Ethics, Education, and Engagement: Our Human Practices Approach
Human Practices is a key component of our project as we strive to address the real-world problem of RDX contamination in our home, Puerto Rico. Concern for the environmental and health impacts of explosive residues found not only in Puerto Rico but also worldwide has continuously inspired our work. We operate with strong ethical values, prioritizing safety and security at every step. Human Practices shapes our approach and guide our decisions, as our work is deeply rooted in serving the community.
As the only iGEM team in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, we are driven by a commitment to demonstrate how synthetic biology can be used to serve our communities and solve local challenges. Throughout this year, we have dedicated time to educating others about the principles of synthetic biology through activities such as the Advanced Microbiology and Synthetic Biology Laboratory, Industrial Microbiology and Synthetic Biology Didactic Hall, the iGEM-RUM Research Showcase, and the iGEM-RUM SynBio 101 Summer Immersive Program. We have also engaged in meaningful discussions that provided valuable perspectives to refine the project and strengthen its impact.
Click on the sections below to discover more about our initiatives and the impact of our work.
Over the course of this year, we have met with diverse peers and professionals who have guided us and made important contributions to R-DetoX 2.0.
1. Luisa Seijo
Luisa Seijo is the director of the University Institute for Community Development (Instituto Universitario para el Desarrollo de las Comunidades), where she leads multidisciplinary teams of professors and students using participatory action research and service-learning methodologies to support communities in addressing diverse challenges and empowering them to find their own solutions. Through her connections, our team is working to establish contact with community leaders in Vieques, plan meetings, and facilitate dialogues that foster collaboration and engagement. This ongoing process will allow us to inform the community about our project, assess interest in participation, and listen to local perspectives and needs. Her guidance and network are helping shape our outreach and educational initiatives to ensure they are responsive, inclusive, and impactful for the Vieques community.
2. Luis Montalvo
Luis Montalvo is a Post-Baccalaureate Fellow and currently a Research Technician at the Ragon Institute of Mass General Brigham, MIT, and Harvard University. Luis is also the former president of the iGEM RUM-UPRM 2022 team. He provided valuable perspective and guidance, helping us develop our project based on their previous work. He also contributed to the SynBio 101 Summer Immersive Program, delivering a presentation on the principles of synthetic biology and their applications across various fields.
3. Ms. Valerie Rodriguez | Mother and Community STEM Leader
Ms. Valerie Rodríguez is a devoted mother and active member of the Christian Home Schools Association (AHEC), where she serves as the STEM Volunteer Leader. Through her leadership and commitment to fostering STEM opportunities for homeschooled students, she connected our team with the AHEC community. Her daughter, Sofía Jiménez, participated in the iGEM-RUM Research Showcase, where she won third place, and later joined both the iGEM Interns Program and the SynBio 101 Summer Immersive Program. Inspired by Sofía’s journey, Ms. Rodríguez and AHEC coordinated visits for a group of homeschoolers, allowing them to explore our laboratory and participate in interactive exhibitions that introduced them to microbiology and synthetic biology. Through her support, Ms. Rodríguez helped inspire the next generation of scientists and foster a lasting connection between homeschoolers and STEM opportunities.
4. Prof. Brenda Cabrera
Prof. Brenda Cabrera is a teacher at CROEM with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Microbiology. She has served as a bridge between our team and the school, enabling us to support the establishment of iGEM CROEM by helping them organize their team structure, leadership roles, and project groups. We also maintain contact with Prof. Cabrera to offer workshops on synthetic biology and related topics, benefiting both the iGEM CROEM team and the wider school community. Her collaboration has been key in fostering STEM opportunities and strengthening connections between teams.
5. Benjamin Vann Ee Smit (Ph-D)
Dr. Benjamin Van Ee is the director of the Biology Department at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, to which our team belongs. A dedicated mentor and steadfast supporter, he has played a crucial role in the growth of our initiatives. Thanks to his guidance, we have been able to launch impactful efforts such as the Industrial Microbiology and Synthetic Biology Didactic Hall, the iGEM-RUM Research Showcase, and the iGEM-RUM SynBio 101 Summer Immersive Program. Moreover, his support was instrumental in establishing our own Advanced Microbiology and Synthetic Biology Laboratory, which has become a hub for educating our community and advancing the development of our project, R-DetoX 2.0.
