Team:Ryerson Toronto/Engagement
Public Engagement
- Use of Relevant Social Platforms for Public Engagement
- Survey the Public
- Synthetic Biology Workshop
Social media has become one of the most effective platforms for promoting certain causes to the public. Thus, our team decided to use this method to promote synthetic biology and its applications in a wide variety of sectors within the community.
Our team decided to create a Facebook page dedicated to iGem in order to enhance the understanding of the public regarding synthetic biology. As well, the page was created to inform the public about current topics and advancements that might t be of interest to them. Planned workshops were also posted on the page and on the personal social accounts of the team members to cater to a wide variety of audience that might be interested in synthetic biology.
Our team wanted to know the initial opinions of the public regarding synthetic biology. As a result, our team conducted a general survey testing the overall understanding of the public about the field, its uses and the various applications that exist today and will possibly exist in the future. The results are illustrated in this section.
Based on the prior survey conducted, our decided to host a workshop to further educate the public about synthetic biology. Most people knew about synthetic biology and genetically modified organisms, however, most people were not aware of its various uses and thus, could not form a solid opinion on their use in the manufacturing and production of materials. Our workshop consisted of a presentation headed by one of our team members and included an engaging activity that allowed the attendees to work with their peers to get a general idea of the process behind the field of synthetic biology.
