In 2025, Brazil celebrated a historic milestone: the first time in seven years, the country left the Hunger Map, with 14.7 million people escaping severe food insecurity. Yet, it veils a stark reality still endured by much of the Brazilian population: Brazil's progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) remains fragile. According to the Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA), most indicators linked to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) have stagnated, regressed, or remain unmonitored, revealing how difficult it is to consolidate progress through effective policies.

In a country that consistently breaks records in food production, with an estimated harvest surpassing 330 million tons in 2025, nearly one in four brazilians cannot afford a healthy diet. Climate change, political agendas, lack of adequate technology, and structurally embedded inequalities continue to impose barriers to the democratization of this fundamental human right.

From a region deeply rooted within the agricultural sector, our search for ways to address this dilemma has led us to citrus farming. Brazil alone accounts for 35% of global orange production; however, for years we have been suffering major losses due to pre- and post-harvest diseases such as Candidatus Liberibacter (greening), Penicillium digitatum (green mold) and Geotrichum candidum (Sour rot). We believe our solutions have potential to trigger a paradigm shift in the combat of such diseases, strengthening food security and aligning with the Zero Hunger goals. The global production of citrus covers approximately 11.42 million hectares and yields nearly 179 million tons annually. Despite their relatively long shelf life compared to other tropical fruits, improper handling and inadequate storage conditions can lead to substantial losses, reaching up to 30% in developing countries and 50% in less developed regions. In these contexts, the second group is substantially affected, as a large share of their economies relies on the primary sector. Furthermore, citrus fruits are commonly affected by microbial infections, particularly bacterial and fungal pathogens, which accelerate the fruit decay during storage and transportation. Thus, losing half of a crop translates into severe consequences: disrupted trade balances, inflation, reduced public revenue, and weakened food security.

This is where biotechnology and synthetic biology offer a turning point. We identified the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as a promising, sustainable strategy to counter these damages and safeguard our community — a step toward making Zero Hunger not just a milestone, but a permanent achievement.

Agricultural productivity

Given this scenario, the goal 2.3 aims to double agricultural productivity by 2030, with a specific focus on increasing the incomes of small-scale producers, particularly women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fisherfolk. These improvements will be accomplished by ensuring secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets, and opportunities for value-added and non-agricultural employment.

To address this objective, we have pursued two fronts of integration for our biological solution: electronic technology and social engagement. First, we developed a hardware device for delivering the AMP combination, designed to support individuals who currently endure arduous workdays in enhancing their productivity and competitiveness in the market. At the same time, we brought our community together across regional centers and launched an awareness campaign on the importance of family farming and local markets (especially orange production) as a way to strengthen smaller-scale economies and positively impact the income of various smallholders across the country.

Cooperation

From another perspective, the 2.a Goal of this SDG is about the investment — including through enhanced international cooperation — in rural infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, technology development and gene banks for plants and livestock, in order to enhance agricultural productive capacity in developing countries, in particular the least developed ones.

In this context, we have engaged in extensive dialogue with numerous foreign teams regarding potential collaborations for our project. These interactions allowed us to refine our decision-making, broaden our understanding of alternative approaches, and strengthen the effectiveness of our own solution. For instance, we had the opportunity to collaborate with the FSU 2019 team, which had a very similar project. Through this exchange, we were able to compare methodologies, learn from their challenges, and integrate valuable insights into our project development.

Thus, we built collaborations and partnerships with fellow iGEM teams around the globe through the iGEM Nexus event “Building Resilient Food Systems with Synbio”, and also with Dr. Sandra Furlan Nogueira from Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa). Through these connections, we learned that the regulation of bio-inputs and pesticides is more stringent in the European Union; that global warming has a significant influence on the spreading of pathogens in citrus crops; and that we must consider that the citrus ecosystem also involves other elements, such as pollinators, microbiota, and surrounding water, etc. This broadened perspective reinforced our belief that a truly sustainable solution against citrus diseases generates benefits on multiple levels — ecological, economic, and social.

Adopting measures to ensure the proper functioning of food commodity markets and their derivatives is 2.c Goal topic. Accordingly, facilitating timely access to market information and helping to limit extreme food price volatility, including in food reserves, is a priority. So, in order to help accomplish this objective, our AMP can fight post-harvest citrus diseases and extend the shelf life of oranges, resulting in more manageable harvests and reserves.

