Integrated Human Practices

Overview

As part of our Human Practices work, our team wanted to ensure that our idea (biosensor) can benefit people and address real-world cosmetic safety issues. We focused on ways to prevent the use of harmful substances in cosmetic products, such as hydroquinone. To achieve our goals, we interviewed a specialist, several former iGEM team members, and conducted a survey to understand whether our idea is relevant to the public's needs. These meetings helped us connect scientific aims with social responsibility. Through these efforts, we strengthened our project’s ethical and practical foundation.

Public Engagement

Survey

Purpose

We developed a detailed public questionnaire to gather opinions on consumer behavior, concerns, and attitudes toward cosmetic products. This is to make our project more relevant and useful to society. The primary aim of this survey was to assess consumers’ awareness of the ingredients in their cosmetics, the frequency of adverse effects, and their willingness to use a rapid method, such as a biosensor, to detect harmful substances. Additionally, we wanted to evaluate the extent to which individuals are exposed to counterfeit cosmetics in the market, many of which reportedly contain dangerous components. Gathering feedback on these issues is crucial to confirm the necessity of our solution and its relevance to consumers.

Key Findings from the Survey

We received 2,856 responses, primarily from young individuals aged 13–18 and adults over 30, with most responses coming from Shymkent, Almaty, and Astana. The majority of respondents were female and reported frequent use of cosmetics.

The findings highlight widespread use of cosmetic products across all age groups and a strong interest in product safety. However, the survey also revealed gaps in consumer knowledge about ingredients, encounters with counterfeit cosmetics, frequent negative reactions, and a lack of convenient methods to assess product quality.

In response to these findings, we aim to design an affordable and precise biosensor that addresses these issues. Our mission is to provide a proof of concept for a quick and accurate technology to identify toxic chemicals in cosmetics, helping individuals make safer purchasing decisions and promoting better health in Kazakhstan and globally.

Fig 1 - Attention to Ingredients in Cosmetics

Of the 2,856 respondents, 40.1% reported that they always check the ingredient list before using a cosmetic product, 34% said they check it occasionally, and 25.9% admitted they never check the ingredients at all.

This indicates that a significant portion of cosmetic users are either unaware of or unconcerned with the ingredients in the products they apply to their skin.

Fig 2 - Experiences with Adverse Reactions

Over half of the participants reported experiencing some form of negative skin reaction due to cosmetics: 30.9% had definite reactions such as rashes or allergies, while another 25.3% said it happens occasionally. Only 43.8% claimed to never experience any reaction.

This statistic highlights the importance of safer product choices and awareness. In response, we held a summer camp from July 14 to July 25, during which participants were taught about cosmetic safety issues, including the skin microbiome, the effects of cosmetics on skin, SPF protection, and biotechnology-based ingredients. The program involved interactive lessons in English, Russian, and Kazakh, guest lectures from professionals, and creative exercises such as drawing comics to help participants visualize and reflect on what they learned. Through this initiative, we aimed to provide youth with the scientific knowledge needed to make informed decisions regarding cosmetic products and prevent their potential side effects.

Fig 3 - Public's Experience with Counterfeit Cosmetics

When asked whether they had ever encountered counterfeit cosmetics, 41.9% of the 2,856 respondents answered yes, 32.8% said no, and 25.3% were not sure.

This indicates that a significant portion of the population has either knowingly or unknowingly come into contact with fake cosmetic products, many of which may contain harmful, unregulated, or undisclosed ingredients.

Fig 4 - Methods for Checking Cosmetic Quality

When asked how they assess the safety and quality of a cosmetic product, 70.1% of respondents said they read online reviews, 47.8% rely on recommendations from friends or influencers, 42.9% check the expiration date, and 39.8% examine the ingredient list. Only 8.6% admitted that they don't check anything at all.

These results indicate that most people rely on indirect methods, such as social proof or branding, when evaluating product safety.

Fig 5 - Interest in a Biosensor

When presented with the idea of a fast, portable biosensor that detects harmful substances in cosmetics, 72.8% of participants expressed interest in using it. Another 20.7% said they had never considered the idea before but found it appealing, while only 6.5% said they would not use such a device.

