1.Preliminary questionnaire：

The purpose of this survey is to gather initial public opinion on our project's feasibility. If it is deemed unfeasible, we will refine it according to the feedback received. The survey was conducted from June 10th to June 20th. Primary responsibility lay with Yiyi Yao (Jennifer) and Yuxuan Chen (Alex), while the other team members provided assistance./ Yiyi Yao (Jennifer) and Yuxuan Chen (Alex) initially set up most of the questions in the questionnaire and ultimately discussed and confirmed all the questions with the other team members. After finalizing the questionnaire questions, all team members conducted online and offline promotion to the public and finally obtained 130 results across different age groups. This is the results we got: Introduction This survey aims to investigate the public awareness of heavy metal water pollution and its influencing factors. A total of 130 valid questionnaires has been collected. The survey covers many aspects such as the public's concern for heavy metals, drinking habits, awareness of water quality safety, and willingness to consume related products. Through the analysis of the results of the questionnaire, we hope to reveal the current situation of the public's awareness of heavy metal pollution, identify potential knowledge gaps, and provide a reference basis for the formulation of relevant policies and public education. The following analysis will discuss the result to each question in detail and put forward corresponding suggestions for improvements.

1.Lead is the most worrying heavy metal
Q: Which heavy metal in food concerns you the most?

According to the result, 40% of the respondents are most worried about the inclusion of Lead, which shows that lead has a high perception of the risk of lead in public’s mind. The harm of Lead mainly lies in its impact on the nervous system, especially on children’s development. Therefore, it is recommended that the relevant ministries strength the monitoring and control of the Lead content in the products to improve food security.

2.Most people assume that industrial pollution leads to heavy metal pollution.
Q: When seeing colored/frothy rivers, what is the first thing you think of?

In the survey, 88.46% of the respondents chose industrial pollution as their first reaction when they saw strange colors or bubbles in the water. This shows that the public's attention to water pollution is mainly focused on industrial activities, reflecting a strong awareness of environmental protection. It is recommended that relevant ministries strengthen the supervision of industrial emissions and raise the public's awareness and prevention of water pollution.

3.Boiled tap water is the most popular choice.
Q: What do you normally drink?

In the survey, 29.23% of the respondents chose boiled tap water, showing that it is common in daily drinking water. Bottled water is another popular choice after boiled water. This may be related to local situations, like economy and safety. It is suggested to further publicize the benefits of drinking boiled water to enhance its awareness among consumers.

4.Safety is the primary consideration for choosing drinking water.
Q: What are the aspects you will consider while choosing drinking water?

In the survey, 85.38% of the respondents said that they would consider safety when choosing drinking water, which shows that consumers paying a great attention to drinking water safety. Relevant enterprises could emphasize the safety and testing standards of water sources in product promotion to enhance consumer trust.

5.Most people have not tested the content of heavy metals in water.
Q: Have you ever tested the concentration of heavy metals of your drinking water?

According to the results, 91 people (70%) said that they had not tested the content of heavy metals in their domestic water, indicating that the public is less concerned about water quality and safety. Relatively speaking, only 12 people (9.23%) were tested, showing the scarcity and accessibility of testing behavior. Promoting water quality testing helps raise public awareness.

6.Most respondents are skeptical about the ability of water purifiers to remove heavy metals.
Q: Do you believe that water filters can fully remove heavy metals?

In the survey, 63 respondents (48.46%) believed that water purifiers could not completely remove heavy metals in water, showing widespread distrust of the effect of water purifiers. In comparison, only 17 respondents (13.08%) believe that water purifiers can completely remove heavy metals, which shows that the market lacks confidence in water purifiers. It is recommended that water purifier manufacturers strengthen product publicity and provide more scientific basis and empirical data to improve consumers' trust.

7.Most people choose to report factory drainage abnormalities.
Q: If noticing abnormal factory drainage, what would you do?

According to the result, 63.08% of the respondents said they would choose to report the abnormal drainage of the factory, which shows the importance to environmental protection. In comparison, only 19.23% of people around them choose to tell others, which shows that most people are more inclined to take direct action than to spread information.

8.Most people lack understanding of heavy metal standards.
Q: Do you know the heavy metal standards for drinking water in China?

he results showed that 78 people (60%) said they did not know China's standard of heavy metal content for drinking water, indicating that the public's awareness of this important health standard was insufficient.

9.Most of the respondents are open to price differences.
Q: Would you pay more for ‘Zero heavy metal’ certified products?

In the survey, 50.77% of the respondents expressed their willingness to decide whether to pay a higher price based on the price difference, which shows that consumers' acceptance of 'zero heavy metal emission' certified products is closely related to price. It is recommended that enterprises provide clear price comparison and value description when promoting such products to attract more consumers.

