Overview/Introduction

Figure 1. Mind map of our education activities design

Summary

Our Education and Public Engagement efforts combined community workshops, age-tailored lectures, digital outreach, interactive games, creative materials, and bilingual resources to bring science closer to diverse audiences. In community centers, we introduced lactose intolerance to children through storytelling, games, and experiments, while in elderly care facilities we plan to provide practical dietary guidance to seniors. Online platforms like Xiaohongshu and Weibo extended our reach, delivering science communication to a broad digital audience.

To lower knowledge barriers, we developed creative tools: the Kill the Lactose mini-game visualized enzyme activity; Three Kingdoms – Lactose Edition turned lactose digestion into a strategic card game; stickers, puzzles, and magnets transformed science into everyday conversation pieces; and our bilingual booklet provided accessible information to both Chinese and international communities.

Community Educational Activity

Background

Our team conducted a community science outreach event titled Science Exploration: Milk Without Mischief at the Tianlin Community Party-Masses Service Center, 3rd Floor Innovation Room, in Xuhui District, Shanghai. The activity engaged 14 children aged 6–10 and their parents. Through storytelling, interactive Q&A, role-play, hands-on experiments, and creative games, we aimed to introduce the concept of lactose intolerance in an engaging and easy-to-understand way.

What the Children Learned

The children learned what lactose is, how lactase works, and why lactose intolerance occurs. Using the vivid analogy of "lactase = little scissors in the gut," they gained a clear understanding of digestion. Through activities such as "Find the Hidden Lactose" and "Design a Lactose-Free Breakfast," they practiced identifying lactose-containing foods, explored alternatives, and understood that lactose intolerance is common and manageable with smart dietary choices.

What We Gained

We observed the children's strong curiosity and enthusiasm for life sciences, seeing them progress from having no prior knowledge to applying scientific concepts in solving mini-game challenges. This confirmed the effectiveness of gamified science education and enhanced our ability to translate complex biological knowledge into relatable, tangible content for young audiences.

Feedback on Our Project

Feedback from children and parents highlighted that the event was engaging, informative, and relevant to daily life. Questions such as "Why can we drink yogurt?" and "Does cheese contain lactose?" showed their ability to connect new knowledge with personal experience. The theme closely aligns with our project's focus on health and nutrition, offering valuable inspiration for future public outreach and functional dairy product promotion.

Our activity attracted considerable attention from the community, and a local journalist participated in the session. After the event, the journalist wrote an article highlighting our class, emphasizing the engaging and educational approach we used to explain lactose intolerance. The coverage, along with positive feedback from parents and community members, brought widespread recognition and praise, reinforcing the impact of our outreach and inspiring us to continue developing accessible science education initiatives.

Figure 2-5. Photos of community educational activity

Figure 6. The article

Outreach at Elderly Care Center

As part of our Human Practices, we created a tailored presentation titled "A Zero-Lactose Guide for Seniors: Enjoying Milk More Comfortably." The PPT introduced lactose intolerance in simple terms, explained why it is common among older adults, and provided practical tips—such as choosing lactose-free dairy, trying yogurt or plant-based alternatives, and moderating intake. we are actively coordinating with local elderly care centers to deliver online or in-person science outreach sessions.

We believe this activity will not only raise awareness of digestive health among seniors but also helpe us better understand the needs of an age group highly vulnerable to lactose intolerance. By translating our scientific research into accessible, age-friendly guidance, we will strengthen the social relevance of our project and promote healthier, more enjoyable dairy consumption for the elderly.

Figure 7. Photos of presentation

Online Social Media

To expand the outreach of our iGEM project and connect with a broader audience, our team has launched official Xiaohongshu and Weibo accounts. These platforms serve as our digital bridge to share engaging science content, highlight the core concepts of our project on lactose intolerance and functional dairy products, and promote synthetic biology in an approachable, relatable way.

Our posts feature educational articles, interactive science activities, behind-the-scenes project updates, and hands-on experiment tutorials tailored for students, teachers, and families. We also share reflections from our outreach events—such as community workshops and school visits—to showcase how scientific knowledge can be applied in everyday life.

By leveraging the interactivity of social media, we answer questions from followers, provide practical health and nutrition tips, and encourage the public to explore the science behind food and digestion. Through Xiaohongshu and Weibo, we hope to inspire curiosity, improve public understanding of lactose intolerance, and create a welcoming space for more people to join our science communication journey.

