Collaborations
Overview
No one can paint a vivid masterpiece alone; it requires the blend of different colors and the inspiration from fellow artists. Over the past few months, our team has participated in multiple collaborative activities. Each discussion is like a brushstroke adding depth to our work, and we sincerely hope these experiences will bring valuable growth to every participant.
SCAU-China
Through the communication platform of the iGEM Chinese community, we received an invitation from SCAU-China and subsequently held an online discussion to share insights about our respective projects. This year, SCAU-China's iGEM project focuses on the heavy metal pollution issue in mangrove ecosystems. The team aims to utilize synthetic biology technologies to design functional modules such as heavy metal adsorption and enrichment, immobilization, and environmental response, in order to tackle the pollution challenge. The integrity and innovation of its module design have made us realize that our own project needs further improvement in module design and architecture construction to enhance its comprehensiveness.
In addition, the two teams also exchanged ideas on criteria for selecting HP targets and the design framework for iHP. Considering the needs of the field research segment in SCAU-China's HP project, we recommended suitable mangrove ecosystem practice bases for the team based on our own experience, helping them refine their research plan.
This exchange not only deepened the two teams' mutual understanding of each other's core projects but also built a bridge of communication, fostering a valuable friendship between the teams.
ZJUT-China
To gain precise technical knowledge and practical experience in the construction of enzyme mutation libraries, we engaged in discussions with the ZJUT-China team. The ZJUT-China team focuses on achieving efficient detection and degradation of environmental microplastics through a surface display system, a research topic that shares many technical parallels with our own project—particularly in enzyme mutation strategies and application design. Building on this common ground, our discussions centered on two main areas: first, the principles, procedures, and optimization strategies of enzyme screening systems, where we explored the adaptability and efficiency of different screening approaches; second, enzyme characterization methods, where we exchanged technical pathways and carried out multi-angle comparative analyses between their methods and ours, thereby supporting the advancement of both teams' future research.
BGI Mammoth Education
In addition to engaging with teams from the undergraduate track, we have also actively connected with teams from the high school track to broaden the scope of collaboration. The XMU-China team warmly received a group of high school students from BGI Mammoth Education. The two sides engaged in in-depth exchanges and shared experiences on their respective synthetic biology projects, further fueling their passion in this field.
The exchange went beyond project overviews and research framework design, extending to in-depth topics such as dissecting technical details, strategies for overcoming experimental challenges, and practical insights from participating in international competitions. During the exchange, members of the XMU iGEM team patiently answered the questions raised by the high school students. At the same time, drawing on their own scientific research and learning experiences, the team members shared practical methodologies and encouraged the students to stay curious about science and seek true knowledge through practice. The high school students from BGI Mammoth Education also actively shared their learning achievements and perspectives on science, showcasing their innovative thinking and dedication to scientific exploration.
12th CCiC
The China Conference of iGEMers (CCiC) is not only an annual flagship event for Chinese iGEM teams, but also an important platform for young scholars to exchange ideas in the field of synthetic biology. It builds a stage for iGEMers to showcase their projects, creates opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue and fosters exploration of deeper and broader directions for collaboration.
From August 6 to 8, 2025, we were invited to attend the 12th China Conference of iGEMers & Global Bio-Developer Conference at the Beijing Zhongguancun Convention and Exhibition Center. During the event, we engaged in in-depth discussions with several teams, including TJU-China and XJTLU-China. Through these discussions, we not only received valuable advice from teams and professors across different fields—particularly on key aspects such as optimizing semi-quantitative screening systems and advancing practical applications of our project—but also gained numerous invitations for continued collaboration. For instance, the XJTLU-China team expressed great interest in our artistic image design and looked forward to further collaboration with our art group.
Summary
These sincere exchanges have revealed the wisdom of different teams, and more importantly, inspired us for the journey ahead through their experiences. The path of iGEM is one we must walk hand in hand, for this is the source of the community's vitality. Over the past eight months, every collaborative discussion has been like a colorful brushstroke, enriching the depth of our project. We hope that these experiences will leave a lasting mark on the growth of every participant.