10.Asia is considered to be the most heavily polluted region.
Q: Which region do you believe has the worst heavy metal pollution?

According to the survey results, 44.62% of the respondents believe that heavy metal pollution in Asia is the most serious, far higher than in other regions. This may be related to the industrialization process and the lack of environmental regulation in some Asian countries.

11.Most people change their drinking habits because of heavy metal concerns.
Q: Would you change your diet due to heavy metal concerns?

According to the survey, 67.69% of people said they would change their drinking habits because they were worried about heavy metals. This shows that the public is paying high attention to heavy metal pollution, which may be related to the frequent occurrence of safety incidents in recent years. It is recommended that relevant ministries strengthen the monitoring and publicity of heavy metals in products to improve consumer confidence on food security.

12.Handling batteries correctly is quite important.
Q: How can individuals reduce heavy metal exposure?

In the way to reduce contact with heavy metals, the correct handling of batteries accounts for the highest proportion, reaching 76.15%.

conclusion The survey has revealed several facts, reflecting a high concern about heavy metal pollution and people’s deep concern about drinking water safety. The results show that Lead is the most worrying heavy metal, and nearly 40% of the respondents expressed their concern about it, emphasizing the urgent need for product safety. At the same time, 88.46% of the respondents attributed the abnormal color or foam in the water to industrial pollution, showing the public's sensitivity to environmental issues and expectations for industrial regulation. Although most people paying attention to the safety of drinking water, the actual tests of heavy metals in water is relatively rare, and 70% of the respondents have never been tested. This phenomenon shows that there is a clear gap between the public's perception of water quality safety and practical action, and it is necessary to enhance the accessibility of publicity of the importance of water quality testing. In addition, 63% of the respondents are skeptical about the ability of water purifiers to remove heavy metals, reflecting a lack of trust in water purifiers, suggesting that manufacturers provide more scientific evidence to enhance consumer confidence. In terms of attitudes towards heavy metal pollution, 67.69% of the respondents expressed their willingness to change their drinking habits, showing the importance of health. The survey also found that the public's acceptance of "zero heavy metal emission" certified products is closely related to the price, and enterprises should provide clear price comparisons and value descriptions when promoting such products. Overall, relevant organizations should enhance the supervision of heavy metal pollution, raise public’s awareness of drinking water safety standards, and encourage the public to conduct water quality testing to improve trust in water purifiers. Improving the public's sense of security and health awareness through education will help deal with heavy metal pollution more effectively.

What we leaned: According to parts of the results: We can conclude that what we need to address is highly valued and in line with the will of the people. The public believes that the existing filters on the market cannot remove heavy metals, which gives us direction for our efforts. We can see that if the price difference is within a reasonable range, most people are willing to accept the premium of green products. Hence, our project does have prospects and market. Our project is also supported by the public. Integration into project design： The public has environmental awareness, but lacks environmental knowledge, so we need to carry out environmental education. We can be relatively bold in designing our products, as prison residents have a higher acceptance of price and environmentally friendly products.

2.“Go for GOLD” —— The Conference co-founded with two teams from Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University including high school and undergraduate teams within Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai.

