Abstract
To expand public awareness of our intelligent protein design platform, REvoDesign, and to highlight its potential in tackling the sustainable production of high-value natural products such as paclitaxel, we developed a systematic science communication strategy.
We launched three complementary social media channels—WeChat Official Account, Xiaohongshu (REDnote), and Bilibili —each tailored to audiences of different ages, backgrounds, and levels of familiarity with science. The WeChat Official Account serves as a professional hub, strengthening connections with the academic and research community. Xiaohongshu, with its visually engaging and easy-to-digest content, attracts broader audiences with a casual interest in science. Meanwhile, Bilibili fosters a youth-driven ecosystem through in-depth videos and interactive livestreams. Collectively, these platforms enable us to communicate synthetic biology more clearly and effectively to audiences with different backgrounds.
Questionnaire Survey
Before launching our large-scale science communication campaign, we first conducted an online questionnaire survey on “Public Awareness of Synthetic Biology and Protein Design Tools” (Fig.1). The goal was to pinpoint both knowledge gaps and areas of curiosity among the public.
The survey covered multiple aspects, including awareness of synthetic biology, heterologous synthesis of natural products, and attitudes toward environmental protection and biomanufacturing. It was distributed via our WeChat Official Account and Xiaohongshu, collecting over 200 valid responses within a short period of time.
Analysis of the results revealed that more than 60% of researchers face the challenge of low enzyme catalytic efficiency, yet many are unfamiliar with key concepts such as semi-rational protein design. This finding guided our future content strategy: scientific principles should be translated into relatable stories and visual narratives that connect with everyday life.
Beyond data collection, the survey also served as a powerful act of public engagement. By encouraging participants to move from passive recipients of information to active contributors, it laid a strong foundation for the success of our subsequent science outreach efforts.
Fig. 1 Questionnaire survey and QR code published on Xiaohongshu and WeChat Official Account.
WeChat Official Account
As our primary and most systematic communication channel, the WeChat Official Account (ID: iGEM YNNU) has served as a hub for academic updates and public engagement (Fig.2). Since its launch, as of September 23, 2025, it has published 31 articles, gained 133 followers, and reached a peak single-post view count of 1,224. The most popular posts among them are the “Big Name Arrival” interview series, featuring Professor Junbo Gou (1,224 views), Professor Bin Huang (517 views), and Associate Professor Yuan Zhou (378 views). These posts not only increased visibility but also facilitated dialogue between academia, industry, and the wider community.
To provide a well-rounded mix of content, the account is structured into five sections, ranging from cutting-edge science communication to industry-academia dialogue:
Fig. 2 Team introduction on WeChat Official Account.
Translation: This is the secret laboratory of the iGEM team at Yunnan Normal University! We not only explore the mysteries of life, but also want to bring small and beautiful changes to the world with science. Join us in discovering a new vision of synthetic biology.
1. Literature and frontier science sharing series (16 articles)
We transform complex academic papers into clear, story-driven posts enriched with visuals. These posts feature interpretations of cutting-edge research, insights into the future of synthetic biology, and introductions to the latest protein design tools. Rather than simply summarizing literature, we reframe complex research into accessible scientific narratives, supported by clear illustrations and logical explanations (Fig.3). For example, “PROSS Automated Protein Stability Design Tool: Letting Bacteria ‘Produce’ More Stable Proteins” explained protein stabilization with the analogy of “putting a bulletproof vest on proteins”. This made unfamiliar concepts like “protein design” approachable and discussable.
Fig. 3 Excerpts of WeChat Official Account content.
Translation:1. When Yeast Becomes an “Antimalarial Factory”: The Miracle of Artemisinin and Synthetic Biology; 2. Paclitaxel: The Gift from Yew Trees and the “Freezer” of Cancer Cell Divisio; 3. Artificial Intelligence + Synthetic Biology: Revolution and Challenges; 4. PROSS: An Automated Protein Stability Design Tool for Bacteria to “Produce” More Stable Proteins; 5. Lycopene: Is It Just About Making Tomatoes Red?; 6. Breaking Substrate Inhibition: Building a High-Productivity β-Carotene Lipid Yeast Cell Factory.
