active learning. Instead of delivering lectures, we used concise scientific explanations and scenario-based questions to encourage participants to think about lifestyle, diet, and preventive behaviors in a relaxed setting.

We also introduced probiotic drinks as an example of dietary intervention, bridging the gap between daily nutrition and intestinal well-being. Through this activity, participants gained a clearer understanding of how simple dietary choices can contribute to gut health and prevent common discomforts during pregnancy.

An on-site survey collected 192 valid responses, providing data on public awareness, misconceptions, and attitudes toward hemorrhoid prevention and treatment. The analysis revealed significant skepticism among expectant mothers, underscoring the need for targeted education. These insights guided our subsequent health communication design and reinforced the importance of patient-centered education within our project. An on-site survey collected 192 valid responses, providing data on public awareness, misconceptions, and attitudes toward hemorrhoid prevention and treatment. The analysis revealed significant skepticism among expectant mothers, underscoring the need for targeted education. These insights guided our subsequent health communication design and reinforced the importance of patient-centered education within our project.

Building upon the insights from the Mother's Day campaign, we recognized that many pregnant women lack accessible and reliable knowledge about physiological changes during pregnancy, as well as psychological support when facing related health issues. To provide sustained and approachable guidance, we collaborated with NNU-China and SMU-China to co-create an illustrated science handbook titled "Don't Worry Mom".

This handbook integrates medical knowledge, daily care advice, and emotional reassurance. It explains common pregnancy-related conditions — including hemorrhoids — in clear, friendly language, and offers practical guidance on nutrition, rest, and prevention. By combining biological understanding with psychological awareness, the book aims to reduce anxiety and encourage proactive self-care among expectant mothers.

Each team contributed its own expertise: HZAU-China focused on hemorrhoids and dietary regulation, NNU-China developed content on folic acid supplementation and nutritional balance, while SMU-China provided sections on influenza prevention and maternal protection. Through this collaboration, we demonstrated how synthetic biology education can translate into interdisciplinary health communication, bringing together scientific accuracy, empathy, and accessibility to support women during pregnancy.

Our connection with Tongji-China began at the CCiC conference, where both teams were deeply impressed by each other's focus on human-centered innovation. Although we shared the same humanistic vision, our approaches represented two contrasting directions: Tongji-China aimed to satisfy astronauts' psychological and emotional needs by enabling them to enjoy comforting food such as crayfish in space, while HZAU-China focused on therapeutic dietary restriction to relieve patients' suffering from hemorrhoids. One sought to fulfill desire, the other to alleviate discomfort—yet both embodied the same pursuit of respecting human experience through science.

After the conference, we independently re-examined our project through a more humanistic lens. Drawing on insights from subsequent patient interviews, we realized that dietary regulation should not be rigidly prescriptive but flexible enough to accommodate diverse needs. This reflection led us to refine our design under Principle II. Medicine–Food Collaboration, allowing food to serve not only as a controllable signal but also as a personalized therapeutic option that better aligns with Principle III. Patient-Centered Approach.

At Tongji-China's seminar "Humanism in Science: Concept and Implementation", we shared our stigma analysis pathway and the updated design process that resulted from this shift. Through presenting how we incorporated empathy and patient diversity into system design, we demonstrated that technological rigor and humanistic care can—and should—coexist in the evolution of synthetic biology.

In Pinglang Village Community, Wuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, we carried out a hemorrhoid-themed science popularization activity aimed at enhancing public understanding of intestinal health and disease prevention. The event targeted rural residents, among whom awareness of anorectal diseases and preventive healthcare remains limited.

The activity sought to correct misconceptions, introduce the concept of dietary regulation in disease prevention, and normalize discussion around hemorrhoids—an often neglected yet widespread condition. By delivering knowledge in an approachable and culturally sensitive way, we aimed to improve health literacy and reduce stigma associated with such diseases.