This conference is designed to serve as a platform for offline interaction and communication among iGEM teams, enabling them to share projects ideas, identify challenges, and broaden their project perspectives. A key objective is to foster connections with universities in the Yangtze River Delta region (Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai), thereby establishing a network to support future iGEM collaborations. Scheduled for June 28th, the event featured presentations from 18 teams. It was jointly planned and funded by our team and thetwo teams from Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool university. Each participating team was required to present their project and address questions from the audience. Additionally, an HP marketplace was set up outside the main venue to facilitate networking. The conference provided a delightful tea break for all attendees, a signature board for group photos, and a fun lottery session to help everyone relax and enjoy the experience. We also prepared an exquisite merch from our three teams for each participant.
Here’s our planning proposal:
Proposal Summary:
This Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai iGEM Exchange will be themed "GO for GOLD". The event will be structured around "Project Presentations + Experience Sharing + Interactive Games + Lucky Draw". The exchange content will focus on the competition projects of the participating iGEM teams. Simultaneously, we will set up a fun interactive mechanism: participants can earn "Golden Tickets" (printed with numbers) by taking part in project introductions, asking questions, making comments, and playing small games. These tickets can be used in the afternoon's lucky draw session. This event primarily aims to create a relaxed and fun atmosphere, promote substantive communication and cooperation among regional iGEM teams, and ensure that every participant gains something, has something to look forward to, and creates lasting memories.
1. Event Theme On the path to winning a Gold Medal in iGEM, each team is like a ship sailing through winds and waves, possessing firm goals while also bearing unknown risks and challenges. This exchange event, under the theme "GO for GOLD", will provide an opportunity and platform for iGEM teams in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region to gather, share insights to inspire new ideas, and build friendships through interaction. The theme "GO for GOLD" signifies the pursuit of the Gold Medal, but also symbolizes that the collaboration between teams and the passion for exploring synthetic biology are as precious as gold. As the saying goes, "Learning through meeting friends makes the path clearer; improving virtue by adopting others' strengths makes morality advance daily." This exchange is not only a sharing of knowledge and experience but also an opportunity to make like-minded friends through academia, using friendship to supplement one's own learning. We believe that every participant will gain strength, confidence, and warmth for their journey towards the Gold Medal in this event.
2. Event Background iGEM is an international synthetic biology competition integrating scientific research, engineering, science communication, and social responsibility. In recent years, the number of iGEM teams from universities in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region has been increasing, yet opportunities for offline communication between teams are few and far between. This exchange event intends to focus on being relaxed, practical, and interactive, providing a space for teams within the region to present, collaborate, and communicate.
3. Event Objectives and Significance
· To provide a platform for offline interaction and exchange among iGEM teams.
· To allow teams to identify problems and broaden their perspectives while sharing their projects.
· To establish connections with regional universities, building a network foundation for future iGEM collaborations.
4. Organizer, Co-organizers, and Sponsors
· Organizer: Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
· Co-organizers: XJTLU-CHINA, XJTLU-Software, Suzhou Dulwich International High School
5. Event Time and Location
· Time: June 28, 2025
· Location: Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (South Campus, BS G40)
6. Event Details / Preliminary Preparation Schedule
a. Specific Event Content: Official check-in begins at 9:00 AM at the South Campus BS [location], where each student will receive a welcome gift (containing two lottery tickets). After check-in, guides will lead participants to their assigned Project Bazaar spots to set up their booths. After check-in concludes at 9:30 AM, all participants will gather in classroom BS G40 for the opening ceremony. The ceremony will consist of an opening by Teacher Bao + an HP activity share. Following the opening, project sharing will begin, starting with XJTLU's iGEM teams and the Dulwich team, followed by other teams according to a pre-arranged order. Concurrently, the Project Bazaar will be running outside, where some HP students can interact at their respective booths. To promote inter-team communication, stamp collection cards will be distributed. Students can get their cards stamped after exchanging with different schools, and upon collecting a certain number of school stamps, they can redeem them for a corresponding number of additional lottery tickets at the redemption desk. Lucky draws will be held after the project sharing sessions in the morning and afternoon. After the final draw, Senior Zhang Xiaohan will deliver concluding remarks.
b. Team Project Presentation Content: "What → Why → How → Results → Future Value"; 1-2 minutes introducing the team and project background/pain points, 8-10 minutes focusing on project design (objectives, technical route, innovation points), experimental progress (key data, challenge response), and social impact (application scenarios, open-source plans), concluding with core value summary.
c. Lucky Draw Rules: Each participant will be provided with two lottery tickets; additional tickets can be obtained through stamp collection.
Tickets will have numbers. After the sharing sessions, numbers will be drawn via a large screen to determine winners.
First Prize: 1 person (400 RMB)
Second Prize: 2 people (400 RMB)
Third Prize: 3 people (300 RMB)
Fourth Prize: 30 people (600 RMB)
d. Participating teams need to prepare: Roll-up banner/poster, Stamp/sticker, Swag (for exchange)
e. Schedule:
· June 9: Finalize materials and content for venue decoration with advertiser. (Finished products for venue decoration must be received by June 23).
· June 9: Confirm event schedule, identify any new participating schools.
· June 10: Send notification in group chat: specific schedule, and items participating teams need to prepare, confirm number of participants per team (via group sign-up).
· June 10: Invite Teacher Bao through Senior Zhang Xiaohan.
· June 11: Publish official event announcement post: event theme, rules, detailed schedule and timing, guest speakers; simultaneously re-confirm participating teams and their formal project descriptions; provide instructions for presentation PPTs (must include why doing this project, what the project is about, current progress, challenges encountered, primarily sharing experiments/modeling); require participating teams to prepare posters/roll-up banners, stamps/stickers, swag for the Project Bazaar (primarily for HP exchange and collaboration).
· June 12: Deadline for sending the event announcement post.
· June 13: Send CBA information again in the group chat, collect participant information.
· June 15: Finalize staff assignments for event day and confirm availability with volunteers in advance.
· June 18: Confirm the number of participants from CBA teams, compile information and send to Teacher Wan.
· June 20: Receive finished swag products.
· June 21: Confirm with Dry Lab team if online streaming (livestream) can operate normally.
· June 23: Publish team project compilation post: brief intro of each team's project, XJTLU area food map, travel suggestions, how to order delivery, how to get to BS G40; online livestream notification; rainy season travel reminder.
· June 24: Announce on social media that the event will have an online livestream.
· June 25: Package all swag and count quantities.
· June 26: Confirm staff assignments again.
· June 27: Venue setup (BS G40 + Project Bazaar), livestream equipment rehearsal; arrange personnel for CBA.
· June 28: Event Day
(The above are tasks to be completed on the specified dates)
7. Event Agenda
Morning:
· 09:00-9:30 Check-in (Receive basic lottery tickets + proceed to designated Project Bazaar area to set up)
· 9:30-10:00 Opening Ceremony (Brief opening remarks by Teacher Bao + HP activity share)
· 10:00-12:00 Project Presentations (At least 10 teams) + Bazaar Activity
· Group Photo
Noon:
12:00-14:00 Lunch Break (Can eat and rest in BS G38) + Project Bazaar
Afternoon:
· 14:00-15:30 Project Presentations
· 15:30-15:50 Mid-session Break
· 15:50-17:30 Project Presentations
· 17:30-18:00 Lucky Draw + Closing Remarks by Senior Zhang Xiaohan
· Tea Break Provided: Self-service (placed at the entrance of BS G40 classroom)
8. Event Roles and Staffing Arrangements (Tentative)
Task Coordinator: Bin Ling
Hosts: 2 people
Venue Volunteers: 8 people (Inside classroom + Project Bazaar)
Guides: 4 people
Check-in & Reception: 4 people
Lottery Ticket Distribution: 2 people
Photography & Videography: 3 people
Venue Setup & Equipment Testing: 3 people
Project Bazaar Booth Introductions: Dry + Wet = 4 people
Dessert Table: 2 people
Sam's Club Purchasing: 3 people
Total: 30 people
9. Budget Estimate (Estimated)
Prize Purchases 2000 RMB
Tea Break Catering 3000 RMB
Custom Swag 1000 RMB
Venue Decoration (Banners/Stickers/Labels) 1000RMB
Mr. Bao's Flight & Hotel 1500 RMB
Total 8500 RMB (Adjustable based on actuals)
10. Contingency Plans
1. If some teams are absent last minute, presentation time can be extended for other teams, or the host/XJTLU members in the audience can ask more questions to fill the time.
2. During the Q&A session after presentations, if no one asks questions voluntarily, XJTLU iGEM members will pose questions
Promotional Text
The Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai Exchange is a special event hosted by Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, aiming to build a relaxed and fun offline interaction platform for iGEM teams in the region. Here, each team can introduce their project and share experimental ideas; they can also enhance communication and bonding between teams through light-hearted games. On June 28th in Suzhou, we look forward to meeting every iGEMer.
The theme of this Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai Exchange is "GO for GOLD". On the path to winning a Gold Medal in iGEM, each team is like a ship sailing through winds and waves, possessing firm goals while also bearing unknown risks and challenges. "GO for GOLD" signifies the pursuit of the Gold Medal, but also symbolizes that the collaboration between teams and the passion for exploring synthetic biology are as precious as gold. As the saying goes, "The superior man befriends others through culture and learning and uses friends to help him practice virtue." This exchange is not only a sharing of knowledge and experience but also a warm encounter for emotional replenishment and network connection. We believe that every participant will gain strength, confidence, and warmth for their journey towards the Gold Medal in this event.
Link that includes brief information for each team participated: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/EZJzv0jXO4_VQ7VF8Tc49g
Pictures:

