1 / 17
Kyoto iGEM team
● On the 7th of Dec 2018, we contacted the Kyoto iGEM team to ask them about their
experience in iGEM, any pointers on how to build a team and brainstorming tips. They
gave us some valuable information that helped us in the construction of our team as well
as the brainstorming process, as they recommended looking for past iGEM projects for
inspiration. Furthermore, they drew our attention to the importance of knowing how far
previous studies have reached and whether or not our project idea is feasible regarding
our team’s capacity.
● On the 24th of Feb 2019, we contacted them again about their 2018 project which was a
desalination project. We asked them several questions about the drawbacks of their
system, the complication of the process and especially on their work on sodium and
chloride ions. They didn’t hesitate and answered every question we asked, they were
more than helpful and we benefited a lot from their advice.
2 / 17
AFCM teams 2018 and 2019
● On the 7th of Dec 2018, an email was sent to AFCM team 2018, followed by a more
professional call from our PI Dr.Khadiga Gafaar to their PI Dr.Mostafa ElNakib asking for
a meeting to hear about their iGEM experience and their recommendations. Our request
for a meeting was more than greatly welcomed by them.
● On the 10th of Jan, AFCM started the day with a brief presentation about iGEM, their
idea, Synthetic Biology, Human practices and medal criteria. We further discussed our
idea and they encouraged us to work on the Environmental track and be the first
Egyptian team to participate in such a track.They were amazed and thrilled by the fact
that we started our Synthetic Biology journey from scratch, learning each and everything
by ourselves. They gave us some advice about whom should be part of our team and
explained to us the benefits of participating in this competition. We could not thank them
enough for their help and hospitality.
3 / 17
NYU Abu Dhabi
● NYU Abu Dhabi team sent us an email asking for a collaboration, we didn’t hesitate a
second and we were more than happy to collaborate with them.
● On the 23rd of June 2018, we had an online meeting with them in which we discussed
our projects, exchanged opinions, provided feedback and suggested some
modifications.
● Our collaborations with them continued to flourish. They asked to reach out to the
Egyptian parasitology and infectious diseases professors, so we connected them with
Prof Dr Ahmed Osman. In return, they gave us a brief about modelling and how to apply
it in our project and offered assistance in the application if needed.
● Furthermore, they helped us contact Nidal Hilalthe the director of NYUAD's Water
Research Center and editor-in-chief of an international journal, Desalination. Thank you
NYU Abu Dhabi team. Your assistance is truly appreciated.
4 / 17
Calgary 2019
● We saw the Calgary team’s post asking for collaboration, where teams will get their
synthetic biology course materials and give them feedback. They sent us their materials, we used them in one of
our outreach activities and it was very helpful to us.
5 / 17
TAS_Taipei, Costa Rica and Tüebingen teams
● We participated in the iGEMxSDGs Instagram challenge as iGEM Poitiers nominated us
to participate in this challenge. This challenge is to promote the Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) proposed by the United Nations. Our project will help with both Goal 6 and Goal 14 which
are concerned about providing clean water and sanitation and rescuing life below water.
6 / 17
Virginia team
● Team virginia was facing a problem with how hard it was to reach other team’s mails and
social media accounts. So, they decided to make an online form to be filled by teams
with their info, so it can be easily accessed by all teams to reach each other. We filled up
this form and it helped us reach other teams easily.
7 / 17
UAAAN team
● UAAAN team was seeking to collaborate with other teams through recording a short video in the teams' native
language about ‘What is iGEM for you’. We shared our experience with them. It was a fun experience.
8 / 17
UNSW Australia team
● While surfing through the collaboration page, we found out that team UNSW Australia
were seeking collaboration where each team sends them their social media directory.
We sent them ours, and we’re waiting for the sheet for the other teams’ details.
9 / 17
Rice team
● Rice team wanted to make a meta analysis about whether or not a team’s location affect
their project selection. They asked every team whether they wanted to participate by
sending them the inspiration for their project selection, we sent them our inspiration and
answered some questions hoping that it will help.
10 / 17
Evry Paris-Saclay team
● They made a great comic explaining Synthetic Biology and its usefulness in our project,
and asked teams to translate it into their native language. We decided to translate it into
Arabic slang and we hope it helped.
Here's thePDF
11 / 17
OUC-China team
● They were seeking collaboration through translating their comic book into different
languages, so that many people around the world could benefit from it. So, we decided
to translate it into Arabic,hoping that it can reach as many people as possible.
Here's thePDF
12 / 17
IIT Madras team
● The indian team was seeking collaboration where they send a script to be translated into
other languages. So, we decided to translate it into French. It was a great
one, thank you guys.
13 / 17
UCL team
● Environmental pollution is one of the biggest problems the world is facing nowadays.
UCL team began an Emerald challenge, where each team can perform some steps to reduce
energy consumption and other things that save the environment and post photos of
them. So, we participated in this collaboration and it was a very useful one to our
community and helped towards a more eco friendly world.
14 / 17
Toronto team
● We had a problem transforming some parts and we thought that there was a problem with the DNA itself ,
so we asked team toronto to perform the experiment and try to transform the same exact part. The team
willingly did,and gave us the protocol they used. Thank you guys
15 / 17
DUT_China B team
● We started a collaboration on the iGEM site regarding our designed BBa_Game that allow
people to get familiar with the concept of biobricks in an easy way. Team DUT was interested
and decided to translate it into Chinese and to use it in one of their outreach activities and gave us a
feedback about it,"We think that your game has an extraordinary effect on the promotion of synthetic biology,
which makes the concepts of synthetic biology easier to explain." They also suggested some modifications which we
will try to improve.Thank you DUT China_B
16 / 17
Washington team
● We joined the collaboration made by team Washington to translate outreach booklets. We have
translated 4 booklets into Arabic Slang and we plan to continue translating even after the Giant Jambroee
17 / 17
Waterloo team
● Waterloo team, one of the teams who offered us help from day one. We started
contacting them on the 11th of Dec 2018, asking about advice regarding the team’s
structure, how to choose the idea, focusing on a certain track, fundraising tips and any
recommendations they could give for a first time participating team.
● We had an online meeting with the representatives of the team, Clara Fikry and Nicolette
shaw on the 26th of January 2019. We discussed our idea and they gave us advice on
how to manage our progress throughout the competition.
● We contacted them for the second time on the 29th of June asking about media tips for
isolating yeast and some molecular identification techniques, they were more than
helpful suggesting literature that were extremely beneficial for us. Thank you Waterloo
team, we appreciate all your help.