Conclusion

From these surveys, we can conclude that less than half of the respondents regularly check ingredient lists or seek recommendations from friends before purchasing cosmetics. On the other hand, the majority expressed interest in using a device to assess the quality of beauty products. This means that a biosensor could be an effective solution to the real problem of cosmetic safety and quality.

Kindergarten Event

Gathering general data, we decided to take action. Our team thinks issues of raising awareness have to be solved starting with the youngest generation since it is what shapes the present mentality of society. On top of that, when discussing safety issues, we should also consider children, since they tend to be less mindful of what is safe and what is not. So, on 21.08.25, our team traveled to Turkestan to raise awareness about cosmetic product safety and encourage children to be cautious before using such products. We visited the Nur-Bolashaq 2 kindergarten to engage children through fun activities and introduce them to our goal and the concept of biosensors. Additionally, we aimed to highlight the importance of product quality testing and protecting their skin against potential harm.

We chose Turkestan because it is a rapidly developing city, but with fewer opportunities for children to engage in hands-on experiments and educational activities. Teaching children about safe cosmetics can help them make informed decisions in the future. Moreover, there is a growing concern regarding cosmetic use among youngsters - make-up kits are present even in children's stores. Though the concept might seem difficult, we proved that it's possible to educate any public on our issue.

First, we asked the children some basic questions, such as “What is cosmetics in your view?”, “Do you use cosmetic products?”, and “Where do you buy them?”. This helped us understand their perceptions of cosmetics. Next, we explained our goal for visiting and presented the product we aim to create. We then conducted a game called “Cosmetic Creator,” where children used plasticine clay to build their own cosmetic products. They presented their creations to the group, and the best one was chosen. Following this, we played a puzzle game designed to test their logical and critical thinking while imagining cosmetic products. Finally, we held a discussion session to reflect on what they had learned, review the games, and talk about the importance of product quality and how science can help ensure cosmetics are safe.

Over 20 children participated in our activities. Many were surprised to learn that it is important to check a cosmetic product before using it and that some products can harm their skin - things we believe should be widespread knowledge. This experience serves as a precedent - we can teach children things beyond math and language just as effectively and entertainingly. Organizing this event helped us connect with younger audiences, demonstrate the relevance of our project, and collect valuable feedback.

Ziyatker Visit

On September 9th, 2025, our NIS Kazakhstan iGEM team visited the "Ziyatker" school. The main goal of our visit was to introduce the iGEM competition, present our project to students, and inspire them to learn more about synthetic biology. Our team aimed to promote communication, collaboration, and scientific learning to address real-world problems. Prior to the visit, we contacted the vice principal and shared our idea about presenting our project and the iGEM competition. By doing so, we sought to raise awareness about the overuse of hydroquinone and educate the students. The vice principal eagerly accepted our offer, and we held a session for 10th- and 11th-grade students. Additionally, we wanted to encourage students to join the broader iGEM community.

We began by introducing our team members and giving a brief overview of iGEM, explaining that it is the largest synthetic biology competition for students worldwide. Next, we presented a detailed overview of our project, including the problem we are addressing and our proposed solution. Specifically, we focused on the side effects of hydroquinone and its widespread use in skin-whitening creams, which is a common issue in Kazakhstan as well as in other Asian and African countries. Our team also shared insights on collaborating with other iGEM teams and strategies for enhancing team productivity, encouraging students to join NIS Kazakhstan’s iGEM team next year or even start their own team.

The students at Ziyatker School actively participated in discussions and answered questions about cosmetic products. To ensure comprehension and engagement, we prepared a quiz and a “True or False” game related to our project. All students answered the questions correctly, indicating that they had thoroughly understood our presentation and its main messages.

In conclusion, our visit to Ziyatker was really insightful. We had the opportunity to engage with the primary consumer group of cosmetic products, both decorative and hygienic. Our team gained a deeper understanding of the existing issues surrounding harmful compounds in cosmetics in Kazakhstan, while the students learned more about how science and awareness can help prevent these problems.