What we learned and Integration into project design: During our conversation, we were asked how to handle algae in the end. While listening to speeches from different teams, we discovered that XJTLU-China's project focuses on algae treatment. This provided a potential solution to this problem and laid the groundwork for us to have a meeting with XJTLU's team later to discuss the product.

3.Interview with Mr.Yang from Suzhou Ecological Environment Bureau – wetland department.

The interview was conducted by Yiyi Yao (Jennifer) and Dingxuan He (Derek) on July 15th. The purpose is to understand the government's official views and suggestions on our project, as well as to gain background information on the local environment in Suzhou.
Here’s the record of the interview:
1.questions related to the main source of water pollution
Q: Most people believe that bacteria and heavy metals are the main sources of water pollution. Is this view correct? What are the main sources of water pollution in Suzhou?
Answer: This view is incorrect. Bacteria in ordinary industrial and domestic sewage are not the main pollutants to be controlled; only bacteria in wastewater discharged by medical institutions need control. In addition, polluted water tends to produce bacteria, not bacteria that pollute water. Although heavy metals are harmful, they are not the main cause of water pollution in Suzhou, and the number of electroplating enterprises in Suzhou has decreased. The main water pollution issues in Suzhou are nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in Taihu Lake (which easily triggers cyanobacteria blooms) and domestic sewage flowing into rivers due to problems with the sewage pipe network.

