Human Practices

We ask every team to think deeply and creatively about whether their project is responsible and good for the world. Consider how the world affects your work and how your work affects the world.

Silver Medal Criterion #2

Explain how you have determined your work is responsible and good for the world.

Visit the Medals page for more information.

Best Integrated Human Practices

How does your project affect society and how does society influence the direction of your project? How might ethical considerations and stakeholder input guide your project purpose, design and the experiments you conduct in the lab? How did this feedback enter into the process of your work throughout the iGEM Competition? Document a thoughtful and creative approach to exploring these questions and how your project evolved in the process, to compete for this award.

Visit the Special Prizes page for more information.

Overview

At iGEM, Human Practices is about more than just outreach. It's about actively considering the societal implications of your synthetic biology project and demonstrating how those considerations have shaped your work. This page documents our team's Human Practices activities and their impact on our project.

For more information, visit the Human Practices Hub.

  • You should demonstrate how you have thoughtfully and creatively addressed the question: "Is our project responsible and good for the world?"
  • Clearly identify the ethical, social, safety, security, and sustainability issues relevant to your project.
  • Document all interactions with experts, stakeholders, and the public.
  • Explain how the insights gained from your Human Practices activities influenced your project's purpose, design, and execution.
  • Discuss any ethical dilemmas or challenges encountered during your project.
  • Assess the potential social impact of your project, both positive and negative.
  • Consider the perspectives of diverse stakeholders.

Inspirations