TEDx Talk

On Wednesday, October 1st in Nazarbayev Intellectual School of Science and Mathematics in Karatau district of Shymkent, branch of Autonomous Educational Organization "Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools", our team held a large-scale school TEDx for high school students to highlight the international iGEM project, covering the project's development stages, from team formation to the Grand Jamboree performance by team members. Our main goal is to protect as many young people as possible from the influence of social media and advertising on the purchase of counterfeit and low-quality cosmetics. To this end, we began our TEDx talk with the history of iGEM, introducing its core principles and the key stages of participation. After detailing each stage, we smoothly transitioned to the main part—covering our past environmental projects from 2022 and 2023 on the decomposition of plastic waste (polyethylene terephthalate) using two enzymes, Petase and Metase, which break down the strong bonds in the plastic structure, converting them into simple monomers.

We then moved on to the main issue of our project—discussing the reasons for using hydroquinone in cosmetics and its negative impact on human health and the environment. We discussed in detail the need for strict controls and bans on the use of hydroquinone as a skin lightening agent, as it causes allergic reactions, irritation, and a condition called ochronosis, which causes dark spots on the skin. The next stage of the presentation was a presentation on our educational book for children, in which we raise the need to educate children about the effects of low-quality products on the body and the need to use cleansers, moisturizers, and sunscreens, regardless of age and gender. We thus listed our corporations and other IGEM teams in the creation of the educational book, specifically translating the book into Chinese and Turkish, creating chapters on the importance of reading the ingredients of cosmetic products, and a chapter on allergies.

We also shared our YouTube channel to reach an audience and educate students about biosensors, AP courses, and the principles of perfumery. Our main goal is to make science accessible and engaging for everyone. We mentioned our presentations to high school students at Ziyatker School and the invitation to join our team next year. We also held an educational event at the library for visually impaired children, where we explained in detail our goal of creating a book and providing them with a way to differentiate products using Braille. We also emphasized that we had facilitated entertaining debates among students to exchange opinions on the benefits and harms of hydroquinone.

Toward the end of our presentation, we moved on to the lab section, where we detailed the process of creating a biosensor, working with enzymes and microorganisms, and meetings with sponsors of cosmetics for the visually impaired. Finally, we followed up our presentation with a summer camp and the creation of a comic book with the camp participants.

The main goal of holding such a large-scale educational event was to highlight the negative effects of hydroquinone, which is used in cosmetics as a skin whitener but nevertheless suppresses melanin production, causing the appearance of dark spots (ochronosis).

We also highlighted the problem of teenagers, who are often influenced by advertising, advice from popular bloggers, and bargain prices, buying cosmetics without considering their ingredients and properties. We also raised awareness among participants about the IGEM project and invited them to join the team in future years.

Toward the end of the event, to reinforce their knowledge, we held a mini quiz and presented the winner with sweets. Finally, we gave the audience the opportunity to ask questions about participating in the project, its main stages, and the biosensor we are creating.

Model United Nations: "The Role of Biotechnology in Controlling Toxic Substances in Everyday Products"

Overview

Our team organized a Model United Nations session within the UNESCO Science and Technology Committee. The topic: "The Role of Biotechnology in Controlling Toxic Substances in Everyday Products" directly related to our iGEM project on detecting hydroquinone in cosmetics.

Objectives

• Raise awareness about the risks of hydroquinone and other toxic chemicals in cosmetics.
• Discuss how biotechnology can improve product safety.
• Engage youth and policymakers in dialogue about synthetic biology and ethics.
• Promote iGEM as a platform supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Discussion Highlights

• Addressed global cosmetic safety concerns and lack of affordable detection tools for harmful ingredients.
• Showcased our biotechnological sensor as a practical, low-cost solution.
• Emphasized the need for international cooperation in chemical safety.
• Discussed ethical use and public understanding of biotechnology.

Impact

• Increased awareness of our iGEM project and its real-world relevance.
• Promoted science diplomacy by connecting biotechnology and global policy.
• Encouraged inclusion of youth-led innovation in future UNESCO resolutions.