This outreach marked an important step in extending our project's humanistic vision to underrepresented communities, demonstrating that effective public health education must reach beyond cities and laboratories to engage real lives and local needs.

To extend the human-centered dimension of our project, we launched Microbial World: Guardians of the Gut City, a health and academic challenge designed for freshmen at Huazhong Agricultural University. This initiative originated from our observation that unhealthy habits—such as prolonged sitting, irregular schedules, and overreliance on takeout—have made intestinal problems increasingly common among college students. Yet, health education on anorectal diseases remains scarce, and embarrassment often prevents students from seeking timely medical advice.

The event was designed to address these gaps through a gamified, task-based model integrating health education, behavioral guidance, and disciplinary inspiration. Participants completed interactive missions that connected daily routines with gut health, encouraging fiber-rich diets, moderate exercise, and proactive care-seeking behaviors. Meanwhile, the program introduced synthetic biology and iGEM concepts, inspiring first-year students to explore interdisciplinary scientific innovation.

More importantly, this challenge served as a platform to present HZAU-China's 2025 stigma research, which analyzed how social perceptions influence the communication, treatment, and public understanding of hemorrhoids. By sharing our findings with participants, we encouraged open discussion and reflection, helping students realize how societal attitudes can affect both science and health behavior.

Through this multi-stage campaign, we not only promoted intestinal health awareness but also connected our scientific research with real social contexts, transforming knowledge into empathy and engagement.

Scientific Dissemination and Collaboration — From Knowledge to Connection

Building upon our efforts in humanistic care, we further sought to extend the influence of synthetic biology beyond the laboratory—making it visible, understandable, and meaningful to the public. Through diverse educational initiatives and interdisciplinary collaborations, we transformed knowledge into connection, and connection into collective progress.

Throughout our iGEM journey, we not only focused on scientific research but also devoted ourselves to engaging with the public through education and outreach. To help more people understand our project and its social impact, and to inspire the next generation's interest in biology and iGEM, we organized a Laboratory Open Day.

The event drew enthusiastic participation from over 130 students across different faculties. During the day, participants toured our laboratory, learned about our ongoing research, and discussed the fundamentals of synthetic biology and the iGEM competition.

Through guided demonstrations, our team introduced the lab's daily operations, explained our experimental platform and research design, and presented real data analyses to illustrate the practical applications of synthetic biology. We also highlighted our current project on hemorrhoid treatment, showing how synthetic biology can be applied to design living therapeutics that address real-world health issues.

By witnessing experimental procedures firsthand, students gained a more intuitive understanding of how biological systems can be engineered. Many expressed strong interest in the field and enthusiasm for the possibilities of synthetic biology.

Interactive Q&A sessions further enriched the experience. Participants were encouraged to ask questions, engage in discussion, and explore how biotechnology can contribute to solving everyday problems. This exchange not only deepened their understanding of synthetic biology but also sparked a genuine curiosity about innovation and scientific inquiry.

The success of this event demonstrated the social value of our research, broadened public awareness of biotechnology, and reinforced the importance of science communication. Through such educational efforts, we hope to inspire more young people to participate in iGEM and scientific research, empowering them to apply knowledge, creativity, and technology to address the challenges of the real world.

At the invitation of the Hubei Association for Science and Technology, our member delivered an engaging lecture to high school students during the provincial Science Summer Camp. Through vivid storytelling and real examples from our iGEM project, he introduced the essence of synthetic biology and demonstrated how engineering principles can be applied to solve health-related challenges. The session not only broadened students' understanding of frontier biotechnology but also offered them a first glimpse into the creative and collaborative spirit of scientific research. Many participants expressed a newfound interest in pursuing biology-related fields, showing how the spark of inspiration can light the path toward the next generation of young scientists.

Together with HKUST, HKUSTGZ, and JLU, we co-hosted an online symposium that gathered college students from diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas on synthetic biology and interdisciplinary collaboration. During the event, HZAU-China presented our exploration of disease stigmatization, highlighting how social perception intertwines with technological innovation. The discussion extended beyond laboratory achievements, delving into how synthetic biology can address real-world issues through empathy, communication, and cooperation. By the end, participants not only envisioned future inter-team collaborations but also recognized a shared responsibility—to advance science while upholding its humanistic values.

To strengthen cross-team collaboration and explore the frontier of nucleic acid research, HZAU-China participated in the China iGEMer Community Conference (CCiC) and the Functional Nucleic Acids Symposium. The symposium consisted of two major themes. The first featured teams HZAU-China, DUT-China, and PekingHSC-China, sharing their approaches to functional nucleic acid development from different technical perspectives. The second theme brought together NNU-China, CJUH-JLU-China, and ZJU-China, focusing on the innovative applications of functional nucleic acids in biotechnology.

Through these exchanges, we deepened our understanding of nucleic acid design and strengthened the network of collaboration among iGEM teams. Building upon this shared vision, HZAU-China further participated in the creation of the White Paper on Innovative Applications of Functional Nucleic Acids in iGEM, initiated by CJUH-JLU-China, which aims to summarize current practices and inspire future exploration in this rapidly evolving field.

Recognizing the importance of biosafety in synthetic biology, we engaged in an in-depth discussion with DUT-China on laboratory safety practices and risk assessment. The exchange covered project-level biosafety design, experimental management, and responsible implementation of engineered microorganisms. This discussion not only improved our team's awareness of safety protocols but also guided us to refine our internal safety management system.

We also held a project experience exchange meeting with NNU-China, during which both teams shared insights into project design, human practices, and public engagement strategies. This discussion later became the foundation for our joint creation of a pregnancy-themed science education picture book, combining scientific knowledge with humanistic care to better support maternal health education.

We showcased our Medicine–Food Collaboration concept, demonstrating how dietary choices can synergize with synthetic biology to promote gut health and preventive care.

In collaboration with Jilin-China, HainanU-China, and NUDT-CHINA, we co-launched a proposal advocating the transition from symptom-targeted therapies to dynamic, adaptive biological regulation. This initiative emphasized responsible innovation and societal dialogue around living therapeutics, calling on future researchers to design systems that are both effective and ethically grounded.

The Into China, Into iGEM (ICII) platform, created by NAU-CHINA, connects synthetic biology with traditional Chinese culture. It serves as a collaborative space where iGEM teams can share their projects and ideas while incorporating cultural insights. The platform is inspired by the Silk Road, a historical symbol of cultural exchange, and seeks to foster a modern-day dialogue between science and culture. In 2025, the platform hosted 14 iGEM teams from 11 cities across China, including major urban hubs like Nanjing, Beijing, and Wuhan, each contributing unique scientific and cultural perspectives. The platform is divided into three key sections: ICII Panorama, where teams present their research; Dialogue Gallery, showcasing the integration of culture with synthetic biology; and the Silk Road Forum, which encourages global discussions on the future of synthetic biology and its cultural relevance. ICII is designed to not only showcase scientific research but also bridge regional and cultural differences, providing a space for teams to collaborate and learn from one another. Teams can use the platform to share their projects, engage in discussions, and contribute to a growing network of cross-disciplinary knowledge.

Epilogue

Throughout our journey, we carried out numerous educational and collaborative initiatives—many of which were closely intertwined with our Integrated Human Practices.

Education, in our understanding, is not only a means of science communication but also a bridge connecting laboratory exploration with real societal needs. Each activity—whether comforting mothers, inspiring students, or engaging researchers—allowed knowledge to flow bidirectionally between the public and our project, helping us listen, reflect, and redesign with greater empathy and precision.

These interactions offered crucial feedback that directly guided the iteration and refinement of our project design, ensuring that our solutions remained both scientifically sound and socially grounded.

For more details on how these educational experiences shaped our design philosophy, please visit our IHP page.