CCiC-Synbiopunk 2025
On August 6, 2025, we arrived at the Zhongguancun National Innovation Demonstration Zone Exhibition Center, representing Tsinghua-M team at "CCiC & Synbiopunk 2025" — China's Genetic Engineering Machine Competition and Global Bio-Developer Conference. The event brought together 107 iGEM teams from across the country, with approximately 700 attendees on the first day, making it a truly grand gathering.
Our team not only participated as competitors, but also served as a co-organizer and volunteer team. In the lead-up to the event, we assisted the organizers in reaching out to participating teams, adding contact details of team leaders, and sharing essential event information in a timely manner. We also responded to inquiries and relayed feedback to the organizing committee. Another key contribution was our effort to secure sponsorship by contacting over a hundred listed companies in the biology sector.
On the day of the event, we arrived three hours early to help with onsite preparations. As teams began to arrive, our volunteers guided them through registration and check-in procedures. Our involvement extended throughout the entire process—from pre-event planning to execution and wrap-up—and was highly commended by both the organizers and the participants.
At 2 PM, the opening ceremony commenced. Mr. Jiang Shan, co-founder of PandaOL, reflected on the evolution of CCiC and emphasized the mission of both CCiC and Synbiopunk in driving synthetic biology innovation in China. Following his address, we attended a keynote speech by Dr. Guo Haotian, who introduced PandaPure® technology for protein purification and the Ailurus vec® expression vector library designed for large-scale parallel expression screening. The presentation sparked considerable interest and lively discussion among the audience.
The event continued with project roadshows by various iGEM teams, each elaborating on their technical approaches and application prospects. Focused on biomanufacturing and bioremediation, these presentations highlighted the expanding role of synthetic biology in industrial production and environmental management. Our team’s project was introduced in detail by our team leader Meng Xiyao.
Our Presentation
A free exchange session followed, where teams displayed their posters on boards and explained their work to other participants. Our team’s poster, both exquisitely designed and charming, attracted considerable attention from students of other schools and teams. Engaging discussions about project content unfolded in a lively and enthusiastic atmosphere.
Our Poster
On August 7 and 8, the conference entered its second and third days, featuring multiple high-density, high-quality core events. These brought together students, guests, and teams from research, industry, and education sectors to explore cutting-edge advances and practical pathways in synthetic biology. The agenda was diverse and enriching, including roundtables, online video conferences, and thematic seminars.
Although the conference was brief, it was immensely rewarding. It not only exposed us to a wide range of research directions and fascinating aspects of synthetic biology but also allowed us to learn about advanced technologies. Through these exchanges, we gained deeper insights into our own team’s project as well.
Inspiring Future Scientists at Beijing Dandelion Middle School
Mutual Learning
Creating a meaningful dialogue between university researchers and middle school students through shared science and art experiences.
Accessible Science Education
Demystifying synthetic biology through engaging, hands-on activities that make complex concepts relatable.
Sustainable Partnership
Establishing a long-term collaboration to support ongoing science education at the school.
Why It Matters
Our engagement with Beijing Dandelion Middle School represents a core commitment to equitable science education. By bringing synthetic biology to students from migrant worker families, we addressed educational disparities while fostering interdisciplinary learning. This initiative demonstrates how scientific outreach can transform from knowledge transmission to genuine mutual understanding, creating pathways for underrepresented students to engage with cutting-edge research.
Impact From Us
We designed a comprehensive outreach program that blended cultural immersion with science education: - Cultural Connection: We immersed ourselves in the school's environment, appreciating student artworks that reflected their identities and values. This foundation of mutual respect enabled more meaningful scientific exchange. - Interactive Learning: Through our lecture "Exploring the Microbial World from a Drop of Wine," we made abstract biological concepts tangible, using fermentation as an accessible entry point to synthetic biology. - Creative Expression: The "Ideal Yeast" design workshop empowered students to visualize scientific concepts through art, demonstrating that creativity and innovation are essential to scientific progress. This integrated approach reached students through multiple learning styles, making complex topics accessible while validating art as a valuable medium for scientific expression.
Impact On Us
This experience profoundly shaped our team's perspective on responsible science communication. The students' creative interpretations of scientific concepts challenged us to rethink how we present our research, emphasizing the need for approaches that honor diverse perspectives and learning styles.
The overwhelming positive response has led to plans for ongoing collaboration, ensuring that this engagement extends beyond a single event. Most significantly, this initiative reinforced our belief that inclusive science education must recognize and celebrate the unique contributions that every student can bring to scientific discourse. We return to our laboratory inspired by the creativity we witnessed and committed to ensuring that synthetic biology remains accessible to all.
From Boston to Beijing: A Journey in Educational Equity volunteering
Our commitment to Human Practices is guided by the principle of "responsible innovation," which means listening to and learning from our community. This journey often leads us to unexpected and profoundly impactful connections. One such connection began not in our lab, but at a global youth forum in Boston, where a powerful conversation about educational equity sparked a direct and meaningful local action, bridging a global dialogue with our community in Beijing.
Purpose
To broaden our team's perspective beyond the laboratory, we believe it is essential to engage with global discussions on societal challenges. A team member attended the Boston Youth Forum with the goal of understanding how science and technology intersect with broader issues like the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education. We sought to learn from global leaders and peers to better inform the social responsibility aspect of our project.
Experience & Insight
The forum was a confluence of inspiring ideas, but one voice stood out with particular clarity: Principal Zheng Hong of the Beijing Dandelion Middle School. He delivered a powerful speech on educational equity, emphasizing that "the power of education is infinite, and only by cultivating young people with a global vision and a sense of responsibility can we lay a solid foundation for a sustainable future." His words, highlighting the potential within every student regardless of their background, resonated deeply with our team member. It was a poignant reminder that scientific progress is meaningless if it is not accessible and equitable.
Significance & Integration:
This experience was a pivotal moment in our Human Practices journey. It transformed our abstract understanding of "educational outreach" into a concrete, mission-driven goal. Principal Zheng’s speech provided not just inspiration, but a direct call to action. We realized that our team had the potential to contribute to his vision. Inspired and deeply moved, we proactively contacted Principal Zheng upon returning to Beijing and arranged to visit Dandelion Middle School. This forum directly shaped our subsequent outreach strategy, shifting our focus toward building a meaningful, long-term partnership with a community dedicated to educational equity.