To raise public awareness of synthetic biology and share our project, ErucaBead, with a wider audience, we have carried out a variety of activities over the past few months. These initiatives have not only helped the public better understand the significance of green agriculture and synthetic biology but also provided our team with valuable feedback and growth opportunities.

We produced a series of short videos, including:
• Project Explainers – Animated clips introducing bacterial wilt, why it is so destructive to crops like tomato and potato, and how our product ErucaBead provides a novel solution.
• Research Highlights – Short science talks summarizing the Science paper by Zhou Jianmin and Lei Xiaoguang’s teams on erucamide. We explained how this natural compound “disarms” pathogens by blocking their Type III secretion system, inspiring our engineering design.
• Behind the Scenes – Vlogs of our team in the lab, showing how we experimented with PVA films, engineered bacteria, and tested bead prototypes.
• Fun Science Shorts – Creative videos combining memes, simple experiments, and voiceovers to answer questions like “Why can’t we just spray antibiotics forever?” or “What makes PVA biodegradable?”.

To increase engagement, we also added interactive elements such as comment challenges (“Guess how fast PVA dissolves in water?”) and Q&A replies to audience questions.
Some high school viewers told us they watched our content as a fun way to learn about plant protection and synthetic biology.
By using Bilibili’s youth-friendly and highly visual format, we succeeded in turning complex research into engaging science communication. Together with our WeChat Official Account, the Bilibili channel helped us bridge academic science and public understanding, bringing the concept of green, zero-pollution agriculture closer to everyday life.

PlasmoProtect's Personal Space - Bilibili
https://b23.tv/UAJwxIv

To engage students directly and inspire the next generation of young scientists, we organized a campus roadshow across two schools, including Shanghai Xuhui District Youth Activity Center and Shanghai Xuhui District Institute of Education Affiliated Experimental Middle School in our region. Our goal was to introduce synthetic biology, explain our project ErucaBead, and spark discussions about sustainable agriculture.

During each session, we combined presentations, live demonstrations, and interactive Q&A:
• Science Made Simple – We explained the background of bacterial wilt and why it is so hard to control, using case studies of tomato and rice diseases that students could easily relate to.
• From Discovery to Design – We shared the 2025 Science discovery of erucamide as a natural plant defense compound and explained how this inspired us to design ErucaBead, a biodegradable microcapsule containing engineered bacteria.
• Hands-on Demonstrations – To make it fun, we showed how fast PVA films dissolve in water and invited students to test it themselves. This helped them understand why PVA is safe, biodegradable, and suitable for agricultural use.
• Interactive Discussions – Students asked questions such as “Can engineered bacteria escape into nature?” and “Why not just spray erucamide directly?”, giving us the chance to introduce concepts like biosafety and controlled release systems.

Across two schools, our roadshow reached over 600 students. Many participants expressed excitement about how biology can be used for real-world solutions. Some teachers commented that our activity complemented their curriculum, and a few schools invited us to return for follow-up workshops.

This initiative not only spread awareness of green agriculture and synthetic biology but also encouraged curiosity and critical thinking among young learners. By directly engaging with students, we helped build a bridge between cutting-edge research and public understanding, showing that sustainable solutions like ErucaBead are both possible and necessary for the future.

As part of our outreach and learning activities, our team visited East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) in Shanghai, one of China’s leading universities in chemical engineering and biotechnology. The purpose of this visit was to gain first-hand experience with advanced laboratory environments, learn about state-of-the-art equipment, and deepen our understanding of the professional path we are pursuing.

During the tour, we were introduced to several research platforms and instruments highly relevant to our project:
• Fermentation Systems – We observed industrial-scale bioreactors, which showed us how microbial strains like our engineered E. coli could be cultivated at large volumes, a crucial step for scaling up ErucaBead production.
• Material Processing Facilities – We saw equipment for polymer film casting and molding, helping us understand how PVA membranes could be mass-produced for encapsulating our engineered bacteria.
• Proteomics & Structural Biology Labs – Researchers demonstrated how molecular docking and protein interaction studies are performed, connecting directly to the Science discovery of erucamide binding to the T3SS protein HrcC.

We also attended a mini-lecture by ECUST professors, who explained current trends in synthetic biology and green biomanufacturing. They encouraged us to think not only about the science behind ErucaBead but also about its potential commercialization and regulatory challenges.

The visit gave us a deeper appreciation for the interdisciplinary nature of synthetic biology—where microbiology, chemistry, and engineering converge. More importantly, it inspired our team members: many of us said that after seeing these facilities, we feel more determined to pursue careers in biotechnology and contribute to solving real-world problems like plant disease control.

This activity broadened our vision, connected classroom knowledge with real-world research, and strengthened our passion for building sustainable solutions through science.

To strengthen our academic foundation and prepare for future challenges, our team participated in an intensive learning program under the guidance of our college dean and several PhD students specializing in microbiology, plant pathology, and materials science. This training was designed to help us build a deeper understanding of synthetic biology and equip us with practical knowledge directly relevant to our project ErucaBead.