2.Issues related to the impact of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution
Q: What is the impact of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution on the environment and human health?
Answer: Nitrogen and phosphorus are components of the human body and food, so they will not directly harm human health. However, they destroy the water environment and cause problems such as black and smelly water, which affects people's senses and physical and mental health.

3.questions about water pollution prevention and control measures
Q: What are the prevention and control methods for water pollution?
Answer: Students should save water, supervise and report pollution sources, and raise their awareness of environmental protection. Enterprises should be willing to invest in environmental protection. The whole society needs to start from small daily actions to protect the environment together.

4.questions about the water purification work in Suzhou
Q: What purification and treatment methods do Suzhou use for pollutants in natural water bodies? Does it support short-term artificial treatment?
Answer: Aquatic plants and vegetation such as reeds are planted in lakes to absorb pollutants and improve the appearance of water. For example, reeds are harvested in winter and used for biomass power generation). For river management, maintain the flow of water to improve self-purification ability. Short-term and ineffective artificial treatment methods are not supported.

5.limitations of the cyanobacteria treatment project
Q: Can (genetically modified) cyanobacteria be used in sewage treatment plants? Is this project feasible?
Answer: It's hard to say. Because cyanobacteria are very small and difficult to salvage, they have a specific living environment and cannot survive 100% in sewage, and the content of heavy metals in lakes is extremely low, so the genetic modification of heavy metal enrichment is limited. Plus, at present, there are not many real cases of genetic modification treatment for reference.

6.issues about the rural sewage pipe network in Suzhou
Q: Are rural houses in Suzhou connected to sewage pipes for wastewater collection? What problems exist?
Answer: Most of them have been connected, but the construction is difficult, and some projects are of poor quality; due to the narrow space and concerns about affecting the building structure, it is difficult to renovate old houses. And so far, the sewage collection rate and the proportion of sewage collection flowing into the sewage treatment plant have not reached 100%.

What we learned and integration into project design:
In the future, we can also pay attention to nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.
We need to pay attention to the issue of biosafety.

4.CCiC

Our team members attended the ccic and gain precious insight from discussing among teams.

5.Interview with assistant professor of department of health and environmental science from XJTLU (Xi'an Jiaotong Liverpool University）

The interview was conducted on September 30 by Suyu Gou (Charlotte) and Dingxuan He (Derek). The purpose of this interview is to get suggestions from Professor Wu on our project, as well as to gain more background information on the local environment in Suzhou.
Here’s the record of the interview:
1. Could you please tell us a little about your research background and academic journey?
Professor Wu: My profession is about river and surface water, that is, rivers, lakes, oceans, surface water and groundwater interact. For example, how some pollutants migrate from the surface to the underground and then return from the underground to the surface.

2. What kinds of research projects or fieldwork have you contributed to in Suzhou’s lakes, rivers, or wetlands?
Professor Wu: We had a project some time ago. For example, the phosphorus content in Taihu Lake exceeded the standard. Then we went to study why the phosphorus content exceeded the standard through various ways. For example, we can establish the model by sampling and then see why it was relatively stable in previous years and why it suddenly exceeded the standard last year. Then there is Suzhou, for example, the source of micro plastics in the river. If it comes from the road, such as the friction of tires, it will make the micro plastics sink into the river from the road.

3. What first inspired your interest in studying environmental issues in and around Suzhou?
Professor Wu: The main reason is that our school is in Suzhou, and we really want to study the local river system. In addition, it is convenient to sample, so we chose Suzhou.

4. Are there any ongoing projects or collaborations in Suzhou that you think are especially important or promising for environmental protection?
Professor Wu: Because Suzhou is a city of wetlands, there are many wetlands. These wetlands are the lungs of our earth, so it is very important to study wetlands. Then there are many lakes in Suzhou. Taihu Lake and Yangcheng Lake, which we are familiar with, are all very important water resources. Therefore, these protections must be very important.

5. From your perspective, what do you see as the biggest current threats to the local environment in Suzhou’s lakes, rivers, and wetlands?
Professor Wu: The biggest threat should still be the interference of human activities, because human activities will emit a lot of pollutants, especially those new pollutants, which we didn't know before, and we don't know what harm it will produce after entering the human body. For example, micro plastic, after entering the human body, can simulate human hormones, and then interfere with your own hormone secretion. Then in this way, your body does not secrete this hormone, but after its micro plastic enters your body, it will produce hormone like substances, which will interfere with your body to make some reactions, so this is actually very harmful to human body.