Notably, our CTX peptide was able to kill Geotrichum candidum (Sour rot) and Pennicillium digitatum (Green mold) in low concentrations (50uM and 25uM, respectively) which are responsible for the majority of post-harvest losses in citrus. With these results, we believe that our solution has great potential in helping to achieve the goal proposed by SDG 2.

Still within the scope of sustainability and food systems, the Brazilian agroecological manufacturing chain fosters unsustainable patterns of trade and exploitation that have already suffered major historical setbacks. The 1930s and 1940s, for instance, were marked by public policies that epitomized the country’s disregard for responsible resource management and environmental impacts. Following the collapse in demand triggered by the Great Depression of 1929, 78.2 million bags of coffee were purchased and burned by the Brazilian State. Sadly, history seems to repeat itself, as we remain inattentive to responsible production and consumption - the very focus of Sustainable Development Goal 12.

Motivated by the urgency to support our country in combating hunger, we turned our attention to orange farming and uncovered obstacles often invisible within our own circles: every day, 126,000 tons of food that could be on our tables ends up in the trash. These losses place Brazil among the world’s top ten food-wasting countries, with approximately 30% of all production discarded. However, these very numbers challenged us to confront the issue and search for alternatives that could truly make a difference in our context: the citrus industry.

Today, we face a new crisis as extreme climate conditions ravage our crops and their pests. In 2024 alone, we lost 25% of the oranges cultivated in our groves. A total of 230.8 million boxes, at least 25 million of which were lost to environmental challenges and citrus greening. While we discard what we grow, 58% of our population still lacks full food security. Then we realized that producing an innovative solution to fight pests was not enough. We needed to ensure that the production model of our biocontrol agent was also conscious of its socio-environmental impacts, seeking to minimize resource use and waste generation.

With a biologically derived formulation, our peptide itself already poses minimal risks of pollution and contamination, an important premise that was confirmed when talking to various stakeholders. For this reason, we focused on complementing our approach by seeking alternative sources of inputs, and it was with the fungus Aspergillus oryzae that we discovered the possibility of using orange residues themselves as raw material. To complement our resolution, we developed a Circular Economy Manual for citrus producers.

By encouraging the reuse of orange waste and inspiring new applications for these residues, our proposal integrates sustainability into the heart of the production chain, promoting responsible consumption and production practices in line with SDG 12.

Despite over half the population facing uncertainty and precarious conditions in the labor market, a figure reflected in an average household per capita income of less than €330, we have just reached the best indicators in national history. UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG 8) aims to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all. The SGD 8 goal highlights the importance of creating decent job opportunities, in particular for young people and vulnerable groups, while encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and the formalization of economies. It also emphasises the importance of safe working conditions, guaranteed labour rights, and the equitable distribution of the benefits of economic growth, with a focus on eradicating poverty and reducing inequalities.

Managing an economy is a multifactorial construction that must always be integrated among its different stakeholders. We recognize that our project cannot produce meaningful results unless we consider the complexity and all industry connections as a whole. While the planet demands sustainable innovations to confront the challenges of everyday life, we have committed to this purpose because we believe science holds the power to redefine our relationship with the world.

Productivity

Given this scenario, target 8.2 reinforces this idea by emphasizing technological modernization as a driver to enhance productivity and economic diversification. Once again, reality presents a sharp contrast. Since 2012, the Brazilian government has pledged to invest a minimum of 1.8% of its GDP in R&D, yet to this day it has not exceeded 1.26% — barely half of what Northern countries such as the United States and France invest annually. For that reason, we sought alternatives within our reach to tackle this challenge, exploring the academic-industrial ecosystem in which we were embedded. We also established partnerships with leading innovation agencies in our region: the Inova Unicamp Innovation Agency and Emerge Brasil. Through them, we learned about patent creation, various university incentives, and the importance of translating academic projects into solutions with real potential for market implementation.

We also found in Target 8.3 a pivotal gateway: to promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), including through access to financial services. Grounded in innovation stemming from creativity and entrepreneurship, this goal led us to envision a startup for our solution. Through careful planning and market analyses, we devised ways to bring our Antimicrobial peptide (AMP) to the commercial sphere and to tangibly demonstrate our results — always guided by a development-oriented vision.

