Team:XJTLU-CHINA/HP/Gold
Activity 4: Public speech for seeking suggestions of project on campus
In order to collect feedback about our project, we held a public speech from fellow students in different departments as well as some university professors. During the public speech, we made a brief team introduction to all students and teachers about XJTLU-CHINA iGEM team for 2016. During the activity, we highlighted the expected outcome of our muta in vivo project and the potential benefit for the society in future, especially the production of benefit mutation for agriculture and the practical use in pharmaceutical companies.
Besides, we consulted some professors seeking for the solutions of some obstacles when conducting the experimental practical. Especially we found the reasons of repeated failure in conducting the experiments. They also provided us with suggestions in the ideas and designs of our team project.
Activity 5: Road show at 2016 International STEM Festival
An international science festival focused on core literacy and STEM education attracting hundreds of students and their parents to see the latest science and technology innovations. The 2016 International STEM Science Festival featured a series of activities including project experiences, a forum and the 2016 World Robot Olympiad East China competition. As novel student research group of synthetic biology at XJTLU, we invited two other iGEM teams (ZJU-CHINA & NYU-Shanghai) taking this opportunity to publicize the significance of iGEM in promoting STEM subjects in synthetic biology area.
The four-day event invited experts from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Finland, as well as more than 40 well-known domestic and international enterprises, including Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard Development Company and Oracle. In particular, throughout this festival, hundreds of students and their parents are attracted to see the latest science and technology innovations.
With the demonstration of our team project, we set up an interaction activity with the surrounding guests in order to discuss the ethic issues about genetically modified food. It attracted a lot of people putting forward the idea on the given topic: Your attitude and potential consequences if genetically modified animal leave the lab and into practical use. During the interaction, we help the public to develop a more holistic and deeper insight towards the ethic issues in genetically modified food.
During the festival, we delivered a specific lecture on the practical application of mutagenesis and how biological sciences can provide help for achieving sustainability of the whole society. The Q&A session had effectively cleared public perception.
Our demonstration of the team project for 2016 attracted much attention from business leaders, young adults and even the senior citizens. The picture below showed the curiosity to our project. They told us that they care more about how our mutagenesis can help cure severe diseases and wonder how the project could be applied into practical use. This type of information inspired us to work hard and consider more about how our project can help the society to achieve sustainability.
On the last day, head of the Elementary Education Division at the Jiangsu provincial Department of Education as well as leaders from Ministry of Education, P.R. China accompanied by president of our university spoke highly of XJTLU-CHINA team members on independently conducting undergraduate student research project. We had shared ideas with them on public policy issues for current scientific subjects as well as the promotion of STEM subjects in China from undergraduate perspective.
Also, we are also involved in the discussion of cultivating students’ scientific and rational thinking, especially focusing on equipping young people with the knowledge and skills to solve tough problems with practical experiences.
Activity 6: Project demonstration at XJTLU Fablab
In September, student research groups at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University get together to share the experiences and detailed program to other research groups throughout the whole process of conducting research program. Other student groups come from electronic and engineering as well as computer programs.
We introduced synthetic biology to them by highlighting the multi-disciplinary requirements and the relative relationship with the association with knowledge in electronic or engineering.
Jo Johnson MP, 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.