6. Rosa Buxeda Pérez (Ph-D)
Dr. Rosa Buxeda is a professor at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez who is a key collaborator in the development of the Industrial Microbiology and Synthetic Biology Didactic Hall. Her leadership was instrumental in securing funding that supported both our project and the Hall’s creation and growth. Dr. Buxeda has also consistently invited iGEM RUM-UPRM to take part in her outreach activities, fostering stronger community engagement and expanding the team’s visibility within Puerto Rico’s scientific and academic spheres. Her guidance and unwavering support have been fundamental to our success and to strengthening our commitment to community impact.
7. Dr. Ivan Báez
Dr. Iván Báez is the director of Eduvertido, a summer camp dedicated to hands-on learning and exploration that welcomes participants of all ages, from toddlers to older adults, and is a community leader in Caín Bajo, San Germán. He was instrumental in bringing camp participants to our team, allowing them to experience the Industrial Microbiology and Synthetic Biology Didactic Hall and our laboratory. In collaboration with Dr. Carlos Ríos Velázquez, participants took part in “Microbes in Action”, a day full of interactive STEM activities such as creating arts-and-crafts models of microbes, conducting DNA extractions from fruits, and coloring different bacteria and organisms during a STEM picnic in the Didactic Hall. Through his support, Dr. Báez helped provide a fun and engaging introduction to microbiology and synthetic biology, fostering curiosity, active learning, and a deeper appreciation for STEM across all age groups.
8. Ms. Denise Toro
Ms. Denisse Toro is the Program Director of the Upward Bound Program at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico at San Germán. She played a key role in bringing participants from the program to our team, allowing them to experience the Industrial Microbiology and Synthetic Biology Didactic Hall and our laboratory. In collaboration with Dr. Carlos Ríos Velázquez, students engaged in interactive activities such as creating virus capsids with arts and crafts, extracting DNA from fruits, and observing bacteria present in yogurt. Through her support, Ms. Toro helped provide a fun and engaging introduction to microbiology and synthetic biology, fostering curiosity, active learning, and a deeper appreciation for STEM among program participants.
9. Prof. Reinaldo Robles
Prof. Reinaldo Robles led the yogurt workshop for students from the Upward Bound Program, guiding them through hands-on microbiology activities and ensuring an enjoyable and engaging learning experience. His support helped foster curiosity and a positive introduction to STEM concepts.
10. SEMI (Industrial Microbiology Student Society)
SEMI (Sociedad Estudiantil de Microbiología Industrial) is a student organization at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez that focuses on Industrial Microbiology. Leaders such as Urayoan Correa, Janeiris Ortiz, Gabriel Curbelo, and Javiely Colón played a key role in maintaining and developing the Industrial Microbiology and Synthetic Biology Didactic Hall, collaborating with RUM-UPRM on its design and activities. Through their involvement, SEMI has helped make microbiology more accessible by offering tours and hands-on activities alongside our team, allowing students and community members to engage with industrial and synthetic biology in an interactive and educational way. Their support has been crucial in fostering curiosity, active learning, and a deeper appreciation for microbiology and STEM among visitors to the Hall.
11. Sponsors
Our sponsors represent a diverse and vital group of stakeholders whose contributions have been fundamental to the success of our iGEM project. Their financial and material support has allowed us to advance our synthetic biology research while carrying out educational initiatives that explore the ethical, social, and community dimensions of science. We are proud to be backed by both local and international sponsors, including Kevane Grant Thornton, Karimar Construction Inc., Zymo Research, Amgen, Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT), Lasalle Construction Group, Camuy Coop, Enhanced Information Solutions, Asociación de Padres del RUM, HQJ Plumbing Supplies, Honeywell, Empresas Santos Vélez Sánchez, Vissepo & Diez Construction Corp – Engineers and Contractors, and Come Colegial. These organizations contribute more than just funding; they are partners in education, innovation, and the responsible application of science. Their involvement provides access to materials, technologies, mentorship, and public platforms, enabling us to achieve our goals. By recognizing them as stakeholders, we highlight their shared belief in the potential of young scientists to address local challenges through ethical and community-driven biotechnology. Their support strengthens the connection between our university-based project and broader economic, industrial, and social networks, amplifying the impact and relevance of iGEM RUM.