Even though the debate on sustainable development often feels distant, abstract, and disconnected from daily life, every orange that rots before reaching the table reveals the fragility of a system in crisis. SDG 9 calls for resilient infrastructure and sustainable industries, but progress remains fragile and uneven. This goal is essential for Brazil's development, as it enables production systems and infrastructure to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.

Our approach sought not only to recognize these vulnerabilities of the current industrial landscape but also to envision how biotechnology could contribute to its renewal. The modernization of infrastructure cannot be reduced to machinery and physical assets alone; it must also embrace knowledge production, collaborative networks, and sustainable practices capable of generating long-term impact. Brazil, with its vast biodiversity and robust academic community, has the potential to lead this transition. However, persistent barriers such as insufficient investment in research and development, unequal distribution of technological resources, and limited integration between universities, industries, and local communities continue to constrain this potential.

In this context, target 9.4 aims to “By 2030, modernise infrastructure and rehabilitate industries to make them sustainable”. This should involve increased efficiency in the use of resources, as well as greater adoption of clean and environmentally appropriate technologies and industrial processes, in line with each nation’s capacity. To align with the mandate of this target, solutions must go beyond incremental improvements: they require clean, innovative technologies that strengthen resilience from the ground up.

It is precisely at this intersection — where sustainability meets technological modernization — that we designed a hardware to detect greening at an early stage. By enabling producers to manage the disease before its major consequences, our device represents a clean and sustainable technology that would increase the resilience of their orange groves and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the citrus industry.

When Brazil faces punitive tariffs on its agricultural exports, the message becomes clear: global partnerships are not a luxury, but a necessity. For emerging economies, blocs like BRICS are instruments of survival, resilience, and shared growth. SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals - is rooted precisely in this recognition: that sustainable development depends on bridges, not walls. It calls for strengthening international cooperation, fair trade, access to technology, and the creation of alliances capable of facing global challenges together.

Since the early 2000s, Brazil has stood out among emerging nations by promoting South-South cooperation initiatives, sharing technical expertise, and supporting projects across Latin America and Africa. These efforts reflect a commitment to structured cooperation, which prioritizes long-term systemic transformation and the strengthening of local institutions. Rather than adopting models of dependency, Brazil has prioritized partnerships based on mutual benefit, demand-driven support, and the absence of political or economic conditionalities, advocating for horizontal, inclusive, and sustainable collaboration.

Citriculture offers a clear example of how these partnerships become tangible. Brazil is the world’s largest producer of oranges, yet its industry faces structural challenges and diseases that affect most of the global orange supply chain. Addressing this crisis requires more than isolated national responses; it calls for cross-border research networks, shared technologies, and coordinated trade strategies that protect both producers and consumers. SDG 17 becomes inseparable from the future of food security: the resilience of citriculture is directly tied to the resilience of international cooperation.

In this perspective, we presented our project at the International Congress on Sustainability (CONINTERS) and at the Brazilian Congress on Synthetic Biology. In addition, we organised the iGEM Nexus events and engaged with 19 other international teams. Through these initiatives, we continuously exercised collaboration from diverse perspectives at a global scale, while also expanding the visibility of both the challenges we face and the solution we are developing.

Our team understands the importance of education as one of the most effective means of dissemination, which made SDG 4 highly present throughout all stages of our project’s development to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education. In Brazil, the Ministry of Education (MEC) claims to be aligned with these goals, guaranteeing the right to free and quality basic education for all.

However, significant challenges persist, such as the absence of consistent indicators and adequate methodologies to monitor progress, low completion rates in the final stages of education and lack of infrastructure in vulnerable regions. These factors hinder concrete progress in achieving this goal, revealing gaps that our team sought to address by recognizing the importance of education, especially in the field of synthetic biology, as it is a relatively new area within biology. We realized that many people were still unfamiliar with this field, and therefore we aimed to make it more accessible both inside and outside the university environment.

