Overview
Science should be for everyone.
At SZU-China, we asked ourselves: who feels left out in synthetic biology? What barriers prevent someone from contributing or being heard?
Our mission is to break down those barriers. Through workshops, mentorship programs, and open discussions, we create spaces where diverse voices—across disciplines, backgrounds, and identities—can participate fully in science.
We document everything we do, so that others can learn from our approach and make science more accessible everywhere. Inclusivity isn't just a value for our team—it's a responsibility to the wider scientific community.
To make inclusivity real rather than rhetorical, we focused on three groups who are often overlooked in scientific participation:
- The Hands that Grow and Guide — farmers whose practical wisdom shapes the foundation of agricultural innovation.
- The Voices We Once Missed — interdisciplinary students and women scientists who bring fresh perspectives often silenced by traditional boundaries.
- - The Distance Between Campuses — students from under-resourced local universities striving to access the same opportunities in science.
- - The bridge between science and life — the public, whose trust and acceptance are the soil in which scientific achievements take root.
Each story reflects a different dimension of inclusion—but together, they form our belief that science grows stronger when everyone has a place in it.
Farmers
During our research on RNAi-based solutions for citrus aphid control, we observed a frequently overlooked issue: genuine participation in scientific collaboration is largely limited to universities and research institutes. Even during field validation phases, our primary point of contact remained the Longhua Bio-Industry Innovation Institute, which is led by an academic institution.
However, the broader farming community—the cornerstone of Chinese agricultural production and the most direct future users of APHiGO—has almost no access to these research developments that directly impact their livelihoods. Their participation in the process of technological refinement is even more limited.
This disconnect became starkly clear during our field visits with individual citrus growers. On April 5, 2025, we visited Taohe Town in Haifeng County, Shanwei City, surveying local agro-input stores and individual farmers. A conversation with Mr. Liu Jingui, a representative grower from the Shatian Orange Orchard, brought the challenges smallholders face into sharp focus. He revealed that farmers primarily rely on their own experience or advice from agro-dealers, who diagnose pests and recommend pesticides. This system leaves them with little understanding of new technologies like RNAi, and, more fundamentally, with no real opportunity to learn about them.
From this, we have identified three major barriers that prevent smallholder farmers—the largest group of end-users—from engaging with scientific research and its practical applications:
- Limited Financial Capacity: Individual farmers cannot afford the costs and risks associated with trialing new pesticides.
- Fragmented Cultivation Plots: Dispersed and small-scale farmland cannot meet the basic requirements for systematic sample collection and efficacy trials.
- High Technical Barriers: Specialized principles and operational guides are as incomprehensible as "a foreign language" to them. Many older farmers, in particular, struggle to understand RNAi technology, leading to skepticism and resistance toward new pesticide solutions.
Therefore, we developed a mini-program called CitrusShield, providing a platform for numerous farmers to share cultivation and pesticide application experiences. To lower the technical barrier, we have broken down application steps into plain language and designed a pest identification handbook tailored for farmers. We have also created and published educational videos on pest identification on platforms like Douyin, catering to farmers' preferences and habits, ensuring they can easily master the technology. In the future, we further plan to design simplified user guides and distribute them to the broader farming community through the mini-program and local agro-input stores.
Through our efforts, the mini-program has completed its internal testing. We will demonstrate its interface and features to additional growers in subsequent research phases, using their feedback as the foundation for iterative improvements.
Interdisciplinary Students & Women Researchers
Within the academic research environment, the field of synthetic biology has erected scientific barriers that, in subtle yet persistent ways, exclude two key groups: interdisciplinary students and female researchers. This systematically undermines the diverse perspectives most essential for scientific innovation.
As a highly specialized field, the terminology and experimental methods of synthetic biology can form a wall for students from non-biological backgrounds. Even those bringing valuable skills from engineering, mathematics, or computer science are often excluded from teams for "not understanding biology." Those who do join are frequently relegated to auxiliary roles, preventing their core expertise from being fully utilized. Simultaneously, implicit biases stemming from traditional gender roles create distinct challenges for female researchers. Many who are deeply involved in critical R&D phases find their technical suggestions interrupted or overlooked in team discussions. A persistent pattern emerges where men lead decision-making while women execute details, rendering a significant portion of the scientific contribution invisible.