Our team prioritized bioethics, biosafety, and responsible research by integrating multiple layers of containment, ethical reflection, and regulatory compliance into every stage of our project. To minimize ecological risk, we selected the non-pathogenic strain E. coli DH5α as our chassis due to its GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status and its inability to thrive outside controlled environments. In addition, we implemented genetic biocontainment mechanisms, including an auxotrophic design that restricts cell survival to the presence of a lab-supplied nutrient absent in nature, and planned to integrate a kill switch that induces cell death if environmental conditions deviate from laboratory parameters. All experimental procedures were conducted under BSL-2 standards, in compliance with the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) and iGEM’s Responsible Research and Innovation guidelines. These standards ensured sterile handling practices, proper autoclaving of biological waste, and restricted material access.
Ethically, we recognize the complexity and ethical implications of deploying genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for environmental remediation. While engineered microorganisms could provide sustainable pollution mitigation, they must not disrupt natural microbial communities or transfer engineered genes to wild species. Therefore, any future environmental use would undergo risk-benefit analysis, ecological modeling, and community consultation before implementation. Regarding dual-use concerns, we screened all genetic parts to exclude sequences associated with pathogenicity, toxicity, or antibiotic resistance, and we ensured that our project documentation omitted details that could enable misuse. Collectively, these measures reflect our commitment to minimizing ecological risk while upholding biosafety, transparency, and social responsibility in applying synthetic biology to environmental challenges.
Our team has consistently worked to make synthetic biology accessible, engaging, and impactful for audiences of all ages, from children to policymakers, and across both academic and community spaces. Through workshops, talks, interactive events, and the creation of sustainable educational programs, we have sought to foster curiosity, build scientific literacy, and highlight the relevance of synthetic biology to everyday life.
One of our key initiatives was the talk “Phytopathogens in Coffee and Synthetic Biology,” organized in collaboration with the Industrial Microbiology Student Society (SEMI), the Agricultural Experiment Station of Adjuntas, and iGEM RUM. The session explored plant diseases affecting coffee cultivation in Puerto Rico and tropical regions, while presenting synthetic biology as a potential tool for addressing these challenges. To make the learning process interactive, we concluded with a gamified activity where students searched for BioBricks hidden around the biology building using clues from the talk, reinforcing both their knowledge and enthusiasm.
We placed a strong emphasis on outreach to high schools. At La Milagrosa High School, we introduced synthetic biology to over 120 high school students through an interactive workshop that encouraged dialogue and sparked curiosity about future applications. Beyond single events, we also contributed to the establishment of high school iGEM chapters at Dr. Carlos González High School and CROEM. By mentoring students, providing workshops, and guiding organizational efforts, we helped create new opportunities for young learners to become part of the iGEM community in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.
Engaging the university community was another central focus. During the Pre-Medical Circle Forum, our team hosted an informational booth where students learned about synthetic biology, iGEM, and local research projects in an interactive setting. Similarly, at AgroPlug 2025, an event attended by nearly two thousand visiting students, we showcased the applications of synthetic biology in agriculture, sparking conversations about how biotechnology can support one of Puerto Rico’s most important industries. We also delivered the presentation “The Impact of Synthetic Biology on Ecosystems” during SEMI’s Micro Week, where attendees discussed environmental applications such as bioremediation and sustainable production, as well as ethical and ecological considerations, fostering critical thinking about the field’s responsibilities.
To strengthen long-term learning, we created structured educational programs. The iGEM Research Showcase supported high school and undergraduate students in developing their own research projects, with mentorship from our team. Participants attended workshops on research ethics, poster design, public speaking, and methods, culminating in a final showcase of their work. In addition, our SynBio 101 Immersive Program offered a three-day experience where high school and undergraduate students engaged in both theory and laboratory practice, learning techniques such as MiniPrep, electrophoresis, microbial culture, and bacterial transformation. They also reinforced concepts through creative tools like LEGOs and SBOL modeling and concluded by presenting synthetic biology solutions to local challenges. This initiative gathered students from diverse regions of Puerto Rico, cultivating teamwork, innovation, and confidence.
