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Human Practices
Fig1. Ulva prolifera blooming off the coast of Qingdao (From rednote).
In our understanding of iGEM's Integrated Human Practices (iHP), it is far more than "conducting activities"—its core lies in demonstrating how external societal voices progressively shape project design and how the design responds to these voices. Unlike traditional research models that limit experimental design to laboratories, iHP emphasizes a two-way dialogue between science and society: we not only identify real-world problems via background research at the project's start but also continuously listen to stakeholders during design and experimentation, reflecting on and adjusting our approach based on feedback. Ultimately, our iHP practice follows the cycle of "Emerging from society → Being shaped within society → Returning to society."
In our projects, we narrate this journey through a vivid story. Initially, we heard the ocean's cry for help: fishermen, governments, and the public were all troubled by Ulva prolifera, while ecosystems silently endured damage. Carrying this question, we immersed ourselves in literature and data, seeking remedies in books to understand the true roots of Ulva prolifera. Yet staying confined to pages was insufficient—we had to venture out, interviewing experts and frontline communities to find the optimal solutions. Throughout this journey, we continually discovered new answers while facing fresh questions from the real world. We synthesized these diverse perspectives into concrete design "formulas," refining and iterating along the way. Ultimately, we aim to bring these solutions back to reality, truly saving the ocean.
This is our iHP story: not a one-way theoretical experiment, but a dialogue between society and science—a shared exploration with the ocean, with people, and with the future.
To address the challenge of Ulva prolifera, we advanced along two interconnected paths.
First, project iteration through societal feedback.By engaging fishermen, ecologists, engineers, and ethicists, we reshaped our design—from focusing on the spore stage, to refining hardware, to embedding layered biosafety. These steps not only improved feasibility and safety but also helped overcome skepticism toward synthetic biology in open environments, turning doubt into recognition and consensus.Second, education and outreach. We started with interactive games to reflect on human–nature balance, created a children’s picture book on ocean protection, expanded to urban campaigns and cross-disciplinary dialogues, and finally reached minority regions. In this way, we transformed green tides from a coastal issue into a shared social concern.
The two paths moved forward together: one strengthening scientific design and trust, the other broadening public awareness. What we gained was not only technical progress but also a shift in social attitudes—people became willing to understand, discuss, and participate. This, to us, is the true value of iHP.
Qingdao, this coastal city embraced by the Yellow Sea, has long been famous for its poetic scenery of “red-tiled roofs, green trees, azure seas, and blue skies.” The interplay of golden sands and azure waters is not only the city's most distinctive ecological calling card but also underpins its signature industries centered on marine tourism and aquaculture. Each year, millions of visitors flock to this “rendezvous with the sea.” Yet since 2007, every summer has seen massive “green tides” of Ulva prolifera erupt along the coasts of the Yellow and Bohai Seas. Within days, these algae can expand from scattered patches into a “green disaster” covering hundreds of square kilometers. This uncontrollable proliferation has crippled aquaculture and shipping.
Fig2. Ulva prolifera blooming off the coast of Qingdao (From rednote).
For governments, the Ulva prolifera has become a heavy financial burden. Take Qingdao as an example: the municipal government spends hundreds of millions of yuan annually on harvesting and removing the Ulva prolifera[1]. However, these methods often only address mature Ulva prolifera, treating the symptoms rather than the root cause. Meanwhile, tourism and the city's image suffer severely: Beaches blanketed in green algae become “urban pain points” on social media.
Fig3. Qingdao sanitation workers are clearing the excessive Ulva prolifera from the beach.
The ecological perspective is equally significant. Divers and researchers have observed that Ulva prolifera outbreaks frequently cause oxygen depletion in benthic environments, leading to reduced biodiversity[2]. Certain benthic organisms—such as crustaceans, arthropods, and species with high facultative oxygen demand or strong dependence on bottom-dwelling oxygen—experience high mortality rates or restricted activity in hypoxic conditions. Community structures shift toward “opportunistic” species that tolerate oxygen deprivation and high organic loads[3].
Every summer, I originally planned to take my child to play in the sea, but as soon as I see large areas of green tide floating on the surface, my enthusiasm disappears. Tourists from other places come for the clear blue sea and sky, but they see nothing but green, which severely damages the city's image.
These plants often block the cages in the aquaculture area, leading to large-scale deaths of clams and scallops. After a year of hard work, I'm afraid that everything will be lost in just a few days.
Green algae not only affect underwater visibility but may also entangle equipment. We had to suspend our sailing and canoeing training, which had a significant impact on both our teaching and the experience of our trainees.