Our goal was to bring the concept of synthetic biology to as many people as possible, using education as the primary means of disseminating not only our project but also the field as a whole. Based on this, our project, Pepcitrus, sought to contribute to reducing these gaps through initiatives focused on creating accessible spaces and disseminating synthetic biology. Among these, we highlight the foundation of the Synthetic Biology Academic League, which aims to establish a tradition of participation in future iGEM competitions, and outreach activities with high school students at the Escola Técnica de Paulínia, where we offered hands-on experiences in synthetic biology.

Through these efforts, the Pepcitrus project not only disseminated scientific knowledge but also brought young students closer to an innovative and strategic field, strengthening inclusive and quality education. By doing so, the project aligned directly with the goals of SDG 4, reaffirming the team’s commitment to promoting both scientific and civic education.

BioDesigners

Faced with Brazil’s many educational challenges, our team felt the responsibility to create real impact — even if initially on a local scale — in the lives of young people and teenagers who often do not see themselves as capable of pursuing a scientific or academic career. Aligned with SDG 4 (Quality Education), we believe that science must be inclusive and accessible to everyone, not restricted to those with greater privileges. We are convinced that practical and interactive activities are essential to spark curiosity and promote meaningful learning of complex scientific concepts.

With this vision in mind, we partnered with the Escola Técnica de Paulínia (ETEP) and the Paulinia prefecture, a public institution that offers technical courses in Chemistry and Nursing for high school students. We met with teachers of Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics, as well as coordinators and school administrators, to present our proposal to bring synthetic biology and STEM fields into their daily school life. The enthusiasm was immediate, and everyone was willing to support the initiative. We defined our target audience as 1st- and 2nd-year students, since 3rd-year students are primarily focused on preparing for university entrance exams.

We then assembled a multidisciplinary team that included members of iGEM UNICAMP, the Synthetic Biology Academic League founded by our team, and students from other fields such as Chemical Engineering, Statistics, and Applied Mathematics. From this collaboration, BioDesigners was born — an educational program structured into two main phases: theoretical and practical.

Phase 1: Theory and Introduction to Synthetic Biology

Over three weeks, we taught lessons and provided educational materials covering fundamental concepts and real-world applications to the students. This stage not only delivered knowledge but also created spaces for dialogue, questioning, and discovery. For many students, it was their first contact with synthetic biology, and their interest was remarkable. The topics addressed in each of the weeks were:

Week 1 - Fundamentals and scientific curiosity

• What is Synthetic Biology
• DNA as the “code of life”
• Introduction to genetic engineering and DNA modification techniques;
• Biobricks and genetic standardization,
• Genetic circuits: genes as sensors, actuators, and switches, including Boolean operators
• Cultivation and manipulation of microorganisms;
• Inspiring examples such as bioluminescent bacteria, yeast producing medicines, and Golden Rice.

Week 2 - Methods and tools

• Gene editing with CRISPR/Cas9;
• Gene cloning and protein expression;
• Plasmid vectors and bacterial transformation;
• Microbial fermentation for compounds production;
• Biosensors and biological devices.

Week 3 - Applications and social impact

• Health: mRNA vaccines and gene therapy;
• Agriculture: transgenic plants and biofertilizers;
• Environment: bioremediation and biodegradable plastics;
• Ethics and biosafety: limits and impacts of gene editing;
• Introduction to iGEM and high school synthetic biology projects.

Phase 2: Practice and Projects Development

In the second phase, students put theory into practice by engaging in hands-on, inquiry-based learning. We formed teams composed of two mentors and three students, ensuring close guidance and a collaborative learning environment. In total, 17 synthetic biology projects were developed, with the participation of 34 mentors and 51 students. Each group chose a topic of interest and, over three weeks, developed a project involving theoretical research, experiments, and a final presentation for a science fair. They also produced a logbook and a final report evaluated by judges, graduate students, and professors. The chosen topics were diverse and creative, including:

The final fair

At the final fair, students presented their projects to a diverse audience, including parents, friends, teachers, members of the press, and local government representatives from Paulínia. The best projects received awards from NexVitro and official certification from UNICAMP’s Office of Outreach and Community Engagement.

The top-ranked teams were also invited to participate in an innovation showcase in the city, Paulínia's Technological Revolution (Virada tecnológica, in portuguese). In this event, the team of students who carried out the biomaterials project, working with the production of bacterial cellulose from orange waste, received two awards: one for best innovation project and another for distinction.