Community engagement was equally important. At the WOW! That’s Engineering! Camp organized by the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), we hosted a booth where over one hundred visiting students from K-12 explored synthetic biology through dynamic activities such as representing BioBricks with toy blocks. Similarly, our participation in Campamento Eduvertido allowed children and adults from San Germán to discover microbiology in a playful way, creating microbial models and learning about their applications in daily life. Through the Upward Bound Program visit, we introduced students to basic microbiology, genetics, and synthetic biology, offering hands-on workshops such as DNA extraction and capsid construction.
We also developed permanent educational spaces to ensure continuous outreach. The Industrial Microbiology and Synthetic Biology Didactic Hall, inaugurated with more than 150 participants, provides an interactive environment with exhibits, posters, and activities such as building prototypes and identifying DNA structures. Designed as a lasting initiative, the hall continues to expand with new resources. Complementing this, the Advanced Microbiology and Synthetic Biology Laboratory serves as both a research hub and an open educational space. During its inauguration, visitors explored stations featuring genetic prototype building, bioreactor demonstrations, and transformed bacteria, as well as our ongoing project, strengthening transparency and community engagement in scientific research.
Finally, our team actively reached out to incoming and current university students. Through informational tables at orientation activities and the Student Organizations Fair, we introduced synthetic biology, explained RUM-UPRM’s mission, and guided students on how to join the team. These activities often included interactive components, such as building genetic circuits or touring the Didactic Hall, ensuring that new students not only learned about the field but also experienced it firsthand.
Across all these efforts, our team has consistently adapted communication to different audiences: simplifying complex ideas for children, encouraging curiosity in K-12 students, sparking dialogue with undergraduates, and addressing broader ethical and ecological implications for the general public. By combining workshops, presentations, permanent educational spaces, and mentorship programs, we have built a strong foundation for making synthetic biology accessible, relevant, and inspiring in Puerto Rico and beyond.
Through continuous consultation with experts, environmental researchers, and local communities, our team integrated feedback and research findings into every stage of R-DetoX 2.0, ensuring that our project remains socially responsible and environmentally safe.
Project Design
Based on insights from previous iGEM RUM teams and feedback from mentors, we focused on optimizing the genetic circuits developed in earlier designs. This involved reducing the total number of base pairs in the construct to simplify its design. Additionally, expert discussions on gene regulation inspired the incorporation of a riboswitch to allow RDX-dependent control of the degradation pathway, increasing system precision and reducing metabolic burden.
Experiments and Safety Features
Our prototype employs a two-device genetic design: the first device activates enzyme production in response to the presence of RDX, enabling targeted degradation of the contaminant, while the second device integrates a kill switch that responds to the degradation byproducts (formaldehyde and nitrite) to induce cell lysis. By coupling these genetic safeguards with a robust engineering containment strategy, our project strengthens biosafety at both the molecular and physical levels, ensuring that deployment is not only effective but also ethically and environmentally responsible.
To translate this system into a real-world application, we are developing a bioreactor-based treatment system as the primary mode of employment. The bioreactor provides a controlled environment where contaminated water can be treated without the release of live engineered organisms into natural ecosystems. This closed-system approach reduces ecological risks, supports continuous containment and monitoring, and aligns with both international biosafety standards and environmental regulations.
In the long term, we envision scaling this approach into dedicated bioremediation treatment facilities, where modular bioreactors can process large volumes of contaminated water under supervised conditions. This integration of synthetic biology with engineered infrastructure reflects our commitment to turning laboratory research into a practical, community-aligned solution that prioritizes environmental protection, public trust, and long-term sustainability.
Choice of Organism
After evaluating several possible chassis, we selected Escherichia coli as our model organism. E. coli is one of the most intensively studied microorganisms in molecular and cell biology, providing an extensive foundation of genetic and physiological knowledge that supports circuit design and troubleshooting. Its accelerated growth, typically completing a replication cycle in less than one hour, enables efficient experimental cycles and the timely collection of data. Moreover, the E. coli DH5α strain is classified as a Biosafety Level 1 organism, making it safe to handle under standard laboratory conditions and highly suitable for educational and research environments such as iGEM.