It is precisely this triple pressure—economic, social, and ecological—that makes us realize: the Ulva prolifera is not merely a natural disaster, but a real crisis demanding urgent solutions. This cry for help from the ocean became the starting point for our project.
Fig4. Ulva prolifera blooming off the coast of Qingdao
Through news reports and scientific literature, we have noticed that in recent years, there has been a seasonal outbreak of green algae (Lugworm) in Qingdao and the shallow waters of northern Jiangsu, forming large-scale green tides. These green tides not only damage marine ecosystems, such as the dominance of a single biological community on the shallow waters and changes in marine substrate, but also affect shipping safety and fishery production. Fisherman Mr. Wang Bingyang reported that from late June to mid-July every year, the green algae rapidly spread in the shallow waters, severely disrupting ship navigation and fishing operations. At the same time, tourism and diving activities are also affected, impacting the public's experience and understanding of the marine environment.
From an academic perspective, the mechanism of green algae outbreaks is very complex. Existing literature indicates that the growth of green algae is influenced by multiple factors such as light, temperature, and nutrients, but its complete life cycle, spore dormancy, and germination mechanisms remain unclear. Additionally, existing ecological dynamic models have significant shortcomings in predicting green algae outbreaks and spread, lacking systematic consideration of photosynthesis, environmental changes, and local diffusion mechanisms.
Combining literature review and actual observations, we have summarized the following preliminary questions:
These questions prompt us to step out of the literature and seek interviews and discussions with experts in marine ecology, microbial modification, and industrial application fields. Through expert feedback, we hope to gain new insights, verify hypotheses, and further develop feasible experimental and engineering strategies.
Fig5. XJTLU-CHINA Research Roadmap
Fig6. The logical chain for finding the most suitable antidote
To solve the problem of green algae in the waters of Qingdao and northern Jiangsu, we have been striving to find the "best solution". Starting from researching materials and visiting the site, we identified the key point - we had to start from the stage of green algae spores.
Then, we step by step, optimize the "antidote formula" : In terms of biological capture, use Ag-Nb adhesion pairs to make the biofilm more compact and act as a "spore trap"; In terms of molecular induction, we utilize arginine short peptides as a "highly efficient trapping agent". In terms of hardware, we changed "large-scale interception in Qingdao" to "precise filtration in the shallow sea of northern Jiangsu", and adjusted the hardware design according to the actual terrain. All of this constitutes the "complete antidote" for the management of green algae.
In the future, we aim to further verify the long-term effectiveness of this "antidote" in the real ocean and put it into use in kelp farms in northern Jiangsu. At the same time, we will continue to refine core technologies such as "programmable biofilms" to make this "antidote" more efficiently and safely promoted to the world and protect our oceans.
Of course, before this "antidote" is truly put into use in the ocean, we will pay close attention to the ethical risks involved.
During our early research with fishermen in Qingdao and seaweed farmers in Lianyungang, we quickly realized that introducing genetically modified organisms into the natural environment is not just a technical breakthrough, but a challenge deeply connected with ecology, society, and ethics. “Will the modified bacteria escape? Could they become uncontrolled like invasive species?” Such questions came up in almost every interview.
To address these concerns, we developed an initial plan:
We realized that fishermen are mostly concerned about common-sense risks. The real technical challenges and potential loopholes need to be identified from a professional perspective.
Therefore, after the initial design was completed, we consulted Professor Shiwen Ma, an expert in environmental technology ethics from Soochow University.
Professor Ma acknowledged that our multi-layer design has responded to public concerns, while also pointing out more professional and deep-seated risk issues that were not fully considered in the earlier research and design. The following are her deeper thoughts:
Fig18. Visit the professor of environmental technology ethics at Suzhou University
This exchange made us realize that from the public's direct concerns to experts' in-depth questions, safety and ethical considerations need to be continuously iterated.
We have conducted in-depth discussions and reflections on the issues raised by the professor and formulated a complete response plan. Please refer to the Safety and Security Page for “Comprehensive Biosafety Management for the Natural Environment”.
Fig19. Outline of Comprehensive Biosafety Management for the Natural Environment
After determining the general plan for subsequent optimization, we immediately took action.
During our on-site investigation in Qingdao, we not only witnessed a large amount of green algae blooms but also unexpectedly discovered plastic fragments drifting with the tide - fishermen claimed that they entangled fishing nets and propellers, affecting operations and increasing costs. They are worried that after the treatment of green algae, more Marine debris will be added. This makes us realize that ecological technologies that add new burdens to the ocean are hard to be trusted.