Before formally assembling our project team, we were determined not to let "academic background" be the sole criterion for membership. We believe many non-biology students are not incapable of learning, but lack the opportunity to learn. Similarly, women's voices are not something to be "given," but must be empowered through deliberate role design that ensures their participation in decision-making.
Ultimately, we formed a collaborative, multidisciplinary team of undergraduate and graduate students:
- Recruitment spanned the Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, School of Life Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and School of Economics. A three-stage selection process (written test, group interview, individual interview) assessed not only foundational knowledge and potential but also passion for synthetic biology and collaborative spirit, ensuring a fair opportunity for every interested student. The final team, uniting undergraduates and postgraduates from five colleges, became a melting pot for diverse intellectual perspectives.
- In discussions, we adhered to a "every voice is heard" principle, guaranteeing every member sufficient time to articulate their views. Technical suggestions from female members were actively listened to and incorporated, truly realizing collective participation in decision-making.
This approach yielded positive results quickly. On September 2nd, 3rd, and 5th, 2025, we held informational sessions on the iGEM competition and synthetic biology at the School of Life and Ocean Sciences, the Health Science Center, and the Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies at Shenzhen University. We highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of iGEM and our team's mission, actively encouraging students from various disciplines to join. The communication group established after these sessions has since grown to over 400 members. The group is vibrant with discussions and questions, and we further fuel this interest by sharing project updates and plans. This experience solidifies our belief that by proactively building bridges and dismantling prejudice, scientific barriers are not insurmountable. More people can enter the core of research, infusing the development of synthetic biology with diverse strength.
Local Colleges & Students
In science education, the core of inclusion lies in dismantling resource barriers, enabling students from all backgrounds to access cutting-edge fields and participate in research. Students from local universities are often the ones persistently "locked out" by this imbalance of scientific resources.
This disparity in research resources is not unique to China; it is a shared challenge in global science education. During our initial research visit to Hanshan Normal University in Chaozhou, we observed that many students had minimal exposure to synthetic biology. Compared to their counterparts at major research universities, more students at local institutions are excluded from synthetic biology research primarily due to underdeveloped scientific infrastructure.
A turning point came through a partnership program between our university and Hanshan Normal University.
Facilitated by Professor Chen Weizhao from our institution, we connected with Professor Wang Jinxu at Hanshan Normal University. Through in-depth discussions with Professor Wang, we genuinely understood the challenges these local university students face: limited funding makes it difficult for the university to equip labs with advanced instruments, and experimental teaching often remains at a foundational level. However, exploring frontier technologies in synthetic biology precisely requires specialized equipment and systematic experimental training.
This resource gap forces interested students at local universities to hesitate on the sidelines, with no real opportunity to engage in practical research. Recognizing this issue, we integrated "supporting local university students" into our inclusive practices:
- Through a rigorous written test and interview process, we recruited five students from Hanshan Normal University who were keenly interested in synthetic biology to join our team. We helped them grasp foundational theories through online mentoring.
- We opened access to the Shenzhen University iGEM competition lab, guiding them through hands-on experiments. Each step was personally instructed by our team members, helping them bridge gaps in their practical skills.
- Furthermore, we involved them in field research with citrus growers and attendance at the international academic iGBA Forum. This allowed them to engage with real-world agricultural challenges and stay informed on global synthetic biology trends. Through repeated collaboration, not only did their research capabilities improve rapidly, but we also built a strong camaraderie.
Today, our university continues to refine this support system with Hanshan Normal University. We firmly believe this model of "resource sharing and collaborative cultivation" will continue to create a ripple effect. In the future, more students from local universities will join synthetic biology teams at Shenzhen University. Furthermore, this framework could serve as a reference for other universities worldwide facing similar resource challenges—truly making synthetic biology a field accessible to more than just a privileged few, but a scientific domain within reach for a much broader student body.