6. How has China’s rapid industrialization over the past few decades specifically affected Suzhou’s aquatic ecosystems?
Professor Wu: In fact, I have not collected data on this aspect myself, but other people have collected data some time ago, that is, we found a new industrial pollutant called PFAS in the serum of people in various provinces of China, and then found that the concentration in the human serum of Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai is the highest. You can check it if you are interested. So there are a lot of pollutants in our environment. These pollutants, for example, will be more easily enriched in areas with more developed industries, and then enter people's bodies, causing some interference to our bodies.

7. In your opinion, are we doing enough to protect lakes and wetlands from habitat destruction, pollution, and other pressures? If not, what more could be done?
Professor Wu: In fact, with the development of our country, the awareness of protecting river ecology and wetland ecology is growing. Our country is also further using various means to protect lakes, rivers and groundwater. Recently, we often hear a slogan that green water and green mountains are golden mountains and silver mountains. Under the leadership of this slogan, in fact, everyone's awareness of environmental protection is getting stronger and stronger. But to better protect our ecological environment and water ecological environment, we need to realize the importance of it in our consciousness, because our country's GDP is developing very fast, but our awareness of environmental protection in the field of environmental protection is far behind western countries, Europe and the United States. For example, their children may know not to take long-distance flights from an early age, because airplanes will produce a large amount of carbon dioxide, and then the carbon footprint and carbon emissions will be very large, so they will try to choose trains when they are young, if it is a long-distance travel, rather than planes. And for example, they will have more awareness of energy saving in the use of air conditioners and household appliances, which is also a point that we need to pay more attention to in the education of teenagers in China.

8. Our iGEM project involves genetically engineered cyanobacteria with chelating proteins to remove heavy metal ions, contained within a compact bioreactor with a semi-permeable membrane. What is your initial impression of this approach?
Professor Wu: The first impression is that it is very sophisticated, that is, it is very tall, but you said that genetic engineering may not be my major or I may not be able to give you too much support in this regard.

9. The purpose of our project is to remove heavy metal ions from rivers. Do you have any suggestions in this regard?
Professor Wu: The methods of removing heavy metals may mainly be chemical methods. I may not be able to give you much advice in this regard. But when I was doing the interaction between surface water and groundwater before, there was a zone in our research called subsurface flow zone, which is the area with the most intense interaction between surface water and groundwater. There will be a lot of geochemical reactions in this area, and because it has two interfaces in this area, it is equivalent to a transition zone, so some hot spots will be generated in the process of interaction, so you can pay more attention to the various chemical reactions in this area of the subsurface flow zone where surface water and groundwater interact. I believe that this transition zone should also play an important role in the removal of heavy metal ions.

10. In your experience, what role should young students and high-school teams play in environmental protection efforts?
Professor Wu: I think you have done well, because our school also has this iGEM team, and then mainly junior students participate, but you are now only high school students. If you can participate in this competition very early, it will be a great improvement to your skills. When I first saw your email, I was very surprised at how many high school students came to participate in this competition. It was very good. I hope you can achieve good results.

11. Do you think it is important to raise public awareness about issues like eutrophication, heavy metal pollution, and loss of biodiversity in Suzhou? If so, what would be effective ways for students to contribute?
Professor Wu: Of course, it is very important. I think it is mainly for the education of teenagers, because our future belongs to teenagers, right? If we do enough work in this field from now on, the situation will gradually improve.

12. Are there any local case studies, research projects, or ongoing initiatives you think we should look at or learn from as part of our project?
Professor Wu: I haven't been directly involved in the removal of heavy metal ions, but if you search Google Scholar, there should still be quite a lot. You can search the rivers in Suzhou and then remove heavy metals.

13. Do you think projects like ours can help bridge science and community action, or do you see challenges in applying them outside the lab?
Professor Wu: As for the removal of heavy metals in the community, I don't think of any way to directly participate in it, because it should involve some professional content and some requirements for special skills. So maybe I think ordinary people can only enhance their awareness of protection and can't directly participate in the removal of heavy metal ions.

14. Finally, what advice would you give us as young researchers trying to make a meaningful contribution to environmental protection in Suzhou?
Professor Wu: I feel very gratified because you are so young and have so much enthusiasm in this field. I hope you can learn more and more advanced processing technology in the future when you are studying for undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral or further study, and then build our ecological environment better and better, because after all, we have only one earth. If the ecological environment of this planet is destroyed, our future generations will suffer, right.

From this interview, what we learned is: the education about environment conservation is not sufficient for Chinese students and we can conduct more educational activities to raise the environmental awareness of Chinese students.

Integration to project design: We have incorporated more comprehensive education to help students of different age groups understand the importance of environmental protection. We believe that a single spark can start a prairie fire. Picture:

6.Meeting with XJTLU-CHINA.

