Collaboration

From the very beginning, we knew that iGEM is not a solitary race but a collective journey. Collaboration was not just a requirement for us; it was an adventure. Each meeting, each joint project, each conversation with other teams left us a little wiser, a little more inspired, and a lot more connected.

One of the most memorable milestones in our collaboration journey was our participation in The 4th Panhellenic Student Conference of Biosciences. There, we not only presented our project to a broader academic audience but also had the chance to meet other iGEM teams face-to-face. The energy of the event was electric: exchanging ideas in the corridors, brainstorming future collaborations, and taking part in workshops that expanded our perspective. One highlight was the workshop organized by iGEM Athens at the Laboratorium space, where we worked side by side with fellow students, sharing experiences, laughter, and insights. It was a vivid reminder that science thrives when communities come together.

One of our proudest collaborative milestones was the Codex Vitae Round Table, an event organized entirely by iGEM MBG-DUTh, under the leadership of our Team Leader, as part of the Annual Conference of the Hellenic Society of Biological Sciences (EEBE). For the first time, our team created a dedicated space for iGEM within a major national scientific conference.

The round table became a platform where we introduced the iGEM competition to a wider academic audience, presented our project Chitinator et al., and discussed the vision and goals behind our work. We also opened the floor to explore how synthetic biology projects can shape sustainability, agriculture, and society at large.

As our special guest, iGEM Ioannina joined us, presenting their own project and sharing insights from their journey. Together, we exchanged experiences, compared challenges, and highlighted the diversity of iGEM projects across Greece. The Codex Vitae Round Table was more than just a session, it was the spark of a national dialogue, and proof of what can happen when student teams create their own stage.

Soon after, we logged into the Aegean Meeting which this year was organized by iGEM Ioannina. Although the waves of the Aegean separated us physically, virtually we stood side by side with other Greek teams. We presented our project, listened carefully to feedback, and debated passionately about agriculture, sustainability, and innovation. The meeting felt like a small family gathering: young scientists from across Greece, united by curiosity, hope, and the desire to push synthetic biology forward.

Our journey then leapt continents. At the Nexus Online Meeting: Build the Change, hosted by iGEM Unicamp Brazil, we found ourselves in a digital room with teams from every corner of the globe. The air buzzed with ideas, accents, and perspectives. We introduced the entrepreneurial side of Chitinator et al., explaining how chitin waste could be turned into a competitive, sustainable BioActivator. As we listened to stories from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, we realized: we were not just building enzymes, we were building connections, a chain of young innovators dreaming of a better world.

Sometimes collaboration is about small moments that capture big meanings. That’s what happened when iGEM Thessaloniki invited us to join their video project, “What Does Science Mean to You?”. We filmed our short clip, knowing it would be woven into a larger mosaic of voices. When we saw the final video, with our faces and words among so many others, we felt the heartbeat of iGEM: different people, different projects, but one shared passion for science.

Another impactful outreach opportunity we were proud to be part of, was a collaborative webinar with American Space Xanthi, an educational hub that promotes innovation, STEM learning, and cultural exchange. Supported by the U.S. Embassy in Athens and hosted in the Cultural Center of Xanthi, this space has become a meeting point for students and young professionals eager to experiment with robotics, creative entrepreneurship, and scientific discovery.

This partnership gave us the opportunity to design a public webinar exploring the synergy between Artificial Intelligence and Synthetic Biology. The session brought together university audiences and members of the general public, all interested in understanding how digital intelligence and biological engineering are transforming the world around us.

Throughout the event, our team introduced the foundations of synthetic biology and its power to reimagine living systems for applications in medicine, agriculture, and environmental sustainability. We also discussed how AI acts as a catalyst in this process — enabling faster modeling, smarter design, and deeper insight into complex biological mechanisms. Together, these technologies reveal new ways to address pressing global challenges, such as:

• Designing innovative biomaterials and optimizing biological production through machine learning.
• Combining computational and biological methods to enhance food security and environmental resilience.

The discussion concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which participants shared thoughtful questions about ethics, innovation, and the real-world impact of these emerging sciences. The enthusiasm in the room highlighted how approachable even advanced topics can become when presented collaboratively and interactively.

This event marked a key milestone in our outreach journey. By working closely with American Space Xanthi, we extended the conversation on synthetic biology beyond academic circles—linking it with creativity, entrepreneurship, and the collective responsibility of shaping the future through science.

We are excited to announce an upcoming event: Outside Lab View & Inside Favorite Lab Spot. In this session, teams will be invited to submit snapshots of their labs; the views from their windows, the benches where they work, or even their favorite corners.

This event aims to celebrate the human side of science: the spaces where young scientists laugh, struggle, and dream. Whether it’s a high-tech facility or a cozy cluttered corner, each submission will give a glimpse into the everyday life of a lab.

Stay tuned for the event date and submission details. Together, we’ll share our spaces and stories, highlighting the creativity and community that make science more than just data and protocols.