The public
In science communication, inclusivity is most directly demonstrated by closing the gap between the laboratory and the public—transforming obscure synthetic biology knowledge into content that is understandable, relatable, and accessible to everyone. The general public, a crucial group often excluded by specialized barriers, has long been kept outside the gates of science.
While advancing our research on RNAi-based pesticides for citrus aphid control, we identified a widespread issue: most members of the public perceive "synthetic biology" as an esoteric lab technique and have never heard of "RNAi pesticides." Some, unaware of how biopesticides work, mistakenly believe that "all pesticides leave residues," leading them to blindly pursue "pesticide-free citrus"—unaware that the lack of scientific control can result in severe aphid damage and even total crop loss. This "cognitive gap" not only hinders the application of our research but also denies the public the opportunity to benefit from science in safeguarding food security.
Recognizing this, we integrated "community science outreach" into our core practices, building bridges for scientific dialogue through relatable methods:
- Shenlan Charity Bazaar: At the joint Shenzhen University-Southern University of Science and Technology charity event, we moved beyond simple fundraising. We integrated synthetic biology outreach into the activities. To demystify specialized terms like "synthetic biology" and "biopesticides," we designed two interactive segments: "Pictionary" where participants drew scientific elements like "aphids" and "RNA molecules," familiarizing them with our research subjects through fun; and a "Q&A session" with daily-life questions like "What to do if citrus has aphids?" and "Which is safer, biopesticides or chemical pesticides?," guiding the public to think critically.
- Pingshan Community Seminar: At the Pingshan Community Center, we found that residents commonly associated "pesticides" with "residues," a key barrier to accepting RNAi technology. We replaced jargon with video explanations and interactive games, making the concepts "visible and tangible," significantly lowering the barrier to understanding and helping them grasp the principles of RNAi pesticides.
- Primary School Visits: For our "Aphid Control Mini-Class" at Shenzhen Shekou Yucai Education Group Taiziwan Primary School and the Shenshan Cooperation Zone Central Primary School, we tailored the content entirely for young minds. We used cartoon animations to tell the story of "how aphids make citrus plants sick," sparking their interest. Through these animations, we illustrated "how RNA stops aphid growth," transforming an abstract technical process into a perceivable concept.
These six months of outreach have gone far beyond the superficial goal of "transferring knowledge." They have become a collaborative process of building a "bridge of scientific understanding" with the public. We look forward to seeing more people join this movement, enabling synthetic biology to step out from behind the high walls of the lab entirely. It can become the "magic that defeats aphids" in a child's words, the "trusted guardian of citrus" for community residents, and, most importantly, practical knowledge that is easily accessible to anyone who wishes to understand and apply science. This is the ultimate significance of our commitment to science outreach.
Science for Everyone
Smallholder farmers rooted in their fields, students from local universities eager to engage with cutting-edge science, talented individuals with interdisciplinary skills, female researchers seeking equal voices in the discourse, and the broader public acting as a bridge between science and daily life... In the prevailing narrative of agricultural technology and synthetic biology, their voices have been drowned out, their needs overlooked, and the research processes that desperately need their participation have been blocked by invisible barriers.
The value of science has never resided within the high walls of laboratories, but lies in every willing hand ready to participate, and in every voice yearning to be heard. It is only when farmers can wield our research outcomes as effortlessly as their most trusted tools, when local students can present their work on international academic platforms, when interdisciplinary creativity and female leadership jointly drive technological breakthroughs, and when ordinary community members can tangibly benefit from lab discoveries — only then are we truly approaching our founding belief that "science belongs to everyone." Only this kind of science is truly meaningful, and truly capable of going the distance.
This is not the endpoint for a single team, but the starting point for a scientific community. We look forward to more people joining this movement to "break down the barriers"—making synthetic biology no longer an exclusive "specialized domain" for the few, transforming agricultural technology from distant "lab curiosities" into accessible tools, and ensuring that everyone who wishes to engage with science can find their place within it. Ultimately, we believe science gains strength through inclusion and warmth through diversity.