SDGs Addressed

Outcomes

Draft resolution calling for:

• Support of biotech-based toxin detection research
• Global databases for cosmetic safety monitoring
• Eco-labeling of safe, verified cosmetics
• Inclusion of iGEM-like youth initiatives in UNESCO programs

Conclusion

The MUN demonstrated how synthetic biology contributes to international sustainability efforts, increased visibility of our project, and connected iGEM's mission with global policy action.

Telegram Bot

Main Purpose

Create a digital biosensor on Telegram, which analyzes cosmetic ingredients and detects potentially harmful components. The bot helps users understand what ingredients in cosmetics can be dangerous and provides explanation for each ingredient. It was designed to make cosmetic analysis accessible to everyone and to raise awareness about safe product choices.

The bot is available here.

Impact

As we mentioned on our Inclusivity page, creating a bot was Soior's idea. He suggested that an app would be a convenient alternative of a biosensor for people with physical disabilities, and that's how we decided to create a bot. By September 15, the analysis plan and concept of the bot were finalized. On September 16, the first working version was ready, allowing users to send cosmetic ingredient lists for analysis. At that time, the bot could only respond in Russian. By October 7, multilingual support was added, enabling the bot to reply in several languages besides Russian.

We want to popularize our bot to normalize checking the ingredients of a product. To add to that, while we do not have a physical biosensor yet, creating a Telegram bot already allows us to raise awareness about the issue while also solving it.

Expert Engagement

Interview with Zhandos Abdigani

Original video: Watch on Instagram

Our team interviewed Zhandos Abdigani, a member of the NIS-Kazakhstan iGEM 2023 team where he was the social media team leader. In the interview, we asked questions about his performance, his contribution as a team member and tips to win in this kind of large-scale competitions. The full interview is available here, but we prepared an overview.

What challenges did Zhandos face during his participation in iGEM?

In the interview, Zhandos mentioned that the biggest problem was not when the team started to develop their idea, but when they travelled to Paris. The experience tested their mental preparation and calmness. As we know from the interview, he took responsibility for helping to travel Paris safely and with positive emotion, which he thought was a significant issue. Another issue was to control all documents and deal with accommodation and food there. Nevertheless, Zhandos says that he did an excellent job.

What do you think helped you to win a gold medal?

The most valuable aspect in competitions like iGEM is teamwork, since it's necessary for successful completion of the project. A team, according to Zhandos, is a place where everyone should put maximum effort and support others in order to build the best team/family.

Conclusion

"Be a real team and never give up"

All this shows him as a good team leader and responsible person and also someone who does his own work perfectly. In addition, this shows that iGEM is not just a competition connected with synthetic biology, but it is also about creating a family with people you do not know and passing a long journey together by dealing with upcoming issues together.

Interview with Kanat Baimuminov

Original video: Watch on Instagram

Our team interviewed Kanat Baimuminov, an ex-member of the NIS-Kazakhstan iGEM 2024 team, where he was one of the team leaders and was responsible for their YouTube channel. In the interview we asked some basic questions about what he did for his team, contributions and also tips to win in these large-scale competitions.

What were the main challenges during preparation?

In the interview, we asked what were the challenges during the preparation, and he said that their team had many problems with finding a laboratory, because they sent many messages to universities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, but in the last moment, their offer got accepted by Al-Farabi University to start their experiments and develop their idea. However, it was not only the hardest issue, the other one was connected to finding a ferment called restriction enzymes.

What were his main contributions to the team?

Talking about his contributions, as mentioned before, he was a leader in the team, so he managed to write reports for all actions and events that his team did. What is more, he handled some mini problems and could manage the YouTube channel to popularize their idea and explain specific scientific issues for people who lived in rural areas and also for their main audience.

What advice would you give to future teams?

Despite the challenges, his main advice was to not skip deadlines and have a strong discipline since it is important for a team to work consistently without hesitation. And last but not least, iGEM is not a sprint, it is a marathon.

Interview with Dariga Abay, Aneli, and Bibinur

Original video: Watch on Instagram

We interviewed three alumni from previous NIS-Kazakhstan iGEM teams (2022 and 2023) who shared their experiences, challenges, and valuable advice for future participants. Dariga and Bibinur participated in iGEM twice—Dariga as a leader both times and Bibinur first as a lab member and then as a leader. Aneli participated once as a lab member.

