“Awareness is power.”
We have always believed that the power of knowledge is boundless. It can quietly take root in people's hearts and minds, eventually coalescing into a force capable of changing the world. Therefore, throughout the project's advancement, we have not only focused on scientific research but also actively engaged in public outreach initiatives.
This allows the public to participate in the process, enabling us to share our research findings and knowledge of synthetic biology with a broader audience.
Team members returned to their hometowns and visited local high schools, delivering biology lessons that went beyond textbook knowledge to students. In the classroom, we eschewed traditional lectures in favor of interactive dialogues and interviews.
Using engaging case studies, images, and videos, we introduced students to the fundamental concepts, research methods, and application prospects of synthetic biology.
We shared the origins and progress of the SILK project with the students, explaining the role of plasmids in microbial survival and industrial fermentation in accessible language. This helped them grasp the immense power hidden within tiny microorganisms and gene fragments.
Additionally, we designed interactive sessions where students briefly described simple microbiology experiments, such as observing microbial morphology and performing microbial isolation and culture. Through these activities, students not only developed a keen interest in biology but also gained a more intuitive understanding of synthetic biology.
Beyond visiting high schools, we also engaged with local communities, presenting our project to residents. Through door-to-door visits and conversations, we thoroughly explained the significance and value of the SILK project. We patiently addressed their questions and introduced the applications of synthetic biology in daily life—such as pharmaceutical research, food production, and environmental protection—helping them understand that our research not only solves challenges in industrial fermentation but also contributes to environmental improvement and enhanced quality of life.
After hearing our presentations, many residents developed a keen interest in synthetic biology and expressed a strong desire to learn more about the subject.
To help students better understand synthetic biology and experience the appeal of scientific research, we hosted a laboratory open house event. On the day of the open house, we invited students interested in synthetic biology to visit our laboratory.
In the laboratory, our team members provided visitors with detailed explanations of the functions and usage of experimental equipment, demonstrating our experimental processes in areas such as the isolation and screening of microorganisms from extreme environments, plasmid extraction, and sequencing. Visitors also personally performed some simple experimental steps, such as electrophoresis detection of plasmids, experiencing the joy of scientific research firsthand.
Through this open house event, everyone gained a more tangible understanding of synthetic biology research content and methods, while also sparking greater interest and passion for scientific inquiry among many.
Meanwhile, we visited schools to interview students and share scientific knowledge on campus. Students expressed keen interest in synthetic biology and shared their hopeful visions for its future development.
Next, we submitted an application to establish a synthetic biology club at our school, hoping to introduce more students to the field. The club is currently under review...
We also actively connect with fellow igemer members to co-host science outreach events that transcend geographical boundaries.
Joint Activities with NAU-CHINA
Following discussions with the NAU-CHINA team, we launched campus engagement activities and designed a Monopoly-style mini-game.
"Modern Silk Road" Themed Monopoly Game
Analyze: This activity targeted university students. Cognitively, students had limited understanding of the integration between the rich cultural traditions of the Uyghur people and synthetic biology applications. Affectively, they showed strong interest in immersive cultural experiences combined with technological innovation. Psychomotor skills enabled them to engage in hands-on traditional art practices requiring precision. The activity was conducted in collaboration with the XJU-CHINA team, using the diverse cultural heritage of the Uyghur people as a medium to build bridges between traditional culture and modern technology through an innovative monopoly game format.
Process: Centered around the "Modern Silk Road" narrative, participants assumed the role of envoys
completing four core stages:
- Uyghur Language Basics: Introductory lessons to understand the cultural context behind the language.
Ädris Water Marbling Art Practice: Hands-on experience guided by the XJU-CHINA team, with pattern symbolism explained in connection to plasmid mining projects.
- Synthetic Biology Q&A: Interactive knowledge sharing about NAU-CHINA's bacterial cellulose synthesis technology.
- ICII Platform Engagement: Students explored project content on the platform and shared cross-cultural insights.