To conclude, we are proud to say that BioDesigners was not just an extracurricular activity but a transformative experience that proved, in practice, that science can be a tool for inclusion and social mobility. By providing access to cutting-edge knowledge and real research experiences, we contributed directly to fulfilling SDG 4, which promotes quality, equitable, and inclusive education. Many of the young participants now consider the possibility of pursuing scientific careers, representing a long-term investment in the nation’s intellectual capital. More than teaching synthetic biology, we planted seeds of curiosity, critical thinking, and self-confidence. By building bridges between schools, universities, and communities, we reinforced the belief that future scientists do not only come from privileged backgrounds or major academic centers, but can emerge from anywhere where opportunity and inspiration meet.

Synthetic Biology League

Founded in 2025 by the iGEM team at Unicamp, the Synthetic Biology League was created with the purpose of democratizing access to both theoretical and practical knowledge in synthetic biology, while also fostering the development of skills in science communication, outreach, and accessibility. The initiative emerged from the understanding that, despite the rapid growth of biotechnology in Brazil, there is still a lack of accessible and integrated spaces where students can critically and interdisciplinarily engage with synthetic biology. Institutionally recognized, the League was officially approved as an entity affiliated with the Institute of Biology at Unicamp, with formal support from the Institute’s Board of Professors and its Administrative Directorate. This approval consolidated the League as an official space for education, outreach, and integration between teaching, research, and society within the university.

Currently, the League is coordinated by Gabriella Gonçalves da Silva Rezende, a Biological Sciences undergraduate and member of the iGEM Unicamp 2025 team. The outreach division is led by Heloysa Santos Souza, also an iGEM member. The League has gained visibility by organizing discussion circles and study groups on topics such as gene editing, biological circuits, and bioinformatics, in addition to hands-on workshops focused on laboratory techniques and the use of digital tools in synthetic biology. It has also invested in science communication, producing educational content shared on social media and institutional platforms. n terms of partnerships, the League has established a collaboration with SynBio Brasil (SynBioBR), contributing to the strengthening of the national network for synthetic biology education. It also maintains close engagement with the iGEM Unicamp Brazil 2025 team, supporting projects developed for the competition.

Beyond partnerships, the League plays a strategic role in preparing the future members of the iGEM Unicamp team and for the synthetic biology market. By providing introductory activities, practical laboratory experiences, and training in science communication, as well as the development of interpersonal and leadership skills, the League equips students to participate in international biotechnology initiatives. This formative role ensures the continuity, maturity, and excellence of Unicamp’s participation in the global iGEM community, consolidating the League as a hub for talent development, scientific innovation, and social engagement.

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Science communication is one of the central focuses of the Unicamp Synthetic Biology League, and our Instagram profile @libs.unicamp serves as the main channel of communication with both the academic community and the general public. Through creative posts, we share content about synthetic biology and the League’s activities, as well as curiosities and applications of the field in different contexts. Our goal is to bring science closer to people, making knowledge more inclusive.

Activities Promoted by the League

Synthetic Biology Workshop and the SDGs

The Synthetic Biology Workshop and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), organized by the Synthetic Biology League in partnership with the iGEM Unicamp team, brought together students, researchers, and professionals over two days discuss science, innovation, and sustainability. The program combined lectures, talks, and hands-on activities, always with the purpose of connecting synthetic biology to real-world challenges and highlighting the SDGs as guiding principles for responsible solutions.

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The first day introduced participants to the foundations of synthetic biology—its history, central concepts, and applications. This was followed by a lecture on circuit design and the use of standardized parts (BioBricks), which emphasized the importance of collaborative and open science. A talk on Deep Techs in Biotechnology offered reflections on the new frontiers of the sector and professional opportunities in a rapidly growing field in Brazil, directly addressing SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth. In addition to this, participants then engaged in practical activities inspired by the iGEM experience, exploring how the project contributes to solving real problems while fostering teamwork, creativity, and innovation. These discussions aligned with SDG 4 – Quality Education, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for all, and with SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, which focuses on strengthening scientific research, technological modernization, and sustainable innovation. The day concluded with a presentation on the Synthetic Biology League’s journey, encouraging collaboration and network-building SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.

