Introduction to Education

Education has been one of the most important parts of our iGEM team's Human Practices journey. From the very beginning, our goal was to make synthetic biology and sustainability accessible to students of all ages, showing how science can be a tool for solving global issues like plastic and textile waste. To design lessons that were both fun and also meaningful, we began with a public survey to identify the topics people were most curious about: plastic pollution, textile recycling, and the role of DNA and enzymes in biotechnology. Using this feedback, we created lesson plans and interactive activities for different school levels.

To know the impact of our teaching, we incorporated pre and post-surveys at every school we visited. These surveys allowed us to evaluate the knowledge suitable for them, adapt our pacing to the students' level, and later quantify how much they had learned. The results showed clear knowledge gains across all age groups and revealed a growing interest in sustainability and synthetic biology field among the students.

Our outreach efforts reached across elementary, junior high, and high school levels. At the elementary school level, we ran the interactive workshop “Breaking Down Plastic with Science!” (June 26, Luzhou Elementary School), combining storytelling, games, and upcycling crafts to teach younger students about textile waste and DNA. For junior high, we partnered with Yonghe Junior High School (June 12), where we introduced synthetic biology concepts through exercises, potato enzyme lab, and 5R brainstorming activity. For the high school level, we worked with Xixong High School (also on June 12), in collaboration with students from China Medical University, to dive deeper into molecular biology and biotechnology through Kahoot quizzes and a blueberry DNA extraction experiment.

Beyond schools, we also expanded our educational efforts into the public sphere. We hosted a large-scale event in Dadaocheng, a historic district of Taipei once famous for fabric trading. In collaboration with Story Wear, Twine, and Xinyi, we organized a sustainability fair featuring interactive booths, DIY workshops, and an expert panel talk on circular fashion. This event allowed us to directly engage with the public and entrepreneurs, blending education with sustainable fashion.

To further bring synthetic biology into unexpected spaces, we held a clothing sellout at a flea market. By presenting topics in this field, we made science approachable for everyday audiences who may not usually step into a lab or classroom.

Together, these initiatives not only spread awareness about sustainability but also helped us inspire the next generation of. By combining all science education, creativity, and reflection, we encouraged students to see themselves as active contributors to building a more sustainable future.

Synthetic Biology Lessons

Elementary School

On June 26, 2025, our iGEM team visited an elementary school to deliver an interactive STEM workshop titled “Breaking Down Plastic with Science!” The lesson was designed for Grades 4-6 students (ages 9-12) and aimed to spark curiosity about sustainability, synthetic biology, and the science behind breaking down plastic and textile waste.

We began with an icebreaker called “What's in Your Closet?” where students looked at pictures of both fashionable and worn-out clothes and discussed what usually happens when clothes are thrown away. Together, we explored the fate of textile waste—whether ending up in landfills, being burned in incinerators, or polluting oceans and rivers. Students were shocked to learn that less than 1% of old clothes are ever recycled back into new clothes, making textile waste one of today's biggest environmental challenges.

The first part of the lesson introduced students to fast fashion and the difference between natural and synthetic fabrics. Natural fibers such as cotton or wool decompose quickly, while synthetic materials like polyester, which is essentially plastic, can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. Through storytelling, we explained how textile wastes were generated and how it pollutes the environment through engaging videos and interactive question games.

We then moved into a hands-on science demonstration called “Recycle or Not?”. Students worked in groups to examine everyday materials such as cotton, polyester, banana peels, and paper, and sorted them into “recyclable” and “non recyclable” categories. This activity made it clear that synthetic clothing materials behave like plastic and do not break down naturally, showing why scientific innovation is needed.

In the next section, we introduced the students to the basics of biology and the crucial role that synthetic biology plays in addressing textile waste. We broke down complex biological concepts such as DNA, genes, and the ATCG building blocks into simple ideas that elementary students could easily grasp. To make these abstract topics more relatable, we used creative analogies that resonated with young learners. For example, we compared the ATCG building blocks of DNA to familiar objects like scissors, helping them visualize how these pieces fit together to form life's blueprint and create characteristics like different hair colors. By simplifying the science behind plastic degradation and connecting it to everyday objects, we made the foundational ideas of synthetic biology simple and engaging for the children.