Where and when did you hear about iGEM?

Dariga heard about iGEM from friends who studied under Miss Symbat, a person who was their adviser. She told them about iGEM and Dariga's friends tried to join with Dariga, but she declined their offer. Only after a few years, she decided to join with Bibinur and other members.

What was your impact in getting the gold medal?

First of all, the promotion video was one of their nominations. The main question was what should the promotion video do—they decided that the video needed to hook the audience's attention. To reach this, they sought interesting ideas from advertisements. One of them was an old video about soda, and this inspired them to write about bottles that decompose in 500 years. Also, the idea of Pac-Man-like bacteria that decomposes plastic came out from their interest in video games.

What new skills or knowledge did you learn from iGEM?

Dariga said that she learned how to work in a team with other 7 members and how to do multiple tasks at the same time. Aneli said that she learned how to quickly understand something new—for example, editing videos was something new that she had never tried before.

What impression was left from iGEM after all?

iGEM was at first like something annoying and stressful, but after a couple of years it seems like some really delightful part of life. In university they also have iGEM competition for university students, however it never could be something like iGEM in school times. This is one of the most beautiful times in their life.

What kind of tips can you tell to future members?

• Teamwork is essential: Really try to work together—teamwork is the most important thing in this kind of competition.
• Stay calm under pressure: Do not panic and be able to solve any problem in a short time.
• Meet deadlines: Never fail your deadlines. This is really important.

Interview with Vladimir Khan

Introduction

Our IGEM team met with dermatologist Vladimir Khan. 31.07.25 we interviewed him. Our purpose was to get the opinion of expert about our idea related to biosensors in cosmetics.

How widespread is the problem with fake cosmetics?

Vlad said that fake cosmetics may not be a noticeable problem, but its influence on the peoples' skin is very high.

What are the consequences of using fake cosmetics?

The main problem is the acne that appears on the face, since ingredients that are used in this type of cosmetics could be dangerous or someone could be allergic to one of them.

In your opinion, how can people avoid this type of problem?

If we talk about technology that can help to identify all ingredients in cosmetics, these will be big machines that will cost an arm and leg.

In your opinion, the idea about biosensors for our IGEM team is great?

In my perspective, this would be a really helpful and cheap way to deal with these kinds of problems, however I suggest finding a way to spread these products, since many of these kinds of ideas fail, when they need sponsors and to convince, they should show the profit of this product.

Conclusion

Dermatologist Vladimir Khan really helped us to think about not only how to help people, but how to realise our idea in real life, so part of our team fully focused on the idea to find profits of our project and convince sponsors.

Project Evolution

As part of our iGEM journey,we conducted several interviews with ex-members of IGEM 2023-2024 in order to gather some valuable insights and suggestions to perform at an advanced level. We could get three interviews with ex-members of iGEM and one with a dermatologist who has a deep knowledge in skincare and cosmetic safety. These meetings were essential in shaping our understanding of project management, organization, and scientific responsibility.

During the interview with the dermatologist, we shared our idea about our biosensor concept for detecting harmful substances in cosmetic products. The specialist agreed that our idea was relevant and valuable since it is helpful for choosing safe cosmetic products and ensuring that a consumer is aware of all harmful effects of those products. In addition, in the interview, he emphasized maintaining scientific accuracy, using accurate data, and ensuring that our biosensor can be applied practically in real-life experience. This advice encouraged us to improve and strengthen the scientific foundation of our project and ensure our design meets relevant and professional standards.

Our meetings with six ex-members of the iGEM 2024 team, including Kanat, who had won a gold medal, gave us important suggestions about supportive teamwork and preparation for deadlines of competition. They advised us to stay organized and disciplined, stick to deadlines, and maintain a good connection with the team. Kanat especially said that supporting each other and building positive team bonds is more important than competing individually. These interviews helped us improve our internal coordination and time management, also to take relevant feedback.

Because of these interviews, our team developed and applied key skills such as organization, scientific accuracy, planning project tasks, and adaptability. We learned to combine expert feedback with our own creativity, ensuring that our biosensor project is both scientifically sound and socially beneficial.