The second day focused on sustainability-oriented applications. A lecture on synthetic biology applied to agriculture discussed strategies to increase productivity while reducing environmental impact, directly tied to SDG 2 – Zero Hunger and SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production. This was followed by a session on bioenergy and agribusiness, reinforcing the connection between innovation and sustainable economic growth. Later in the morning, participants learned about the development of new processes and products from macaúba (Acrocomia aculeata), a promising plant for the bioeconomy, which connects to SDG 15 – Life on Land, and a session on Circular Economy in Action showcased the integration of production chains into the biorefineries of the future, promoting responsible resource use and aligning with SDG 12. The afternoon addressed biosafety and responsibility in science. A case study on bioterrorism encouraged reflection on ethical practices and safety protocols (SDG 16 – Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). This was followed by a session on biosafety in handling microorganisms, providing essential guidelines for safe laboratory practices and reinforcing responsible approaches to biotechnology research. The event concluded by emphasizing the transformative role of synthetic biology when guided by ethical and sustainable values. More than showcasing techniques, the Workshop demonstrated how science, innovation, and cooperation can move forward together to address global challenges, always aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.

One of the major highlights was the production of a free Synthetic Biology e-book, developed by the Synthetic Biology League in partnership with the iGEM Unicamp team. The material was made available to participants in advance, aiming to democratize access to knowledge and ensure that everyone, regardless of their familiarity with the field, could fully engage with the Workshop’s discussions and activities. In addition to introducing fundamental concepts and laboratory techniques, the e-book also offered reflections on bioethics and biosafety, emphasizing the importance of responsible scientific practice. In this way, the Workshop’s impact extended beyond the two-day program, reaching a broader audience and leaving a legacy of accessible and continuous learning.

PodCast Oxigênio

The Synthetic Biology League is developing, in partnership with the Oxigênio podcast — an initiative of the Laboratory of Advanced Studies in Journalism (Labjor/Unicamp) — a new podcast series dedicated exclusively to synthetic biology. The goal is to communicate this field in a critical and accessible way, grounded in the principles of science journalism and aimed at fostering dialogue between science and society.

The project is currently in the production phase and actively involves members of the League, who are being trained to contribute to the scripting and recording of the episodes. The partnership with Labjor also provides access to the technical infrastructure needed to ensure high-quality content and audio.

The initiative benefits greatly from the guidance of Professor Simone Pallone de Figueiredo, current coordinator of the Oxigênio podcast, and from the collaboration of student Mayra Deltreggia Trinca, along with the entire Oxigênio team, whose experience and support have been essential to the development of the project.

More than just disseminating scientific advances, the initiative seeks to help shape communicators and more informed citizens, capable of reflecting on the pathways and impacts of synthetic biology in Brazil and around the world.

DescomplicaBio

DescomplicaBIO is an initiative of the Synthetic Biology League at Unicamp that seeks to connect undergraduate students with professors, researchers, and professionals in the field of synthetic biology and related areas. Expanding beyond the scientific sphere, the project also integrates discussions on science communication, involving science communicators, social media specialists, journalists, accessibility experts, educational material designers, and professionals in public communication of science. In this way, the initiative not only expands the academic repertoire of participants but also contributes to the development of transversal skills that strengthen both scientific training and social engagement.

The project’s relevance lies in fostering scientific and institutional communication between League members and the external community, ,while encouraging student leadership, networking, and the pursuit of continuous learning. The league’s scientific and communication committee is responsible for organizing the meetings, which includes mapping and inviting specialists, communicators, and science communicators, defining logistics (dates, topics, and platforms), and conducting the activities. After each meeting, the team also sends formal acknowledgments to the guests, reinforcing collaboration and building long-term partnerships.

Among the project’s invited speakers is Beatriz Pacheco, a scientist at Ginkgo Bioworks, a U.S.-based biotechnology company specialized in genetic engineering for industrial applications. She holds a degree in Food Engineering from UNICAMP and has international academic experience at Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden) and the University of Alberta (Canada). Beatriz is also actively involved in initiatives such as the iGEM mentorship program, strengthening the bridge between academic research and technological innovation.