2. Dialogue Enterprise Series (4 articles)
We interviewed institutions such as Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd., Chenguang Biotech Group Co., Ltd., and Yunnan Cancer Hospital, and participated in the China-ASEAN Expo.
In our dialogue with Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd., we explored the pain points of the industrial transformation of paclitaxel from “tree felling extraction”to “microbial synthesis”; at Chenguang Biotech Group Co., Ltd., we learned about the cost and efficiency bottlenecks in the large-scale production of plant extracts; at Yunnan Cancer Hospital, we heard from clinical doctors about the urgent need for “cheaper and more environmentally friendly anti-cancer drugs” from patients. These interview articles not only demonstrated the application potential of REvoDesign to enterprises but also revealed the close connection between research and industry, as well as between laboratories and hospital beds, greatly enhancing the practical significance and social resonance of the project (Fig.4).
Fig. 4 Dialogue with enterprises on WeChat Official Account.
Include: Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co., Ltd.; Chenguang Biotech Group Co., Ltd.; Yunnan Cancer Hospital; Research at the China-ASEAN Expo.
3. Lecture Series (3 articles)
We presented our lecture series in a set of three illustrated articles. These posts summarized both interactive classes in primary schools and expert lectures, providing secondary dissemination of offline activities (Fig.5). For example, the article “Sowing the Seeds of Science, Lighting the Future – iGEM Jinning Science Popularization” documented children’s engagement through drawing cartoon depictions of iGEM. We also reported on Professor Liu Haiyan’s lecture on advances in protein design and summarized Professor Liu Long’s lecture along with an interview with him. Through these reports, the influence of one-time offline events was extended, allowing broader outreach and continued visibility.
Fig. 5 Lecture reports on WeChat Official Account.
Include: Campus Science Popularization Activities in Jinning; Professor Liu Haiyan's Lecture; Professor Liu Long’s Lecture.
4. “Big Name Arrival” Series (5 Articles):
To address frequently asked questions raised by the public on social media and to enhance the authority of our content, we launched the “Big Name Arrival” column, inviting five “Big Names” for in-depth conversations (Fig.6). For instance, Researcher Zhang provided a detailed interpretation of whether microbial “dark matter” genes interfere with cell factories, while Professor Xu responded to the question of “How can industrial transformation be effectively achieved?”. This interactive model—from the public to the experts, and back to the public—not only offered clear answers but also fostered an open and dynamic community of scientific dialogue, building a solid bridge between the REvoDesign project and both professional and public audiences.
Fig. 6 Content of the WeChat Official Account for the “Big Name Arrival” series.
Among the big names are Professor Junbo Gou, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine; Professor Bin Huang, Yunnan Normal University; Associate Professor Yuan Zhou, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Researcher Yancun Zhang, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, CAAS; and Professor Min Xu, Kunming University of Science and Technology.
5. Peer Exchange Series (2 articles):
We organized the content from our participation in the CCiC exchange meeting in Beijing and the online exchange meeting with the iGEM team of Sichuan University, and shared it on our official WeChat account for resource sharing (Fig.7). This not only resolved our doubts but also established an open and active scientific dialogue community, fulfilling the platform's significance of resource sharing.
Fig. 7 Peer exchange content.
Including: Online Exchange with Sichuan University iGEM team; Participation in the CCiC meeting in Beijing.