After the lesson on the ATCG pairs, we prepared an interactive card game to reinforce their understanding of the concepts. The game featured ATCG base pair cards in different colors, as well as special enzyme and substrate pairing cards. We designed and played two versions of the game (see document here for game rules and materials). These games helped the students reinforce their knowledge of ATCG base pairing and enzyme-substrate specificity.

The highlight of the workshop was the creative upcycling activity, where students cut and repurposed old T-shirts into eco-friendly tote bags. This activity connected science with action, leaving students with a tangible reminder that they can help reduce waste in their daily lives.

We ended the session with a reflection circle where students shared their biggest takeaways about textile waste, DNA, and enzymes. The workshop closed with a group photo of students proudly holding their handmade bags.

This outreach event showed how storytelling, interactive science, and hands-on creativity can bring complex concepts like synthetic biology and enzymatic recycling to life. By engaging students in both learning and action, we empowered them to see themselves as part of the solution to plastic pollution and textile waste.

Surveys

To measure the impact of our elementary education program, we designed a pre- and post-survey that assessed three key areas: knowledge, action intentions, and attitudes.

The bar chart shows a notable rise in students' proficiency after the program. Accuracy rates rose for each of the four questions: artificial fiber identification (Q1) rose from ~40% to 100%, correct identification of polyester products (Q2) rose slightly from ~33% to ~48%, DNA base pairing knowledge (Q3) rose from ~18% to more than 90%, and DNA definition (Q4) rose from just over 50% to ~80%. These results highlight that the program was effective in bridging knowledge gaps in biology and textile science, with major improvements in quesionds addressing synthetic biology concepts.

The radar chart shows that knowledge acquisition resulted in higher intentions to adopt sustainable behaviors. After the program, students showed higher willingness to recycle material, reuse clothes before disposal, utilize recyclable bags during shopping, and encourage others to not waste or recycle. These results signify that the educational intervention not only delivered facts but also instilled personal responsibility and social responsibility.

The second radar chart suggests clear attitudinal development. The follow-up survey outcomes indicate greater interest in science, students had higher scores of agreement with such statements as "I believe science can solve problems in the real world," "I understand how science helps the environment," and "I wish to learn more about science." They also thought more that science would help reduce textile waste and were more willing to use science to come up with new things. These modifications further solidify the realization that the program fostered interest and reaffirmed the relevance of science in everyday life.

Junior High School

To expand the reach of our iGEM education initiative to older students, we conducted a workshop at YongHe Junior High focused on combining fundamental scientific understanding with real-world environmental applications. Our lesson aimed to engage junior high school students through critical thinking, group collaboration, hands-on experimentation, and interactive media, which were all centered around the global issue of textile waste and the potential of synthetic biology

1. Pre-Survey: Assessing Baseline Knowledge

The workshop opened with a pre-survey designed to measure students' existing understanding of topics like sustainability, enzymes, and textile pollution. This gave us insight into where the class stood and allowed us to adapt our pacing and emphasis accordingly.

2. Introduction to GEMS Taiwan & Synthetic Biology

We introduced the GEMS-Taiwan team and shared our journey through iGEM. The students learned about synthetic biology. This included what synthetic biology is, how it works, and how it has been used in real-world applications such as creating enzymes that degrade PET (polyethylene terephthalate). By framing synthetic biology as a way to "program cells like computers," we made the concept more accessible and inspiring.

3. Problem: Textile Waste & Fast Fashion

Using multimedia slides and videos, we discussed the environmental impact of the textile industry. Topics included the rise of fast fashion, the challenges of mixed-fiber recycling, microplastic pollution, and energy consumption. Students were surprised to learn how many pieces of clothing are discarded in Taiwan every minute, sparking lively discussion.