Therefore, we set "environmental sustainability" as the core standard for hardware design and ultimately chose biodegradable PLA as the main material to address concerns. PLA is a bioplastic derived from renewable plants such as corn and sugarcane, and it has multiple advantages:
Therefore, our design not only targets Ulva prolifera spores functionally but also aligns with societal expectations for “reducing waste and protecting oceans” through material selection. We aim to address public concerns with this “dual protection” approach—solving green tide issues while preventing secondary pollution—ensuring our hardware truly “reduces the burden on oceans, not adds to it.”
Fig20. Environmental protection certification of materials
The ocean covers the largest area of the Earth and is an important ecosystem that humans rely on. However, it is facing unprecedented pressures such as intensified water pollution, frequent algal blooms, and ecological degradation. Protecting and restoring the ocean has become an urgent task for human society.
With the development of technology, synthetic biology has brought new possibilities to global water governance. Whether it is engineered bacteria for degrading industrial wastewater, modified organisms for restoring Marine ecology, or new strategies for monitoring pollution and inhibiting algal blooms, they all show great potential and open the door of hope for the "blue homeland".
However, we need to remain vigilant: As an emerging discipline, synthetic biology poses ethical, social and safety challenges in its application, such as whether there are ecological risks in releasing engineered organisms into open waters, how to weigh the irreversible consequences of technology, and how to fairly distribute the pros and cons. These issues remind us that scientific progress should not only address "what can be done", but also clarify "what should be done".
Based on the above considerations, our team, in collaboration with multiple iGEM teams such as SCU-China and ZJU-China, jointly wrote the book "Ethics of Synthetic Biology in Water Environment Government".
This book, combining project practice and reflection, focuses on the application of synthetic biology in water environment governance and explores the ethical dilemmas in scenarios such as sewage treatment and Marine ecological intervention.
Our team has focused on contributing ethical guidelines and risk response plans for synthetic biology interventions in Marine environments, especially for engineered Escherichia coli involved in hardware systems. In response to public concerns over "Marine release of modified microorganisms", we have incorporated relevant thoughts and countermeasures into the book, aiming to provide references for similar projects. At the same time, it demonstrates to the society the research team's attitude of not avoiding risks and taking the initiative to respond.
We firmly believe that the value of science lies not only in its technical feasibility, but also in achieving safe application through transparent, prudent and responsible mechanisms. As a young research team, although our capabilities are limited, we are still committed to contributing responsibility and actions to safeguarding the "blue homeland" through these efforts.
Our research in Qingdao and the shallow beaches of northern Jiangsu found that relying solely on physical methods is difficult to effectively deal with the outbreak of green algae, and the control is often inadequate. When it comes to biological methods, the public is generally concerned that most people lack scientific understanding of synthetic biology and are easily influenced by stereotypes such as "genetically modified" and "uncontrollable", which makes them uneasy about implementing projects in an open environment.
When visiting a kelp breeding base in the shallow waters of northern Jiangsu, we mentioned that in the future, hardware devices containing engineered E. coli might be installed near the breeding area. The staff expressed their concerns clearly, saying straightforwardly, "This is a place where kelp is grown and people eat it. What if the bacteria run away?" Is it harmful to people? . This makes us deeply realize that even if the technology is feasible in the laboratory, it cannot be implemented if it is not trusted.
In response to public concerns, we participated in the "Crushing Synthetic Biology Myths' science popularization manual" a Popular science manual organized by Jilin University and jointly compiled by multiple universities.
We are responsible for the section specifically addressing the issue of "loss of control after the release of synthetic organisms", and providing a detailed introduction to protective measures: If the genetic circuit is designed to ensure that the engineered bacteria cannot survive in the natural environment for a long time (this project introduces a blue light-induced suicide switch that triggers self-destruction under 465-490nm natural light), and the engineered bacteria will be encapsulated in dedicated hardware to form a dual protection of "physical isolation and biological self-destruction", the relevant experiments and applications need to undergo strict risk assessment.
After the manual was completed, we sent it to the staff member of the breeding base we had interviewed earlier. After reading it, he expressed his understanding and said, "With multiple protections and the ability to self-destruct, it is indeed much safer."
This makes us realize that public concerns can be alleviated through transparent information and scientific explanations. The management of green algae not only requires technological breakthroughs but also needs to eliminate the public's stereotypes and fears about synthetic biology through popular science communication, so as to win social recognition and support for the project's implementation.
Fig21. The content of our team on that page in the manual
In the future, we will continue to refine our technical and ethical solutions to make our eco-friendly hardware more in line with the needs of Marine protection, and also keep resolving concerns through communication. We are willing to join hands with more people to gradually reduce the impact of green tides, making the ocean less burdened and clearer, and protecting this "blue home" well.
