#uwigem

[uwigem]

ANOTHER GREAT YEAR OF OUTREACH

iGEM is as much about spreading synthetic biology as it is about practicing it. Every year, we educate K-12 students in synthetic biology, promoting interest in the biological sciences and sharing our love for research with younger members of the community.

Thanks to everyone who volunteered or visited us at outreach this year :D

Although previous UW iGEM teams preferred taking an abstract approach to outreach activities (e.g. http://2012.igem.org/Team:Washington/Outreach) , we decided to go more hands-on with an interactive strawberry DNA extraction.  This is actually a great activity for other iGEM teams and really anyone interested in doing a biology demonstration. 

Strawberries are octoploids, meaning each of their cells carries eight copies of DNA!  That’s a lot considering we’re diploid organisms, each of our cells only carries 2 copies. Thus, it should be really easy to see the strawberry DNA once it is extracted.  

The activity also remains hands-on without the use of engineered DNA..  This is perfect because certain event coordinators aren’t very comfortable having students interact with engineered DNA.  

The best  part is that the extraction is very basic (not that kind of basic, although we did run a pH test as another activity), which leaves a lot of room for creativity.  Last year we turned the extraction into a CSI: Seattle Crime Investigation.  You can check it out here.  If there are any more ideas to hack the basic strawberry DNA extraction, we’d love to read them so please email me with yours.   

To learn how to do the strawberry DNA extraction demo check out this link:

http://uwigem.tumblr.com/post/127224577381/cool-outreach-ideas-for-igem

And with that, we’re rolling into project season :D!  

[uwigem]

IGEM is a wonderful opportunity for student scientists, but it wouldn't be possible without help from others. Together we raised $1,100 in just 9 days! May 1st was the registration deadline for our 2016 team and we made it, thanks to all of your support!  

You’ve helped fund novel biotech research, give students the opportunity to change the world through bioengineering, and engage the greater community in the art of synthetic biology.  As a certain team member likes to put it, you have “saved the world” and for this, we thank you.

We raised money not only through our crowdfunding campaign but also with these flyers.  We printed a stack of them to bring to each outreach event, raising awareness of our education program and gaining support for our team.  Feel free to print some of your own to post in other places :D 

Once again, thank you friends!

[uwigem]

Click here to support UW iGEM: Fund the Next Generation of Scientists by Hadley Garrett

We are raising money to register our team for the 2016 iGEM season as well as spread our knowledge and love of STEM with anyone and everyone interested i...

Hi everyone!  We had an amazing time competing at iGEM’s 2015 Jamboree.  Now it’s time to register for 2016.  A new group of excited students, a new project to create, and a future ahead of us that we can’t wait to dive into.  Help us raise enough money to register our team and pay for outreach.  Give potential physicians, scientists, and engineers a chance to apply their academic knowledge to the real world, bioengineering it for the better.

[uwigem]

iGEM is an international synthetic biology foundation and competition dedicated to fostering education and an open scientific community.

The UW team is recruiting new members. We welcome people from various academic backgrounds and no previous lab experience is required!  Compete with teams from around the world, meet other budding researchers, and learn more about synthetic biology, engineering design, and their real-world applications.

The dawn of a new season is upon us!  Join us on Tuesday or Wednesday to learn more about what we do as a team and how you too can get involved in hands on biotech research. 

If you are interested, attend one of the info sessions:

Tue, Jan 26 @ 6:00pm in Foege N130

Wed, Jan 27 @ 7:00pm in MolES 115

For more information check out the dates on the  calendar .