Xiaohongshu
The Xiaohongshu is our strategic channel for reaching younger audiences and achieving “cross-boundary” communication. On this highly visual, lifestyle-oriented platform, we knew that transforming complex science into eye-catching, interactive content was key to engagement. Xiaohongshu account, with its fresh design style and Q&A formats, quickly attracted followers (Fig.8). We mainly post three types of content:
Project introductions: Our first post, “Hello! This is iGEM-YNNU. Welcome to explore the new world of synthetic biology with us!”, featured a hand-drawn iGEM concept map with concise text and posters, boosting visibility.
Expert Q&A highlights: We condensed long expert interviews into “knowledge cards”. For example, the question “How can we avoid overlooking ‘dark genes’ in microorganisms?” was made instantly clear through a simple graphic card.
Interactive quizzes and surveys: We adapted serious questionnaires into QR-code based polls, significantly improving participation and sharing.
Through Xiaohongshu, synthetic biology has shifted from being seen as “black-box technology” to a trendy, shareable topic that young people actively discuss—and even show off to their friends.
Fig. 8 Examples of Xiaohongshu’s content.
Include: a. Hand-drawn iGEM concept map. b. Expert Q&A presented as text-and-image cards. c. Questionnaire QR code combined with engaging visuals.
Bilibili
Bilibili is our core platform for in-depth science communication and for cultivating a loyal fan community. It attracts a large number of young people who are enthusiastic about science and enjoy interactive, thought-provoking content—making it an ideal venue for medium- to long-form videos (Fig.9).
Our account has released the following video series:
- A vlog documenting our visit to the Yunnan Cancer Hospital, sharing first-hand perspectives from clinicians and patients.
- A vlog of our trip to Beijing for the CCiC conference, capturing our participation and exchanges with other iGEM teams.
- A vlog of our visit to the Institute of Medicinal Plants at the Dali Academy of Agricultural Sciences, showcasing the connection between research and industrial applications.
Through these videos, we not only present our project in an accessible and narrative-driven format but also build a community where young audiences can learn, comment, and interact with us.
Fig. 9 Part of Bilibili’s content.
Including: a. Official QR code of our Bilibili account. b,c. Vlog of the CCiC trip in Beijing. d. Vlog of the visit to Yunnan Cancer Hospital.
Educational Materials
To extend the impact of our outreach, we designed and distributed a series of physical educational materials, combining practical functions with project concepts. These items helped us reach students, teachers, and the general public in multiple ways, embedding synthetic biology into everyday life.
Stickers
Stickers served as our “social currency” within the student community. We designed a variety of styles incorporating key elements of synthetic biology—such as DNA helices, protein structures, beakers, and the DBTL (Design–Build–Test–Learn) cycle—alongside playful slogans like “MUTANT MAKES IT BETTER” and “TRUST ME, I'M AN ENGINEER”.
These stickers, commonly placed on notebooks, water bottles, and laptops, became trendy items for young people to express themselves. At the same time, they created a unique “scientific landscape” on campus, subtly spreading our project's philosophy and sparking curiosity.
A printer-ready version of these sticker pages can be found at page-1 and page-2.
Brochures
Brochures functioned as our “knowledge packages” for offline events such as presentations, conferences, and campus activities. Professionally designed with a balance of visuals and concise text, they introduced:
- the origins of the iGEM competition,
- the principles and advantages of the REvoDesign tool,
- the environmental challenges of paclitaxel production, and
- our proposed solutions.
These brochures quickly conveyed our core values to diverse audiences. At events like CCiC, they were in high demand, serving as powerful “business cards” for our project.
Water Bottles
Customized water bottles combined practicality with cultural value. Featuring both the team logo and the official iGEM logo, the bottles were simple yet elegant. They not only built team identity but also acted as mobile billboards: whether in the lab, at the library, or in a coffee shop, our members carried them everywhere, naturally sparking conversations about iGEM and synthetic biology.
Notebooks
Our notebooks blended functionality with education. Printed with the team and iGEM logos, they served as practical tools for students and researchers to record ideas and experiments. With every page turned, users were subtly reminded of our iGEM mission, making the notebook a long-lasting carrier of our vision.
