Team:GZHS-United/Public Engagement
Education and Public Engagement of GZHS-United
Engaging local communities in discussions about synthetic biology and public values
Synthetic biology is making changes throughout mankind. Some day every one of which is impacted by the wave of it. The elites are sparing no effort to catch up with the tide of global advanced technology. But through our efforts, we can let more ordinary people involved and bring their wisdom. Also we brought them into this domain. They may not be on the cutting edge, but they must be the ones who have seen synthetic biology growth.
Fig1. We introduced synthetic biology to people of different age group
Actually many people are interested in synthetic biology when we told them that this subject just like reassembling lego to improve a new thing. However, a lot of people stop because it sounds so high tech. What we did is show the applications that are close to life. Such as people can use the technology of synthetic biology to make products like High toughness rope that is made up of cobweb produced by goats. We make a speech in the library at weekend. In order to introduce the new subject synthetic biology to people of different age group. In Chinese families, the knowledge of synthetic biology and gene editing is shallow and even biased. We communicate with many families in the library to let them know by example that synthetic biology can do many good things for human beings.
Establishing two-way dialogue with new groups such as biotech companies
Synthetic biology can also be used as widely in life as information technology. We also went to biotech companies, which are more focused on traditional biology.
Fig2. We talked about commercial potential of synthetic biology with biotech companies
Indeed, synthetic biology has even greater commercial potential in the future. We also focused on the possible industrial chain of synthetic biology in society. Later they also said they would pay more attention to the field. And it proved it is necessary to show this new thing with difference people. It brings us so much new perspectives and knowledge that we turn the speech to an exchange. All of us get new understanding.
For example, after a simple introduction, I found there were so many points from different views. Maybe synthetic biology appeared as a technology. But once it is brought in the social network, it will be given meaning from many fields. Business maybe is more focused on turning technology into raw materials, raw materials into products, and simple words to convince consumers.
Something we think about and expect to change after our Education and Public Engagement
Certain subject maybe is more about people and order. As a special subject that studies life and even changes life, politics, business, social values and so on will all impact the subject. Of course, synthetic biology will make a big shake in our life too. If we want to continue to develop synthetic biology, we have to understand what people around us think. After that we can probably develop a meaningful technology.
Fig3. There’s a long way to go for iGEM and synthetic biology and we hold great hope
We think all of scholar duty to introduce what they working like what we do. It’s not only a teaching but also a process of re-understanding.