We made this team video in order to help educate people in our community learn about iGEM and our project! It functions as STEM outreach to spread the Word regarding PFC contamination and iGEM in a fun way that will resonate with the masses.
Corona week is an annual week long event where top Air Force officials come to the Air Force Academy to collaborate and make decisions on key issues relevant to the Air Force. During this event, we presented our research to hundreds of General officers order to spread awareness of synthetic biology in the Air Force and collaborate on the PFAS contamination issue.
Presentation to Air Force Leadership
On 11 October, we presented our project to the USAFA Superintendent, General Jay Silveria, and the Commandant of Cadets, General Michelle Edmondson, at the Board of Visitors meeting. Through this event, we built connections and collaborated with exceptionally influential members of the Air Force as well as with Colorado Senator Cory Gardner, whose statement is below.
Military Health Systems Research Symposium
Our team flew to Orlando, FL, and presented our poster to thousands of individuals from all facets of the military at the 2019 Military Health Systems Research Symposium. There, we spoke to leaders in research, development, and medical professions about the prominence of PFAS and our approach to combating contamination. Through this event, we were able to increase awareness about PFAS and make connections with professionals who then provided key insights for our future research direction.
Children’s Library Presentation (26 April 2019)
We presented to children between the ages of 9 and 15 at the Pueblo Public Library in Colorado to begin to educate the youth about PFCs and general water contamination. During this even, we spoke to our research and explained what PFCs are and why they are a problem. Additionally, we facilitated hands-on activities, such as home-made water filtration systems and constructing Candy DNA, to give the students a basic understanding of genetics and why PFCs cannot be degraded with simple water purification techniques.
USAFA iGEM Article Feature
Additionally, the USAFA 2019 iGEM team has made Air Force and Local community news for their work with PFAS pollution in Colorado.
USAFA iGEM Social Media Outreach
The USAFA 2019 iGEM team actively posted to Instagram to promote and share the activities of the 2019 team with friends, colleagues, former team members, and the world.