4. 5R Brainstorming Activity

We launched a collaborative activity where each group picked one of the 5Rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle) and brainstormed ways consumers can reduce textile waste through that principle. After 3 minutes of ideation, each group presented their solutions, promoting critical thinking and peer-led learning.

5. Enzymes: What They Are & How They Work

We taught the class about enzymes using simple diagrams and analogies. The students learned about active sites, substrate binding, and the specificity of enzymes like TfCut in breaking down polyester fibers. We also introduced the broader roles of enzymes in daily life such as detergents and their potential for solving textile pollution.

Hands-On Activity: Potato Enzyme Lab

To reinforce the enzyme concepts, students conducted a lab using potatoes and hydrogen peroxide. In this experiment, they observed bubble formation (oxygen release) as catalase in the potato broke down H₂O₂ into water and oxygen. By comparing the bubble intensity, students learned how temperature affects enzyme activity and what happens when enzymes denature. This hands-on setup offered a tangible way to visualize a biochemical reaction and connect it to real-world degradation of materials.

Kahoot Quiz + Group Discussion

To wrap up the content, we played a Kahoot-style quiz reviewing synthetic biology, enzyme function, and sustainability strategies. The students actively participated, reinforcing their understanding while having fun. The top scorers were awarded small eco-friendly prizes to keep motivation high.

7. Post-Survey & Reflection

We ended with a post-survey to evaluate knowledge gains and shifts in mindset. Many students expressed a stronger sense of responsibility as consumers and interest in biological sciences, with some even asking how they could join science fairs or competitions like iGEM.

The pre- and post- survey analysis shows a clear growth across all six attitude dimensions. After the workshop, participants expressed stronger agreement that synthetic biology can help solve problems and that enzymes are valuable in this process. They also showed greater belief that textile waste can be reduced through action, reflecting a shift from passive concern to a more empowered outlook.

The second radar chart highlights improvements in participants' willingness to take action. The post-survey responses show higher willingness to recycle, reuse, and check material composition. The largest increases were in discussing textile waste with others and learning more about synthetic biology. This shows that the education effectively encouraged participants to become advocates in their communities. Overall the data suggest that the program succeeds in motivating small but meaningful behavioral intentions.

The knowledge test indicates solid improvements in scientific knowledge of sustainability. As an example, familiarity with the cause of textile pollution (Q5) improved from a low ~10% prior to the survey to ~95% post-survey, and understanding the enzyme activity during the potato experiment (Q4) improved significantly from ~12% to 100%. Such improvements verify the success of interactive explanations and learning by experiments. Participants also increased understanding of key concepts: accuracy for synthetic biological application (Q1) from ~60% to 100%, and awareness of enzyme specificity (Q2) from ~95% to 100%.

Awareness of the environmental impacts of synthetic fiber waste (Q6) increased from ~92% to 100%, demonstrating greater sensitivity to sustainability issues. The only question that dropped slightly was identifying products made with polyester (Q3), from ~93% to ~72%, perhaps because of misinterpreting examples. Generally, these results validate that the education program did a good job in filling important knowledge gaps and developing conceptual and functional understanding about how synthetic biology is applicable to actual-world sustainability challenges.

High School

On June 12, 2025, our iGEM team organized an educational outreach session at 西松高中 (Xixong High School) to introduce students to core concepts in synthetic biology, molecular biology, and environmental biotechnology. The program was designed to make synthetic biology accessible, connect classroom science to real-world challenges, and inspire future engagement in STEM fields. In collaboration with students from China Medical University (CSMU), we integrated scientific content with mentorship and career exploration, creating a holistic and inclusive learning experience.

First, we opened with a short pre-survey to evaluate the students' prior understanding of topics such as DNA, protein synthesis, and synthetic biology. This helped us adapt our explanations to their level and measure learning progress later with a post-survey.

Then, our team introduced iGEM, shared our project journey, and explained the role of synthetic biology in addressing global issues like plastic and textile waste. To make the concept approachable, we described synthetic biology as “programming cells like computers” and highlighted how enzymes can be engineered to recycle plastics such as PET.