Final Application/Device
Based on literature research and guidance from mentors, we designed a bioreactor system capable of safely housing and evaluating our recombinant E. coli. This system allows us to study the RDX degradation process under controlled conditions and collect data for potential scale-up. We opted for a batch bioreactor design due to its simplicity and containment advantages for early-stage testing.
In our system, two bioreactors are employed to ensure both safety and efficiency. The first bioreactor primarily controls bacterial containment, preventing any unintended release into the environment while supporting bacterial growth under controlled conditions. The second bioreactor provides a controlled environment for the RDX degradation reaction and incorporates a mechanism that deposits the bacteria, limiting their passage to subsequent stages. This two-stage design ensures strict containment of engineered organisms, effective RDX degradation, and full alignment with biosafety and ethical standards.
We also propose the integration of an electrochemical reactor for post-treatment of degradation byproducts. This theoretical system would convert formaldehyde and nitrite into harmless compounds such as nitrogen gas and water, further enhancing environmental safety and demonstrating potential for future scale-up.
Communication Strategy
During the development of our project, R-DetoX 2.0, we reviewed diverse research papers to understand multiple aspects of the RDX contamination in Vieques. This exposed us to the formal and scientific language in which science is usually expressed. Nevertheless, we also carried out multiple educational activities to a diverse audience, from 6-year-old children to adults with varied educational levels. Thus, while we studied this science in formal and technical terms, we had to adapt our communication to effectively reach different audiences. Since our main goal is to make synthetic biology more accessible, especially on an island with limited SynBio resources, we tailored our presentations and activities to the type of audience we were addressing. Additionally, throughout these sessions, we carefully observed participants’ facial expressions, body language, and other social cues, which provided immediate feedback on their level of understanding and engagement. Based on these observations, we adjusted our explanations, offered additional examples, and modified the pace of the activities to better suit the audience. We also asked questions to validate comprehension, ensuring that all participants could follow along and actively engage. This approach was particularly effective with children and adults without a scientific background, allowing us to make key concepts clear, relatable, and engaging for everyone. Finally, since we are already familiar with the fundamentals of synthetic biology, some concepts are not new to us. As a result, we might unintentionally omit important details when explaining these concepts to people without this background. To prevent this, we conducted multiple practice sessions with our mentors as well as with faculty, undergraduates, graduate students, and non-STEM peers, and received their honest feedback. This allowed us to practice communicating effectively with audiences of diverse backgrounds.
RDX is a significant environmental contaminant that poses serious health risks to affected communities. In places such as Vieques, residents cannot safely consume local fish due to contamination, impacting both community health and the local economy. In the long term, our solution aims to reduce RDX levels, restore safer ecosystems, and generate tangible social, environmental, and economic benefits.
To ensure that deployment is safe and responsible, we envision future applications of our system under the oversight of Puerto Rico’s environmental agencies, in full compliance with existing GMO regulations and strict containment protocols. Policy pathways may include pilot programs in controlled environments and, later, regulated field applications guided by comprehensive risk assessments and international biosafety standards. As the technology matures, we envision its integration into a bioremediation treatment plant designed to process contaminated water and soil, offering a scalable and sustainable approach to addressing persistent pollutants like RDX.
The sustainability of our work also depends on building local capacity and knowledge. Through initiatives such as the iGEM-RUM Research Showcase and the SynBio 101 Summer Immersive Program, we have begun training future scientists and fostering public understanding of synthetic biology. We are also supporting the creation of a new iGEM team in Puerto Rico, providing standardized, open-access tools and genetic circuits that future teams can adapt to address environmental challenges like RDX contamination. This collaborative model strengthens scientific resilience and ensures that local communities and researchers can continue advancing solutions beyond our project’s timeline.
By combining innovation with policy awareness, community engagement, and capacity building, we envision a long-term impact that goes beyond remediation, empowering communities, strengthening local research ecosystems, and contributing to a sustainable future for Puerto Rico.
