Team:XJTLU-CHINA/Engagement
The theme for XJTLU-CHINA human practice activities is “From Youth Research to Public Education”. New ideas generated through research can often produce benefits, which can influence the society, policy, health, the environment and even the quality of life. The organization of series of activities serves the purpose of inspiring teenagers and young adults to actively participate in research experience.
Summary:
² Seminars:
ü Undergraduate student research and novel Biology
Þ Effectively integrate their theory into real life
Þ Facilitating their academic performance and scientific career in the future.
Þ Emphasized the significance of undergraduate student research.
Þ Highlight the importance for scientists to help solving social issues and clearing public perception with the theory.
ü Public Speeches seeking for suggestions of group project
Þ Seeking for the solutions of some obstacles when conducting the experimental practical
Þ Found the reasons of repeated failure in conducting the project
Þ Consider more practical use of project for society and the environment and human life
² Road show and Public Education
ü International STEM Scientific Festival
Þ Invited two other iGEM teams (ZJU-CHINA & NYU-Shanghai)
Þ Interaction with guests discussing ethic issues about genetically modified animal.
Þ Delivered a specific lecture on the practical application of mutagenesis and how biological sciences can provide help for achieving sustainability of the whole society.
Þ Shared ideas with government officials on public policy issues for current scientific subjects as well as the promotion of STEM subjects in China.
ü Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
Þ Collaboration with SJTU-Shanghai, Tongji University and NYU-Shanghai
Þ Educating teenagers with scientific knowledge in biological sciences and inspiring them to explore the areas of interest.
Þ Illustrating the complicated cell mechanisms under VR, which attracted most students’ attention.
Þ Prepare lectures related to “mutation and health” on teenagers’ level to broad their horizons and clear the public perception.
ü Training Sessions in Guangya Middle School, Guangzhou
Þ Delicately designed popular lectures related to neuroscience, genetics and synthetic biology adjusted to students.
Þ Facilitating high school learning and guiding students to think deeply and jump outside the textbooks
ü Project demonstration at XJTLU Fablab
Þ Share the experiences with other student research group
Þ Highlighting the multi-disciplinary requirements in synthetic Biology
Þ The United Kingdom Minister for Universities and Science, showed great interest and commented our project on fascinating innovation and inspiration.
Reflections from the activities
1. From senior citizens: I am curious about your project since it is closely related to the medicine production. I wonder whether your project can help with the treatment of disease?
2. Residents in Shanghai: I wonder whether genetically modified organisms can pose negative impact on human life. Although it can facilitate the food production in China, what are the consequences for people if they had this type of food for decades?
3. From children at the age of 6: I was heard that the cell was negligible, but I could not imagine how complicated is the cell mechanism under my observation of VR. It is not easy for a little cell to conduct such sophisticated process!! It is amazing!!
4. From parents: Thank you so much for inspiring our children with so fascinating tools, actually it is quite nice with vivid animation. I hope the teachers can use more active teaching tools like your VR model. If so, my children will not feel boring in his study!
5. From middle school students in Suzhou: I think your project is interesting in terms of mutagenesis and it can have a huge impact on the society. But I cannot fully understand your project, especially retrohoming of Group II intron.
From senior high in Guangya Middle school: Your popular lectures are interesting. Although we are facing university entrance examination, it is worthwhile broadening our horizons through popular topics that we are interested in. Thank you for your nice preparation.
6. From teachers in traditional Chinese university: Honestly speaking, it is so difficult for students to generate random mutation through research. But think bravely and do bravely, maybe it can be true in the future. Who knows! Your example is encouraging. We need to encourage more students to conduct research of their interest!
7. From leaders in Ministry of Education in China: I am so very happy to see your research project. I cannot imagine how much effort you had devoted in your research project. In future, China is paramount to be equipped with elites in science and technology! You guys are the future of China!
8 From United Kingdom Minister for Universities and Science: I am happy to know what you are engaged in. It is significant to explore your interesting area when you are young.
Promotion:
Throughout all the human practice activities, we had a much deeper understanding of the significance to publicize the popular idea in scientific subjects and clear the public perception. For responsible scientists, they should not only devote into their research areas, but also engage in the public education for different people.
It should be emphasized that teenagers’ education is significant for the active learning and studying. At the same time, effectively teaching tool should be kindly applied instead of simply going through the textbook. It would be much better if instructors could extend the topic jumping out of textbook so that students can have a holistic learning process. Furthermore, more teaching tools should be used with vivid animation, VR glasses as well as interesting interaction. Through the diverse learning media, the curiosity and interest could be stimulated, which is much better for future exploration.
Besides, public education is necessary, particularly in the popular social and ethic issues. During the interaction with the public, the old people tend to focus on the relevance of research project to their health and the treatment of disease. For mid aged adults, they care more about the novel technology and science innovation. For mid aged people, they are interested in how the computer technology could bring convenience into their life. For children and teenagers, they had technical problems in understand our Muta in vivo. After the careful consideration adapted to their level, they are curious to active participate in the manipulation of studying tools.
In future, we will put much effort for collaborating iGEM teams in China. Based on this resource, the idea for novel research could be spread and publicized. In order to change this obstacle in China, we should not only promoted on the university campus, but also liaison with relevant education institute to actively inspire teenagers and young adults to participate in the future.