Figure 8-9. Our Little Red Book (left) and Weibo (right) accounts

Game: "Kill the Lactose" An Educational Mini-Game

As part of our Education and Public Engagement activities, we designed an interactive mini-game called "Kill the Lactose", inspired by the classic "Fruit Ninja." In our version, the "blade" is not a weapon but a lactase enzyme, and the targets are lactose molecules instead of fruit.

Players control the lactase enzyme to "slice" flying lactose molecules, simulating the real biochemical reaction in which lactose is broken down into glucose and galactose, thereby reducing the adverse effects for individuals with lactose intolerance. Through simple actions and visual cues, the game turns an abstract enzymatic process into an intuitive and memorable experience.

Purpose and Significance

This game was intentionally designed to transform complex biochemical knowledge into an engaging, accessible format for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. By integrating gameplay with visualized enzyme action, we aim to lower the knowledge barrier, increase public awareness of lactose intolerance, and highlight the role of lactase in dietary health. More broadly, Kill the Lactose reflects our commitment to combining science communication with public health advocacy, showcasing how synthetic biology can be applied in everyday life to improve well-being.

Figure 10-11. Our Educational Mini-Game

Comics

Figure 12. Comics

Creative Outreach Materials

To expand the influence of our project and make science more approachable, our team designed a series of creative peripheral products, including stickers, fridge magnets, puzzles, and keychains. Each item features our team logo and original illustrations related to lactose intolerance, enzymes, and biology, turning complex concepts into playful and accessible designs. Stickers and fridge magnets serve as daily reminders, collectible cards present biological ideas interactively, puzzles combine fun with learning, and keychains act as portable symbols of our project identity.

We distributed these products at community activities, workshops, and school events, where they were warmly welcomed by children, parents, and teachers. More than simple souvenirs, these items became tools for continued discussion at home—puzzles encouraged families to talk about lactose intolerance, while cards inspired children to quiz peers and share knowledge. By embedding science into everyday objects, our outreach materials transformed into powerful science communication tools that spark curiosity, raise awareness of lactose intolerance, and connect the public with the world of synthetic biology.

Figure 13. Puzzle

Figure 14-15. Fridge magnets and keychains

Figure 16. Stickers

Educational Card Game

Three Kingdoms – Lactose Edition

To make lactose intolerance more understandable and engaging for the public, our team designed a science-themed card game inspired by Three Kingdoms Kill. In this game, players take on roles such as the Dairy CEO, β-T-galactosidase, probiotic engineers, lactose-intolerant patients, and glucose oxidase. Gameplay revolves around lactose markers (simulating intolerance symptoms) and GOS markers (representing prebiotic health benefits). By combining attacks, defenses, and enzyme-based strategies, players experience how lactose builds up in the body, how enzymes and probiotics alleviate symptoms, and how functional foods can improve digestive health.

This interactive game not only provides entertainment but also serves as a science communication tool, transforming complex biochemical concepts—such as enzyme catalysis, fermentation, and prebiotic benefits—into an accessible, hands-on learning experience. It was successfully used in our outreach activities to spark curiosity, promote awareness, and bridge the gap between laboratory research and everyday life.

Figure 17-22. The Cards of Three Kingdoms

Bilingual Educational Booklet

To make our project accessible to a broader audience, we designed a bilingual (English–Chinese) booklet on lactose intolerance and "zero-burden" dairy. The booklet introduces key concepts—such as the causes, symptoms, and management of lactose intolerance—as well as our iGEM project's approach to lactose reduction and functional dairy innovation. Using simple language, clear infographics, and dual-language text, it helps both local communities and international readers understand the science behind enzymes, probiotics, and prebiotics in everyday life.

This booklet was widely distributed during our outreach events and interviews, serving as a practical science communication tool that bridges professional research with public education, while also highlighting the global relevance of our work.

Conclusion

Through these diverse initiatives, we successfully transformed complex concepts—such as enzyme catalysis, fermentation, and prebiotic health—into approachable, engaging, and memorable experiences. The feedback from children, seniors, parents, and online followers confirmed the effectiveness of gamified and visualized science communication.

Our educational journey not only enhanced public understanding of lactose intolerance and functional dairy products, but also demonstrated how synthetic biology can directly connect with real-life health challenges. By combining scientific rigor with creativity and inclusivity, we built a comprehensive outreach framework that is both socially impactful and globally relevant, ensuring our project resonates far beyond the laboratory.