The reason why this meeting was facilitated is that it was discovered during the Go for Gold conference that our project can be integrated and effectively address the algae legacy issues in our project. The purpose of this meeting is to promote the relationship with team XJTLU-CHINA. Also, we are eager to discuss with team XJTLU-CHINA about how we can collaborate and get inspiration from each other’s project because our projects are similar. At the same time, we want to check if our hardware can potentially be integrated in the future. The meeting was held on September 20 in DHSZ campus, organized by Dingxuan He (Derek) and Haoyun Zheng (Hannah). In the first part of the meeting, Dingxuan He (Derek) and Haoyun Zheng (Hannah) showed the members of XJTLU-CHINA around the DHSZ campus. In the second part, Dingxuan He (Derek) and Haoyun Zheng (Hannah) started the formal discussion with XJTLU-CHINA team members about the projects. Dingxuan He (Derek) first introduced the project of SZ-SHD and pointed out the part of hardware that needs the assistance from XJTLU-CHINA. Next, XJTLU-CHINA showed their hardware design and suggested that the sphere with triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) in their hardware could help us adsorb Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 on its surface. Here is the picture of sphere with TPMS:

What have we learned: we can attempt to integrate some physical methods for cyanobacterial aggregation such as sphere with TPMS, filter membrane and so on.

7.Kindergarten education —— Environmental protection themed clay production education.

This educational activity aims to instill in children the concept of environmental protection from a young age. By stimulating children's interest, we can achieve happy learning and inspire them to protect the environment.
This educational activity was held on September 25th at the kindergarten of Suzhou Industrial Park Foreign Language School by Hannah, Cissy, Amelia, Stephanie, and Ethan.
Here’s the procedure of the event:

1. Engaging Presentation (5-10 minutes)
A dynamic PPT featuring compelling images and short videos will cover:
The reality of environmental damage.
The crucial importance of protection.
A brief, engaging overview of how our team contributes to environmental solutions.
2. Drawing Creation (10-20 minutes)
Children will engage in divergent thinking inspired by our project, creating artworks based on themes like crab claws and cyanobacteria. Example images will be provided on the PPT for reference.
3. Clay Modeling (25-30 minutes)
Children will bring their drawings to life in 3D with clay. This activity is designed to enhance spatial thinking and creativity through hands-on modeling.
4. Award Ceremony (5-10 minutes)
To celebrate the children's achievements, we will present awards in the following categories:
Creative Genius
Smart Star
Love Angel
Handicraft Expert
Exploration Expert
Innovation Model
Art Creator
5. Concluding Speech
An inspiring conclusion to motivate children to protect the environment and cherish our Earth.
Pictures:

8.Children's Picture Books - Environmental Protection and Biological Enlightenment Education for Primary and Kindergarten Children

This picture book, drawn by Oceana, aims to help children understand the importance of environmental protection, stimulate their observation of the environment in daily life, give them a preliminary understanding of biotechnology, and stimulate their interest in environmental protection and biological learning.

9.Educational event for middle school and high school students held in the wetland park of Suzhou High School. （Co-organized Wetland Science Popularization Activity with SHS-SIP）

Location: Suzhou High School SIP
Topic: Exploring Campus Wetland—Guarding Clean Water with the Power of Synthetic Biology
On September 29, 2025, six members of SZ-SHD: Hannah Zheng, Stephanie Sun, Oceana Jiang, Ethan Wang, Norman Xu and Jerry Gao carried out a science popularization activity about "How to Prevent Water Pollution in Wetlands by Using Synthetic Biology” at Suzhou High School SIP. Three booths were set up by the six members to respectively popularize knowledge about what synthetic biology is, what wetlands are and how to treat water pollution to middle school students, as well as how to make a simple water purifier. They then connected the three parts to let the students have a thorough understanding of our project—controlling heavy metal pollution in bodies of water.
During the activity, middle school students were able to learn different aspects related to biology and chemistry. At Booth 1, we guided them to assemble synthetic biology puzzles, helping them gain a basic understanding of its core logic—including how synthetic biology edits genes, from promoters to terminators and achieve goals. At Booth 2, we shared wetland knowledge—introducing the species in SHS-SIP campus wetland and showing wetland conservation postcards, helping them visually see wetland differences across regions in China. At Booth 3, with our guidance, some students made simple water purifiers—using activated carbon, filter paper, large pebbles and small sand grains to create tools for basic water purification.
After the activity, many students expressed a stronger interest in synthetic biology, wetland protection and water pollution treatment. Some of them tested the simple water purifiers they made and came up with some possible methods to improve their function. We also encouraged them to pay more attention to the wetland on their campus and tried to make some improvements to it. After that, we interviewed a few students about what they learn and how they feel about the activity today.
Photos:

Interview script:
Q: Could you tell us what did you learn from today’s activity?
A: Yes, I learned how to make simple water purifier today. First, we need to put a layer of gauze at the bottle mouth to prevent leakage. Then fill in some cotton balls as the first filtration layer. Next, add fine sand then coarse sand to filtrate impurities that are larger in size. Finally, add activated carbon to absorb odor and impurities. And I am trying to add more layers to make the water purer after filtering it.