Over several weeks, we engaged in:
• Lectures and Seminars – The dean introduced us to the latest progress in plant-pathogen interactions, including the groundbreaking discovery of erucamide as a plant defense metabolite that can disarm bacterial virulence systems. PhD mentors gave us sessions on microbial engineering, biosafety design, and agricultural biotechnology.
• Hands-on Laboratory Guidance – We learned how to culture bacteria safely, test PVA film properties, and simulate how microcapsules dissolve in water. These experiences made us more confident in connecting theory with practice, an essential step for future iGEM experiments.
• Group Discussions and Case Studies – Together with the mentors, we analyzed real-world cases of crop disease outbreaks, explored why traditional pesticides fail, and debated how synthetic biology solutions like ErucaBead could fill the gap.
• Scientific Thinking Training – Beyond technical skills, we were encouraged to think critically about ethics, biosafety, and commercialization pathways, preparing us not only as competition participants but also as responsible future scientists.
This activity gave every team member a stronger academic grounding and a clearer vision of our project’s potential impact. Many of us expressed that the experience not only improved our technical literacy but also inspired us to pursue deeper research in fields like synthetic biology, agricultural biotechnology, and green chemistry.
With the dean’s encouragement and PhD students’ guidance, our team now stands on a solid foundation of knowledge and skills, ready to bring ErucaBead closer to reality and perform strongly in the iGEM competition.

To broaden our technical knowledge scope and learn from individuals with direct experience in the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), we invited several undergraduate students majoring in biology—who have personally participated in previous iGEM competitions—to deliver a lecture and exchange session on innovative genetic engineering projects for us at the Xuhui District Youth Activity Center.

During the session, they explained the key principles of CRISPR-Cas systems, how genetic circuits are designed, and why precise editing is crucial for projects like ours. They also shared their own iGEM journey, including how they transformed an initial idea into experiments, how they documented results, and the challenges they faced in biosafety and human practices.

For our team, this workshop was especially valuable because:
• We learned how engineered bacteria can be modified to secrete compounds like erucamide, linking gene editing directly to the core of our project ErucaBead.
• We gained insight into best practices in lab work, including troubleshooting, experimental design, and the importance of controls.
• We heard first-hand stories about iGEM teamwork, communication, and presentation, which gave us both practical advice and extra motivation.

The interaction was highly engaging—our members asked many questions, from technical ones like “How do you ensure edited genes are stably expressed?” to broader ones like “What was the most difficult part of iGEM for you?”. The alumni patiently answered and even offered to stay in touch as informal mentors.

This activity not only improved our understanding of gene editing technologies but also gave us role models to look up to. Seeing how students only a few years older than us could contribute meaningfully to synthetic biology inspired us to believe that we too can make a real impact with ErucaBead and beyond.

To ensure our project aligns with real-world needs and scientific frontiers, we conducted a series of in-depth interviews with four experts from different fields, including agricultural science and molecular biology. These conversations provided us with both strategic perspectives and practical advice for improving ErucaBead.
• Green Pesticides and Policy Trends
We spoke with two senior researchers from Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences
, who highlighted the urgent demand for eco-friendly alternatives to copper agents and antibiotics. He affirmed that erucamide, as a natural plant defense metabolite, fits well into the broader push for “green pesticides” in China’s agricultural policy. He also encouraged us to think about regulatory pathways and market adoption early on, reminding us that technology transfer requires more than scientific validation.
• Molecular Biology and Strain Engineering
We interviewed two molecular biology professors who gave us detailed feedback on our engineered E. coli design. They suggested optimizing gene expression systems to ensure stable and continuous erucamide secretion, and they stressed the importance of embedding biosafety modules to prevent unintended spread of engineered microbes.
• Materials Science Perspective
Another expert in biomaterials discussed with us the choice of PVA membranes. He advised us to test different degrees of polymerization and alcoholysis to balance between fast dissolution in the field and mechanical strength during storage and transport. This suggestion directly influenced how we refined our capsule design.

Through these interviews, we not only validated the scientific feasibility of our project but also gained concrete directions for optimization—from genetic stability to material selection and regulatory readiness.

Most importantly, the experts encouraged us to see ErucaBead not just as a student project but as a potential prototype for real agricultural application, capable of contributing to the vision of sustainable, zero-pollution crop protection.

On September 23rd, our iGEM team walked into Shanghai High School with innovative research projects, and a content-rich seminar kicked off in a lively atmosphere!​
At the seminar, team members started with the basic principles of synthetic biology, combined with their experience in preparing for the competition, and broke down the core logic of iGEM project design. They not only explained the entire process in detail—from exploring project inspiration and implementing experimental plans to organizing and analyzing data, as well as sharing defense skills—but also highlighted the core of this project: by constructing genetically modified engineered bacteria to enable them to efficiently secrete erucamide, green prevention and control of plant bacterial wilt can be achieved. This approach not only avoids the residue issues of traditional chemical pesticides but also provides a new biotechnological solution for agricultural disease prevention and control. In response to students' questions such as "how to participate with zero foundation" and "where to find innovative points for research projects," team members answered them one by one based on their project research experience. During the Q&A session, forearms filled the air, and the dense notes in notebooks were full of youthful enthusiasm for scientific research.​
This seminar not only opened a window for Shanghai High School students to the international iGEM competition but also brought cutting-edge biological control concepts into the campus, sowing the seeds of scientific and technological innovation in the hearts of teenagers. In the future, we look forward to walking alongside more science-loving young people and embarking on the journey of scientific research and innovation together!