1. Overview
Throughout the season, we actively participated in a series of iGEM community exchange activities, engaging with teams and instructors from different universities. These events not only provided us with opportunities to present our project but also allowed us to gain valuable insights and suggestions through interaction, gradually enriching our experience.
2. SUSTech SynBio Symposium (May 31)
The SUSTech SynBio Symposium was one of the earliest events we attended this season. It mainly gathered iGEM teams from across the country, focusing on dry lab design and modeling approaches. During the symposium, participating teams presented their frameworks and algorithms, discussing how computational methods can enhance experimental efficiency in synthetic biology. Our team introduced the overall platform concept and shared our preliminary ideas on building a logical modeling chain. Although our experimental progress was still limited at that stage, the symposium gave us the chance to exchange ideas with teams strong in dry lab work, from whom we learned valuable lessons about data visualization and modeling assumptions. This early exposure to diverse approaches across the community provided inspiration for our subsequent modeling efforts.
3. Hangzhou iGEMer Meetup (July 26)
The Hangzhou meetup gathered multiple iGEM teams and instructors from Zhejiang Province and neighboring regions. We presented our project's progress, including experimental ideas, modeling framework, and early considerations for biosafety. Several teams provided constructive feedback, such as how to better control experimental variables and how to make modeling presentations more intuitive and clear. In addition, instructors shared their mentoring experiences from past iGEM projects, which gave us new perspectives on teamwork and project management. This event not only helped us identify areas for improvement but also allowed us to establish lasting connections with regional teams, laying the groundwork for future collaboration.
4. Living Therapeutics Symposium (August 4)
The Living Therapeutics Symposium focused on engineered live biotherapeutics (LBPs), a theme highly relevant to our project. Teams presented their latest explorations in synthetic biology-based therapeutics, including engineered bacterial delivery systems and controllable live formulations. Our team shared our work on safety control principles for living therapeutics, illustrating how multiple safety mechanisms can be integrated into project design. Discussions with other teams raised important issues related to application, risk assessment, and social ethics. These exchanges deepened our understanding that living therapeutics are not only scientific innovations but also subjects closely tied to public acceptance. The event highlighted the importance of balancing technical feasibility with social responsibility, a lesson that later guided our dialogue with both experts and the public.
5. CCiC – National iGEM Conference (August 5)
CCiC is the largest nationwide iGEM academic exchange platform, bringing together dozens of teams, mentors, and expert reviewers. Compared with earlier regional events, CCiC was broader in scope and higher in scale. At the conference, we delivered a comprehensive presentation of our project design and progress, followed by questions from experts and fellow teams. The reviewers raised constructive points regarding feasibility, experimental design, and potential applications, helping us address gaps in our planning. Meanwhile, we also learned from other innovative projects presented by teams across China and established follow-up collaboration opportunities with several groups. CCiC became a pivotal milestone of our season, marking our integration into the national iGEM community and boosting our confidence and motivation.
From the SUSTech SynBio Symposium to the Hangzhou iGEMer Meetup, the Living Therapeutics Symposium, and finally the CCiC Conference, our team consistently engaged in multi-level exchanges. These activities gave us inspiration in the early stages and higher-level evaluation in the later stages, enabling us to refine our project through continuous interaction.
6. Collective Public Outreach: Smashing Synthetic Biology Rumours Science Brochure
Beyond advancing our own project, we actively participated in cross-team science communication. Together with CJUH-JLU-China and 33 other iGEM teams, we co-authored the Smashing Synthetic Biology Rumours Science Brochure.
The brochure addressed widespread misconceptions—such as "gene editing alters human DNA"—and countered them with clear explanations, intuitive graphics, and authoritative references. Each team contributed one topic based on their expertise. Our contribution focused on "gene editing in synthetic biology," clarifying its actual role, limitations, and safety measures.
7. Safety Communication: iGEM Safety Standard for Engineered Live Biotherapeutic Products (LBPs)
Alongside our experimental work, we recognized that safety is essential for the social acceptance of iGEM projects. Therefore, we partnered with Peking University to draft the iGEM Safety Standard for Engineered Live Biotherapeutic Products (LBPs).
This handbook centered on LBPs and compiled a comprehensive set of guidelines—from laboratory practices and risk assessment methods to emergency response protocols. Unlike traditional safety manuals, it was deliberately structured in a transparent, standardized format so that it could be understood and applied not only by iGEM teams but also by non-specialists.
Our team contributed by helping design the framework and drafting safety case studies, ensuring the content remained both scientifically rigorous and publicly accessible. The final document serves not only as a technical guide but also as a public commitment: biosafety in synthetic biology should not remain a "black box," but instead be openly validated and shared.