Conclusion:
What we learned:
Through this activity, we have gained a deeper understanding of wetland-related content and learned how to use relatively simple methods to popularize science to junior high school students, including what synthetic biology is and various types of water pollution.
Integration into Project Design:
The content about making simple water purification devices in this activity is related to our plan of taking water purifier production as our business plan in the project design. Also, this activity has turned our attention to governing heavy metal pollution in wetland water bodies. Moreover, by popularizing science on synthetic biology to middle school students, we have also stimulated more people's interest in synthetic biology.

10.Bacteria painting event for middle school students held in Suzhou Industrial Park Xinghai Experimental Junior High School

In order to deepen junior high school students’ understanding of synthetic biology, as well as advanced experimental skills, Celine Meng, Chloe Cai, Norman Xu, Jerry Gao, Ryan Chen and Ethan Wang designed the bacterial painting and held it in Suzhou Industrial Park Xinghai Experimental Junior High School.
Here’s our procedure:
Phase one: Prepare the canvas and paint:

1. Design the pattern: Pre-design the pattern you want to draw on the paper. Simple patterns such as stars, the moon, and biological markers (like the double helix of DNA) are easier to handle.
2. Prepare the canvas: Pour the LB AGAR plate and ensure that the surface is flat and free of condensation water. On the bottom of the plate (the side with AGAR), gently draw the outline of your pattern with a marker pen as the base draft.
3. Prepare pigments:
Monoclonal colonies are picked from inclined test tubes or AGAR plates and inoculated into test tubes containing liquid culture medium.
Shake the culture in the incubator overnight (about 12-16 hours) to allow the bacteria to grow to the logarithmic phase and reach a sufficient concentration. This is your "bacterial ink".
Phase Two: "Painting
Aseptic operation: All operations must be carried out in a sterile area near a biosafety cabinet or alcohol lamp, and personal protective equipment must be worn properly.
1. Dip in ink: Use a sterile inoculation loop or toothpick to dip a small amount of bacterial liquid. If multiple-colored strains are used, please use separate sterile tools for each strain to prevent cross-contamination.
2. Draw the pattern: According to the draft you drew at the bottom of the plate, gently line the AGAR surface with a tool dipped in bacterial liquid. The key point is: Gently cut through the topmost layer of the AGAR surface, but do not dig too deep. First, draw a part of one color. After completion, place the tool in the disinfectant solution for sterilization or burn sterilization, and then switch to the next color of the bacterial liquid. For large areas of filling, a sterile cotton swab can be used to evenly apply it.
3. Complete drawing: After drawing is completed, cover the petri dish lid. Seal the edges of the plate with parafilm sealing film or tape to prevent drying or contamination during the culture process. Mark your name, date, the strain of bacteria used and other information on the cover of the plate.

Pictures:

11.Environmental protection and gene editing education held in Suzhou Junior High School Affiliated to Xi'an Jiaotong University for middle school students.

The educational activity aims to enable junior high school students to learn more complex biological knowledge based on the basic biological knowledge in textbooks, cultivate their scientific thinking, arouse their interest in biology, reduce their misconceptions about biological gene editing technology, cultivate critical thinking, and see how the environment around them is changing, inspiring students to think about environmental protection. This event was held on September 11th by Celine, Norman, Ryan, Jerry, and Ethan.

12.Science popularization education for high school students - basic knowledge of environmental protection, gene editing, and the production of ecological bottles.

This educational program aims to help high school students understand basic environmental knowledge, the pollution around them, what an ecosystem is, and the importance of balancing the links within an ecosystem.
This event was held on August 1st, organized by Oceana, Hannah, Jennifer, Cissy, Ethan, Charlotte, and Derek.
Here's the procedure of the whole event:
-0~15min: First, briefly introduce the gene editing, then extend to the current
water pollution situation and then introduce our water treatment plan. Use ecological bottles to let students experience the harm of water pollution to aquatic plants and animals.
-15~40min: Take out the prepared materials for making bottle planters and let the
students practice by themselves (for detailed cost list, see below). Let them
choose the materials they need to make their own ecological bottles.
-40~55min: Each student came up to introduce their own ecological bottle and explain why they chose these materials and their understanding of the water cycle system. Pictures: