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Team:BU Wellesley Software/Outreach
From 2011.igem.org
Outreach
Overview
As the Boston University/Wellesley College iGEM team, one of our principle goals is to reach out to the young population in and around Boston and educate them about the exciting field of synthetic biology.
Our current plan is to formulate an outreach plan with Gretchen Fougere, Assistant Dean of Outreach and Diversity at the College of Engineering within Boston University. We realize that the future of synthetic biology is heavily dependent upon the future generation’s interest in the field. Our goal is to spark the interest of middle and high school students in synthetic biology through a short presentation and an interactive game. The presentation portion allows us to provide the students with a brief background in synthetic biology and gives them an opportunity to learn about the work that we have done over the summer.
The interactive game provides the students with a more hands-on approach to the design and construction of genetic circuits. Our version of Scrabble teaches students how to compose valid genetic circuits and learn about their interactions with one another. Through these activities we hope to encourage students to consider the possibility of entering the field of synthetic biology in the future.
We want them to see the current and potential future applications of this field and how rewarding a career in synthetic biology can be!
Somerville High School
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Wellesley Outreach Event
This summer, the we had two students from Framingham High School as part of our iGEM team. They each spent approximately 60 hours each working side-by-side with undergraduates.
During this time, the students learned HTML, CSS, and Javascript. With these skills they created personal webpages. They moved on to learn Photoshop, Fireworks, and other creative suite applications. With these skills they created user interface design mock-ups and defined the future of the projects that were created and will be created in the lab.
During their time in the HCI lab, these students learned what Computer Science is all about. The possibilities of Computer Science and the many fields that use computer science, including Biology and Art, among others.
DNA Scrabble
DNA Scrabble is a fun board game which exposes the player to the world of synthetic biology by allowing them to create genetic circuits. The game is played on a Scrabble like board with scatter bonuses like 'Double Gene' and 'Double Circuit' which the player can strategically take advantage of.
The goal is to score as many points as he/she can before the game pieces run out by completing genetic circuits which must follow a specific rule. For example, a valid circuit must contain a promoter, RBS, gene and terminator in this order. Player place 2 pieces (promoter, RBS, gene, or terminator) on the board each turn and get points for completing each circuit he/she creates. Each gene has a color, which is paired with another color (e.g., blue vs red) and the player gets points for his AND the opponent's circuit when he/she uses part of another circuit to create his own circuit and the colors are part of a pair (using part of a red gene circuit to make your blue gene circuit will grant you points for both circuits).
This is to represent the fact that certain gene can turn on or off given the presence of another gene. The game will appeal to players of various age groups since there is much strategizing involved and no two games are the same.
The goal behind this game is to allow students engage in an educational experience while having fun and learn about genetic circuits.