While advancing our technical solutions, we have always believed that education and communication are equally essential bridges between science and society. The concept of Integrated Human Practices (iHP) of iGEM emphasizes that a project should not only solve technical problems but also respond to public understanding and real social needs. Guided by this idea, we expanded our focus beyond the laboratory and coastal areas to a wider social scope, listening to voices from different regions and sharing the importance of ocean protection through innovative educational activities.
In a series of public outreach and science communication initiatives, we found an interesting phenomenon: people’s awareness of green tides varies greatly by region. Coastal residents and fishermen are generally familiar with the harm caused by Ulva prolifera blooms, but in inland areas like Northwest and Southern China, many people have never even heard of "Ulva prolifera".
This awareness gap points out a key challenge: although green tides are a geographically localized ecological crisis, the need for education and public engagement is truly global. Without basic understanding, it is hard to build broad social consensus or drive future policy adjustments and environmentally responsible consumption.
To meet this challenge, we have made a lot of efforts.
First hand camp: 🟢 “Floating life beings” (representing vigorous beings such as nature, green algae, and green tide)
Backhand camp: ⚪ “shore keepers” (representing humans, managers, environmental engineers)
When you take a step forward, you will naturally respond to the frontline. In the next round, perhaps it will be closer to symbiosis.
In “Co-Domain Simulation”, there are no winners.
Just as the iGEM project pursues: Humans are not conquerors of nature, but understanders and partners.
In each connection, we simulate, fail, and simulate again…
Not for victory, but for the possibility of approaching the “common domain”.
It introduces the fragility of marine ecosystems and the urgency of their protection in a way that young readers can easily understand. The story follows a brave little mermaid on her adventure to save ocean animals harmed by Ulva prolifera (green tide). Through vibrant illustrations and heartfelt storytelling, the book not only depicts the destructive impact of algal blooms but also delivers a message of hope for harmony between humans and nature. The book is now available in both Chinese and English, and we plan to expand it into multiple languages so that children around the world can read it.
Our goal is to plant an “ocean awareness” seed in the hearts of children—even those living far from the sea—helping them understand that their daily choices and lifestyles are deeply connected to the health of the oceans. This is more than simple knowledge sharing; it is a way to extend social responsibility, nurturing future global citizens who value environmental protection from an early age and can contribute to long-term solutions for marine ecological challenges.
Through this picture book, our iHP educational efforts move beyond local engagement toward national and even global impact, achieving a true fusion of technology and culture, science and emotion. It not only responds to the “awareness gap” we discovered in our outreach but also amplifies the value of our project beyond experiments and hardware, creating a sustainable chain of influence in education, ethics, and social responsibility.
We come to Jinji Lake Primary School to conduct popular science. To help everyone understand two scientific concepts, we first briefly talked about biology and synthetic biology: Biology can help us understand how grass grows and how small fish move. Synthetic biology can endow microorganisms with some special functions to solve problems in daily life.
After that, we also introduced two real situations: There used to be a lot of green algae growing in Taihu Lake in Suzhou, making the lake water dirty and affecting the survival of small fish. There have also been green algae along the seaside in Qingdao, Shandong Province. They are not only unattractive but also affect fishermen's fish farming and tourists' sightseeing. After seeing the relevant pictures, everyone knows that these green algae are indeed a trouble.
Then, we shared the project that the XJTLU-CHINA team is currently working on: We will endow some bacteria with the ability to inhibit the growth of green algae and place these bacteria in specialized devices to ensure that they do not cause other problems. Finally, everyone understood: it turns out that science can be used to solve problems like green algae.
Fig22. Introduction to the Management of Green Algae
We also visited a primary school in Liuzhou, a southern ethnic minority area. Since the children in Liuzhou don’t know about Ulva prolifera due to the city’s inland location, we first used pictures and simple animations to popularize knowledge about Ulva prolifera: we told them that Ulva prolifera is like "green grass" in the sea, but when it grows too much, it will make the sea water dirty, affect the fish living in the sea, and even trouble the fishermen who catch fish.
Then, combining our current project on Ulva prolifera control, we explained why it is important to protect the ocean—even though they don’t live by the sea, the ocean’s health is related to the earth’s climate, and the clean water they drink and the fresh air they breathe are all connected to the global environment.
Fig23. Environmental protection education in synthetic biology for ethnic minorities
Environmental education, especially the popularization of Ulva prolifera knowledge, helped the children in Liuzhou’s ethnic minority areas realize that the global environment is closely linked to their future life, even if they don’t live by the sea. It also let them, as inland children, have the opportunity to understand the ocean and the ecological issues like Ulva prolifera it faces.
