MEET-UP VALENCIA

Past August (18, 19 and 20), Spanish iGEM groups met in the city of Valencia. The purpose of the meeting was to know in depth the rest of the projects and the members from the other teams. At this event we did not only get to know the projects, we also were able to appreciate the great work that the groups were doing.

The initiative came from iGEM group of Valencia, who contacted us and the iGEM team from Barcelona. We were chatting for a few weeks until we agreed on a date for the meeting, which was not hard.

On Friday 19 August, the 3 groups presented their projects in the residence Galileo Galilei. The first group was Valencia UPV with their project “Hack Your Plants Editing”.They decided to be the first because they were the hosts.

Each part of the project was explained by a different member. It was a very entertaining and surprising exhibition. It was very interesting to know the use of biomechanics and biomedicine to create transgenic plants using a new technique much more efficient.

Our group was the second one in presenting the project. We talked about our project, and also explained the techniques we make use of to get our objects. We presented our project "Biofilms Transformer" They were very interested and gave us their views. It was very rewarding for us. Each of us explained his own work, except our friend José who could not come. We finished the exhibition with a Spot of Human Practices.

Finally, it was the turn of UPF-CRG Barcelona. They were a little embarrassed to expose their project because they thought it was not as good as the others. When they began to tell about their idea everyone agreed it was a great project. They made a funny show and we had a great time listening to their progress and difficulties on the creation of a probiotic to act as a preventive treatment for cancer. The other groups gave them some ideas to help them improve their techniques.

Once presentations had finished, all group members got together and talked about what we thought about the other projects and how we could help each other. We had very constructive talks for our projects and ourselves.

After the presentations, all members of the group went out to have dinner together. We took advantage of this opportunity to better know all groups and mostly for fun. We even changed our site in order to sit with different people and know them better.

It was a fun night we enjoyed competing healthily with friends.

On Saturday, Valencia UPV Team had a surprise. As we didn’t know the city, our friends from Valencia were our guides and told us a lot of interesting historical information and some ancient legends of Valencia (such as the bat emblem of the city).

The surprise was a picnic that the people from Valencia had prepared for all of us. It was a very nice surprise and the food was really tasty. That evening we enjoyed together playing different games and recording funny videos.

The last day was the farewell. Nobody wanted to go home.

We took advantage to enjoy the beauty of Valencia until the last moments, through the City of Arts and Sciences and the Malvarrosa beach with some friends from Valencia. Sadly, we had to say goodbye at the train station.

The 3 groups (UPO-Sevilla, UPF-CRG Barcelona and Valencia UPV) discussed constructively on different projects and applications and contributions to science. It was a wonderful way to collaborate and help each other. All projects were very applauded and congratulated by the others. We are really delighted and integrated when interacting with the different disciplines that make up a team, from biotechnologists and biomedical scientists or computer engineers, to a journalist.

Thank to this meeting of different teams, we all made good friends and we are now a great family where everyone helps each other.

EUROPEAN RESEARCHERS’ NIGHT

The European Researchers' Night is a European science project promoted by the European Commission within the Marie Curie Sktodowska the Horizon 2020 program, which takes place simultaneously in over 250 European cities since 2005.

For the fifth consecutive year, it was held to discover the human side of research through direct contact and conversation with experts. On 30^th September, it was held on 7 Andalusian capitals and Jerez (Cadiz).

The last year’s edition had the participation of 250 cities in 32 European countries with the aim of bringing science and researchers to the general public, demonstrating a practical and playful relationship between research and everyday life form, and disseminating scientific studies among young people.

The implication from the start of those investigating, real protagonists of the project is key to the success of the activity, which records an increasing number of scientists and scientists participating in the event each year. Specifically, the activity brought together more than 1,200 researchers to showcase their work to the public in the edition of 2016.

We set up our stand next to the cathedral in the center of Seville, which is a very nice place. Much more people than we actually expected stopped to meet our project. It was a great surprise.

Our stand attracted the attention from very different people. Apart from students, we were glad to explain our project to tourists, teachers from different fields, parents, children and curious passersby.

Although we belong to the Universidad Pablo de Olavide, this time we could have our own space due to the magnitude and recognition of our project. Our university conducted a workshop on legumes entitled "Legumes, much more than a food" and placed in Plaza Nueva, next to the city council in Seville.

We took advantage of the occasion by distributing brochures with information about iGEM, about synthetic biology and about our project in an attempt to bring it closer to people who have no idea about this field.

For us, the influx of people and their interest in new scientific projects is a huge breakthrough. We were able to see how good science is appreciated, and therefore we were proud to be a part of it. Thanks to this event we have renewed strength to continue our idea with more enthusiasm.