In the field of science communication, the project has already welcomed Sabrina Pegorin Brier, a science communicator who shares experiences on content production and engagement strategies in science and technology. Her participation highlighted the importance of integrating academic knowledge with effective dialogue across diverse audiences, enabling students to explore not only scientific practice but also creative and accessible ways of communicating science to society.

DescomplicaBIO is a continuous and ongoing project, which grows stronger with each new meeting while expanding its network of guests and participants. It is consolidating itself as a dynamic university xtension initiative, committed to both advancing scientific knowledge and promoting inclusive, impactful communication.

UPA (Unicamp de Portas Abertas)

On August 23, 2025, the iGEM Unicamp Brazil 2025 team, in partnership with the Synthetic Biology League, participated in the Unicamp Open Doors event with the goal of introducing synthetic biology to visitors. Most of the audience consisted of elementary and high school students attending with their classes or family members, as well as students preparing for the Unicamp entrance exam.

During the event, we presented practical examples of synthetic biology, such as the concept of biobricks represented with LEGO pieces, and showcased laboratory materials and equipment for demonstration. We also shared our iGEM competition project and set up a memory wall, where visitors could write down their memories and curiosities about oranges, creating a playful connection with the project’s theme. To make the interaction more engaging, we organized a question wheel about the League, iGEM, and synthetic biology, offering prizes to participants, followed by a raffle at the end of the event. These activities sparked curiosity, engagement, and interest in science, bringing visitors closer to synthetic biology in an educational, creative and fun way.

Unicamp’s Biology Week

On September 2, 2025, the Synthetic Biology League, in partnership with AlphaBio (the junior enterprise of the Institute of Biology), made a special contribution to Biology Week by offering an enriching program for students. The event featured two outstanding guests: Giovanna Carolina Resk Maklouf Correa and Isaac Guerreiro, who shared their career paths and reflections on the future of synthetic biology, career opportunities, and the importance of iGEM as a platform for training and innovation. They also presented initiatives from SynBioBR, the national association for synthetic biology of Brazil.

Giovanna Resk Maklouf holds a degree in Biotechnology from the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) and is currently a PhD student at Unicamp, where she focuses on studying the diversity of non-conventional yeasts for applications in synthetic biology. Throughout her academic career, she served as president of the UFAM Student Council, founded the UFAM branch of the National League of Biotechnology Students, and actively engaged in extension and citizen science projects. Her experience in synthetic biology is extensive: she took part in four editions of iGEM (2016, 2017, 2019, and 2021), earning different medals, including gold in 2021. Her work spans biological circuit design, CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, and bioinformatics, with expertise in single-cell transcriptomics. During her talk, Giovanna emphasized how synthetic biology has the power to combine scientific rigor with creativity, transforming microorganisms into platforms for innovation, and inspired the audience by showing how her academic journey was shaped by a balance of cutting-edge research, participation in international competitions, and engagement in initiatives that aim to democratize science.

Isaac Guerreiro brought a complementary and equally inspiring perspective. As a software engineer at Lattice Automation and an active member of SynBioBR, he represents the intersection between synthetic biology and information technology. His experience includes applying artificial intelligence and software to the modeling and design of biological parts, a topic he had previously addressed in workshops and events organized by the Institute of Biology at Unicamp. Furthermore, Isaac served as moderator of debates on artificial intelligence applied to synthetic biology at the Brazilian Synthetic Biology Congress, strengthening his role as an active voice in the development of new tools and in bridging the gap between science and technological innovation. He emphasized that synthetic biology is not limited to the laboratory but also thrives in digital environments, where algorithms and computational tools accelerate experiment planning, organism design, and R&D processes — opening new opportunities for both startups and established industries.

Together, their talks complemented one another by offering not only personal views on career paths and academic trajectories but also a broader overview of the synthetic biology ecosystem in Brazil and beyond. In this context, SynBioBR was introduced — an association that seeks to strengthen the field in the country by connecting researchers, students, and companies, organizing training events, and encouraging the participation of Brazilian teams in iGEM. Educational initiatives such as the iGEM Masterclass were also highlighted, as they provide young scientists with access to modeling and design tools, contributing to the democratization of knowledge and the inclusion of new talents in the field. In summary, the Biology Week event not only provided direct contact with leading professionals in synthetic biology but also opened space for reflections on the social, scientific, and technological impacts of this rapidly growing discipline.