<H4id="student-academy-heading"text="Student academy on the topic of synthetic biology"/>
<H2id="Teaching the Next Generation of SynBio Pioneers The Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec) at Bielefeld University organizes the annual CeBiTec Student Academy for “Biotechnology and Biomedicine.” Supported by the Osthushenrich Foundation and the Detmold district government, the academy offers students a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of biology, genetics, and molecular biology through hands-on experiments and expert lectures. Key topics include nanopore sequencing, tumor diagnostics, and the evolution of SARS-CoV-2. The program is especially valuable for students transitioning from school to potential studies in the natural sciences."></H2>
<H2id="Teaching the Next Generation of SynBio Pioneers The Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec) at Bielefeld University organizes the annual CeBiTec Student Academy for “Biotechnology and Biomedicine.” Supported by the Osthushenrich Foundation and the Detmold district government, the academy offers students a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of biology, genetics, and molecular biology through hands-on experiments and expert lectures. Key topics include nanopore sequencing, tumor diagnostics, and the evolution of SARS-CoV-2. The program is especially valuable for students transitioning from school to potential studies in the natural sciences."/>
<p>
Due to our collaboration with the Student Academy, we conducted the nanopore sequencing experiment and served as teachers, assisting in experiment preparation, execution, offering guidance, and answering questions. This role allowed us to teach the students about laboratory work, the critical aspects of conducting experiments, and essential safety considerations. The experiment involved isolating bacterial DNA, preparing samples for sequencing, and performing both sequencing and data analysis.
Since we presented our iGEM project PreCyse to them as well, the students were introduced to study-related projects like iGEM. They learned about the daily tasks, challenges, and responsibilities involved in iGEM through project discussions. Many students were captivated by the iGEM concept and expressed interest in participating during their future studies. They were particularly fascinated by the opportunity to develop real research projects, work independently in the lab, learn extensively about synthetic biology, and implement creative ideas while collaborating with an international team.</p>
<p>To support our research project and raise funds for our iGEM team at Bielefeld University, we decided to organize a waffle sale in the main hall of the university. This initiative was aimed at raising awareness about our project and collecting funds for our research into cystic fibrosis. </p>
<p>The sale took place in cystic fibrosis awareness month May in the Great Hall of our University. As people passed by, we engaged them by introducing our research group and explaining our project’s objectives. We shared information about cystic fibrosis and why we are raising money. Our goal was to not only just to sell waffles, but also to educate the university community about our research and its’ potential impact. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Many were genuinely interested in our work and asked for more details about our research and the goals of our project. This enthusiasm strengthened our commitment to the project and highlighted the importance of community involvement in scientific research. </p>
<p>The waffle sale was a great success, both in terms of raising funds and increasing awareness about our work within the university. It was a collaborative effort that brought our team closer together and demonstrated the power of community support in advancing scientific research. </p>
<p>The MUKOmove was therefore a complete success, and we take pride in having contributed to the goal while raising more awareness for cystic fibrosis in our region and Germany as a whole.</p>