Uyghur students demonstrated key techniques onsite, and teams completing all stages received "Cultural Exchange Ambassador" certification.Consolidate: By leveraging the rich cultural repository of the Uyghur people as a unique medium, this activity successfully created meaningful dialogue between traditional wisdom and modern science. The fluid artistry of water marbling served as a powerful metaphor for the biological synthesis of bacterial cellulose, allowing students to appreciate the symbiotic relationship between technology and culture through practical engagement.
Moving forward, we will continue to explore scientific elements within diverse ethnic cultures, developing series of "Technology + Intangible Cultural Heritage" immersive experiences, and establishing sustainable cross-cultural dialogue mechanisms through the ICII platform. This initiative provides the iGEM community with a successful case study in transforming multicultural resources into science communication momentum, advancing synthetic biology education toward greater cultural inclusivity and innovative breakthroughs.
“Online Science Education”
The world is vast, and there are many places our feet cannot reach. Yet this is a new era of technological advancement, where places beyond our physical reach can be connected through the internet.
ICII
Therefore, we have collaborated with fourteen teams, including NAU-CHINA, to create the ICII website: http://www.icii-nau.cn/. This platform, created by NAU-CHINA, centers on connecting synthetic biology with traditional Chinese culture. Much like our earlier discussion of “evolving from points to lines to planes,” the ICII initiative, bringing together multiple universities, stands as one of our journeys along the modern Silk Road.
ICII serves as a collaborative space where iGEM teams can share their projects and ideas while incorporating cultural insights. The platform is inspired by the Silk Road, a historical symbol of cultural exchange, and seeks to foster a modern-day dialogue between science and culture. In 2025, the platform hosted 14 iGEM teams from 11 cities across China, including major urban hubs like Nanjing, Beijing, and Wuhan, each contributing unique scientific and cultural perspectives. The platform is divided into three key sections: ICII Panorama, where teams present their research; Dialogue Gallery, showcasing the integration of culture with synthetic biology; and the Silk Road Forum, which encourages global discussions on the future of synthetic biology and its cultural relevance.
ICII is designed to not only showcase scientific research but also bridge regional and cultural differences, providing a space for teams to collaborate and learn from one another. Teams can use the platform to share their projects, engage in discussions, and contribute to a growing network of cross-disciplinary knowledge.
Debunking Myths About Synthetic Biology
To enhance societal acceptance of synthetic biology, we actively participated in the “Debunking Myths About Synthetic Biology” handbook project organized by CJUH-JLU-China. This initiative brought together 33 iGEM teams, each proposing the synthetic biology misconception they most wanted to dispel and refuting it with scientific evidence and compelling case studies.
In this event, we collaborated with other iGEM teams to demonstrate the theme “Knowledge is Power” through real-world examples. We aimed to enhance public awareness of synthetic biology, clarify common misconceptions about the field, and showcase its practical applications and potential.
Comics and Merchandise
To help more people understand plasmids, we've also created plasmid-themed comics and merchandise. The comics use vivid cartoon characters and engaging storylines to explain plasmid structure and function, making complex scientific concepts accessible. We've also developed related emoji packs, integrating them into everyday conversations to raise awareness of synthetic biology among online users. Merchandise includes coasters, seed cards that sprout flowers, keychains, and pins. These items serve not only as collectibles but also expose people to synthetic biology elements in daily life, further spreading knowledge about the field.
Social Media Accounts
To raise awareness of synthetic biology, we have actively established platforms such as a WeChat Official Account and a Bilibili channel. Our WeChat Official Account has a total of 329 subscribers and has accumulated nearly 10,000 views. Through literature guides, daily activities, and science comics, we aim to engage audiences with varying levels of familiarity in synthetic biology. We hope they discover content that resonates with them, sparking a desire to explore further. Together, let's harness the power of awareness to change the world.
Finally, we returned to the factory, revisiting Fufeng Company where our project began. Unlike our initial visit, this time we brought our research findings to present our proposed solutions for overcoming industrial fermentation challenges to Fufeng's management and technical staff. We detailed the stress-resistant plasmids we had identified and the standardized expression modules we had constructed, demonstrating through experimental data that these modules enhance the environmental adaptability of industrial strains while reducing energy consumption and production costs during fermentation.