The part of popularizing Ulva prolifera knowledge for Liuzhou’s inland children was a key part of this activity. We realized that combining Ulva prolifera knowledge with local life (like comparing Ulva prolifera to moss by the Liujiang River) can help children understand better.
In the future, we will continue to promote green algae science popularization and marine protection education in various forms: bringing fun games into more schools, reaching more children around the world with multilingual versions of children's picture books, and also investing in the design of customized science popularization classes for different regions.
We look forward to, through these efforts, continuously narrowing the gap in marine ecological cognition among regions, allowing the awareness of "protecting the ocean and responding to green algae" to take root in the hearts of more people, and ultimately converging into a powerful force to safeguard the blue homeland, so that science and responsibility can be passed on in a broader world.
Let the Remedy Keep Evolving — A Blueprint for the Future
Our exploration has never stopped. What we have achieved so far is only the starting point. In the future, our "remedy" will continue to evolve at the intersection of science, technology, and ethics—moving toward greater precision, higher safety, and long-term sustainability.
1. Increasing Specificity to Target the Real "Enemy"
One possible direction is to improve the precision of our system. In the future, we aim to explore molecular components that can recognize unique surface markers of Ulva prolifera spores, so that the biofilm and arginine short peptides act only on green-tide spores without affecting harmless algae or plankton. Such improvements could transform the process from "broad adsorption" to "targeted capture," further reducing unintended ecological impacts.
2. Dynamic Regulation for Changing Marine Environments
Future hardware devices may also be optimized for programmability and adaptability. For example, by introducing environmental sensing elements, the biofilm could automatically adjust its density or the release rate of arginine short peptides in response to changes in spore concentration, salinity, or temperature. This kind of dynamic response mechanism could improve efficiency while lowering energy consumption and maintenance costs.
3. Multi-Layered Safety Mechanisms
On the safety side, we will continue to explore redundant containment strategies. In addition to the existing blue-light–induced self-killing system, we may introduce nutrient-dependent growth switches or "time-lock" strains that naturally die after leaving the carrier or surviving for a limited period. These upgrades would further narrow the window of potential risk, offering stronger technical safeguards for environmental ethics.
4. Integrating Ecological Restoration for Added Environmental Value
Future research may also explore ecological co-benefits. Under strict safety conditions, beneficial microbial communities could be combined with our device to help restore ecosystems damaged by green tides. For example, biofilms might carry auxiliary bacteria that promote the growth of seagrass or coral, enabling the system to capture spores while contributing to the recovery of surrounding marine habitats.
5. Strengthening International Collaboration to Prevent Cross-Border Risks
We recognize that the ocean is interconnected, and any local release could potentially spread to other countries via ocean currents. Future improvements may focus on further reducing cross-border risks by designing engineered strains with even shorter natural lifespans, ensuring they die out long before currents could carry them to international waters. At the same time, we will emphasize cross-border dialogue and cooperation, actively participating in international monitoring and data-sharing efforts and aligning with frameworks such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. These actions will not only enhance technical safeguards but also build greater trust at both societal and international levels.
6. Ongoing Public Engagement and Education
Finally, we will continue to explore new ways to involve the public. Such as long-term science outreach and risk communication programs in coastal villages, schools, and minority communities. By engaging society early, we can help people understand the potential risks and preventive measures before any real-world application, fostering informed and rational discussions about technology.
The future "remedy" is not just about technological upgrades—it is about carrying responsibility forward. Through continuous scientific exploration, rigorous risk assessment, and open social dialogue, we aim to ensure that every improvement is built on careful ethical consideration and broad public understanding, offering a more reliable and sustainable path for marine ecological governance.
Fig24. Qingdao‘s sea state without Ulva prolifera blooms (From rednote).
[1] Liu, D. et al. (2013) ‘The world’s largest macroalgal bloom in the Yellow Sea, China: Formation and implications’, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 129, pp. 2–10. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2013.05.021.↩︎
[2] 曲同飞 et al. (2020) ‘浒苔绿潮对青岛近岸潮间带底栖动物群落的生态效应 / Ecological Effects of Ulva prolifera Green Tide on Zoobenthos in Qingdao Intertidal Area’, 中国海洋大学学报（自然科学版） / Periodical of Ocean University of China, 50(12), pp. 59–69. doi:10.16441/j.cnki.hdxb.20200086.↩︎
[3] Lyons, D.A. et al. (2014) ‘Macroalgal blooms alter community structure and primary productivity in marine ecosystems’. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsoai&AN=edsoai.on1286409390&site=eds-live&scope=site (Accessed: 29 September 2025). ↩︎
