Innovative educational tools and outreach activities have the ability to establish a two-way dialogue with new communities by discussing public values and the science behind synthetic biology.
Highlighting our efforts to educate and inspire a diverse audience, not just in the field of synthetic biology, but also towards creating a temperament of scientific discovery.
Through this opportunity presented to us by IGEM, we have tried our best to empower minds with the tools to explore the frontiers of scientific innovation.
On August 23, 2025, the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) commemorated National Space Day with remarkable fervour and enthusiasm. Curated and hosted by the ICT-iGEM team, the event brought together science, storytelling, and interactive learning to celebrate humanity’s pursuit of space exploration. The program commenced with a captivating documentary on the Colombian Space Missions, offering a profound glimpse into the resilience and innovation that define global space efforts. The film left the audience inspired, instilling a deep appreciation for the ingenuity and determination that drive scientific progress beyond Earth. Following the screening, attendees engaged in a dynamic conversation with Mr. Rohan Chandratre, a Space Systems Engineer, who shared his professional journey and reflected on the evolving challenges and opportunities in space technology. Adding to the excitement, the official video of our iGEM project was released, giving attendees a first look at our vision and approach to synbio in space. The event transitioned into an arena with Gene Maze, an educational game created by ICT-iGEM team member Rudra Chakraborty. Designed to introduce younger audiences to the fundamentals of synthetic biology. The game blended scientific concepts with playful engagement, making complex ideas accessible and enjoyable. The event thus concluded on an inspiring note, leaving attendees enriched with new perspectives on synthetic biology and space science.
On National Space Day, our iGEM team hosted Mr. Rohan Chadraratre, a Space Systems Engineer with a Master’s degree in Aerospace from the University of Michigan, who previously led a NASA team studying Venus’ atmosphere and contributed to satellite delivery with SpaceX. He shared his journey from a curious student in Nashik to working at the forefront of the space industry, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, initiative, and a mission-driven mindset. Highlighting the rapid global expansion of space technologies such as asteroid mining, microgravity manufacturing, and space-based drug development, he also outlined India’s growing role through ISRO, commercialization since 2020, and the rise of over 300 startups. Mr. Rohan underscored the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and noted significant opportunities for chemical engineers in propulsion, materials, and metallurgy. During the interactive Q&A, he addressed topics ranging from aerodynamics and clean propulsion systems to autonomous space stations and career pathways for engineering students. He reinforced that with curiosity and purpose, even the toughest challenges can be overcome, and concluded his say by encouraging the students to pursue their interests with clarity and determination.
During our visits to some underprivileged areas in a neighboring city, Thane, we worked with 12th-grade students who were already studying biology as a subject but had limited awareness of its real-world importance and potential career opportunities, especially in fields like synthetic biology.
Determined to bridge this gap, our team lead, Hemang Khandagale, partnered with a local educational organization and took full responsibility for teaching the students during his summer vacation. In areas where classrooms were unavailable, lectures were held in a temple, turning community spaces into hubs of learning. He covered a range of topics, from reproduction and inheritance to the molecular basis of genetics, genetic engineering, and synthetic biology. To make the concepts tangible, he shared examples of various former iGEM teams’ projects, and during lessons on food and nutrition, he introduced our own project to the students.
We didn’t want to just hold a single presentation and leave; we aimed to create a sustained learning experience to prepare students for the competitive exams that serve as gateways to universities offering courses in biology, biotechnology, and synthetic biology.
To make learning engaging and enjoyable, Sundays were dedicated to fun, interactive activities. These sessions were complemented with food distribution initiatives, emphasizing the importance of protein intake and overall health, highlighting that learning and well-being go hand in hand.
Many students initially struggled with conceptual clarity, but their eagerness to learn shone through. Difficult concepts soon clicked, supported by weekly assessments of lessons and bimonthly mock tests of the competitive exams that helped reinforce understanding and track progress. By the end of the two months, there was active participation and support from the students, who not only showed an increased interest but were also better equipped to make informed choices about potential careers in synthetic biology. Some of the students even showed eagerness to explore the opportunity of joining an iGEM team in the future, continuing the spirit of learning in the community.
During our summer vacation one member from our team member (Aamod Wagh) along with his other batchmates worked with Seva Sahayog Foundation, Mumbai. The foundation is focused on empowering students from lesser socio-economic background by educating them and providing them all the utilities necessary for their education. This includes remedial classes to improve upon their basic concepts of science, maths and other subjects, which we did during the summer. The course was actually called a “bridge course” as the concepts from their previous grade were discussed and clarified thoroughly to help them in the next grade. The students were mostly from 7th and 8th grade learning in municipality aided schools.
The emphasis of this course was primarily on math and science. Of course every student gets bored with the same ‘textbookish’ knowledge over and over. So we decided to give them a small introduction to space and astronomy. Everyone knew what are astronauts like Kalpana chawla, Neil Armstrong but nobody knew what actually they did in space or how they lived . So we told them how one day we humans can also make a rocket and one day live on another planet. We asked them if tomorrow they were to be astronaut what favourite food would they like to take with them and would it spoil over the long journey to space. It was also important that the food must be nutritious as well. So we introduced them to ‘yeast’ as a organism like plants and animals and how as we eat plants , meat and eggs we can also eat these “yeasts” as they are also healthy. The session was based on a very fundamental approach but overall it was a nice diversion, allowing them to ignite their curiosity.
The Yeast Lab is an educational initiative by iGEM ICT Mumbai that simplifies complex bioreactor concepts through five fun, hands-on yeast experiments. Using safe, household materials, students can explore how factors like temperature, pH, and nutrients affect yeast activity, mirroring how real bioreactors are optimized. By observing foam and gas formation, learners grasp how microbes respond to changing conditions while developing curiosity and scientific thinking. Linked to our iGEM 2025 project on radiation-resistant engineered yeast for space biomanufacturing, the kit makes biotechnology engaging and accessible for young students.
iGEM-ICT always strives to build a legacy for future generations to follow. Ensuring that the future of iGEM and synthetic biology is passed down to capable hands, we organized an orientation session for the first-year undergraduate students of the Institute of Chemical Technology. The orientation session was held on 20th September, 2025. The undergraduate students, ‘freshers’, brimming with curiosity, participated in large numbers, showcasing their enthusiasm and hunger for innovation
Hosted by iGEM-ICT 2025 members, the undergraduate students were introduced to the concept of synthetic biology. The students were fascinated to see how the progress and growth of this field is rapidly shaping the world around us. Our Principal Investigator, Dr. Shamlan Reshamwala addressed the gathering and encouraged every individual to seize this opportunity to be part of the iGEM community, urging them to channel their passion into innovation and contribute meaningfully to the scientific world.
Following the inspiring words of our PI, we presented our project for iGEM 2025, ‘REYNA’, with the intention of inspiring and motivating them to join the iGEM ICT team next year. Our team leads demystified our entire project, showcasing that through persistence and teamwork, even the most formidable challenges can be transformed into an impactful solution.
The younger audiences were truly mesmerized by the project, as their questions regarding iGEM and our project were unstoppable at the end of the presentation. We released the forms for our core team, which were greeted by an overwhelming response from the first-year students, reflecting their eagerness to contribute and become an active part of iGEM-ICT.