Fufeng's management and technical staff evaluated our proposal, acknowledging its significant practical value and potential to resolve real-world challenges for the enterprise. This journey—from initially investigating the factory's difficulties to now returning with our own solutions—marks a crucial step in bridging theoretical research to practical application. Though much work remains, we continue to advance.
Fufeng Company Exchange and Visit Record
Just as in times past, from spring to autumn, I once again donned my well-behaved coat and joined our team for another exchange visit to Fufeng Group Co., Ltd. At the outset of our exchange, we provided Fufeng with a detailed overview of our current research progress. We shared the phased outcomes of our stress-resistant modification efforts: certain plasmid fragments have demonstrated clear stress-resistant effects. Building upon this achievement, our open-fermentation tank experiments proceeded without any contamination from extraneous microorganisms. Upon hearing this, the company representatives expressed high expectations for the practical application of our research findings.
In exploring industrial implementation directions, Fufeng Company presented specific requirements based on production realities, which we meticulously documented and addressed individually. The enterprise expressed a desire to modify the new base strain to produce high-value-added organic nitrogen, thereby enhancing raw material economic efficiency. Simultaneously, in response to energy consumption challenges for summer cooling caused by global warming, the company requested further improvements in the strain's heat tolerance.
Additionally, reducing pH adjustment costs during fermentation requires strains with stronger acid-alkali tolerance. Addressing these needs, we swiftly reached consensus with the company to jointly establish a stress-tolerance element library. By inserting specific gene fragments into strains, we aim to enhance stress resistance, streamline strain cultivation processes, and move beyond the previous “hit-or-miss” chassis screening approach—ensuring research truly serves production.
During our discussions, we also candidly exchanged views with the company on outstanding issues. Drawing on their extensive production experience, the company highlighted the instability of plasmids in actual manufacturing processes and suggested directly integrating the stress-resistant gene into the bacterial strain's genome to enhance the technology's practical applicability. We proactively mentioned that antibiotics had been used in laboratory experiments to prevent plasmid loss.
However, the company explicitly emphasized that the food industry must avoid antibiotic residues, and we immediately indicated we would adjust subsequent experimental protocols. Additionally, we discovered that the current plasmid distribution was irregular, with lengths ranging from 1000 to 16000 base pairs. The company advised us to expand our sample size for further research. This feedback provided clear direction for our subsequent work.
Regarding the actual fermentation production process, Fufeng Company provided a detailed introduction, and we raised questions based on our laboratory research. The company mentioned that each fermentation tank has a capacity of approximately 200 cubic meters. Taking glutamic acid production as an example, the water consumption per batch ranges from 120 to 160 cubic meters. The tanks utilize computer-automated sterilization, requiring only manual parameter setting and monitoring, which significantly reduces operational risks.
Regarding contamination control, the company acknowledged that monthly contamination batches are inconsistent—ranging from none to multiple instances. However, established protocols are in place. Regular sampling through ports allows identification of contaminant types via microscopy and testing, enabling temperature adjustments for sterilization to prevent entire batches from being scrapped.
Additionally, tanks are designed independently, ensuring contamination in one tank does not affect others. We also noted discrepancies between laboratory and production practices—while production avoids antibiotic use, certain laboratory experiments require antibiotics to prevent plasmid loss. Both parties agreed targeted improvements are needed to ensure seamless alignment between research and manufacturing.
Even as the story reaches its terminator T, the “Genetic Silk Road” of the SILK project will continue to unfold. We will persist in unearthing microbial treasures from extreme environments, documenting their unique stories, optimizing the performance of stress-resistant modules, and driving more fermentation enterprises toward green upgrades. We will also continue to bridge science communication, bringing synthetic biology out of laboratories and into the public eye. For we firmly believe that every gene sequence holds nature's wisdom, and every industrial contribution carries the warmth of science. When these “genetic threads” are woven with care, they will ultimately paint a more resilient, eco-friendly, and vibrant future on the canvas of industrial biotechnology.