To reinforce the concept of transcription and translation, we introduced an interactive classroom activity designed to simulate the flow of genetic information. One student was given a base sequence representing DNA, which was then verbally passed down the line through two students acting as messengers. The final student received the sequence and translated it into the corresponding amino acids. This exercise illustrated the step-by-step process of transcription and translation, and demonstrated how errors in transcribing the genetic code, such as miscommunication between students—could lead to mutations in the final protein.

A key highlight of the workshop was the DNA extraction experiment, where students used blueberries, soap, and alcohol to physically isolate DNA. This simple yet powerful lab activity allowed them to observe genetic material firsthand, reinforcing abstract concepts like cell lysis and DNA precipitation with tangible results.

After grasping the basics, we connected molecular biology to pressing environmental challenges, focusing on textile waste and sustainability. We explained how synthetic biology offers solutions through enzyme engineering, linking classroom science directly to our iGEM project.

In partnership with CSMU students, we hosted a mentoring session where high school participants could ask questions about future study paths, career opportunities in science, and how synthetic biology research can translate into real-world applications. This gave students direct access to role models in higher education and encouraged them to consider future involvement in synthetic biology research or iGEM.

To consolidate learning, we hosted a Kahoot quiz reviewing DNA, protein synthesis, enzyme functions, and sustainability applications. The energy in the classroom was high as students competed to answer quickly and accurately. Finally, a post-survey allowed us to assess knowledge gains and collect reflections. Many students reported greater awareness of sustainability issues and expressed interest in exploring molecular biology further.

Beyond academic instruction, the session emphasized career exploration and real-world relevance. CSMU students shared their experiences in university-level bioscience programs and iGEM participation, offering guidance on higher education, entrance exams, and science competitions. This dialogue helped students envision how synthetic biology can serve as a foundation for impactful careers in biotechnology, environmental science, bioinformatics, and beyond.

To assess learning outcomes and behavioral shifts, we conducted pre- and post-session surveys measuring knowledge acquisition, attitudes toward synthetic biology, environmental awareness, and self-reported behaviors such as textile recycling and science engagement. The results provided valuable insights into the session's educational impact and students' increased interest in pursuing science-related paths.

Through this outreach initiative, our team successfully met iGEM's education criteria by democratizing access to scientific knowledge, engaging students in participatory learning, and connecting synthetic biology to both personal and societal futures.

The outreach session at Xixong High School had a moderate educational impact on both student understanding and attitudes toward synthetic biology. Knowledge results showed improvement in most questions, particularly Q1, Q4, and Q5, indicating that core concepts were effectively communicated. However, performance, according to fig.1 on Q3(which base is replaced in RNA) declined after the session, suggesting that this question may have been too complex or not clearly explained, and should be revised or supported with additional context in future sessions.

According to fig.2 , the attitude survey revealed only slight positive changes. Most students already held relatively strong views about the value of synthetic biology, hands-on learning, and the role of enzymes, which did not change after the session. The biggest positive shift was seen in students expressing greater excitement to learn about science. Since high school students are older than our typical outreach audience (such as elementary or junior high students), their attitudes and beliefs may be more firmly shaped, making it more challenging to generate dramatic attitude shifts in a short time.

Overall, the session succeeded in reinforcing student interest and improving specific areas of knowledge. Future sessions may benefit from clearer explanations on difficult topics and additional interactive components to increase engagement and retention.

The pre- and post-survey radar charts from our outreach at Xixong High School show modest but noticeable improvements in student behavioral intent. After the session, students reported greater willingness to recycle materials, check clothing compositions, reuse old clothes, and reduce new purchases. These changes suggest the session helped connect sustainability concepts to real-world actions.

General Public

Addressing the public in regards to textile pollution was a central part of our project because awareness and education are the first steps towards a meaningful and impactful change. From our public surveys of of 706 respondents, we found that the majority had low knowledge about textile waste but showed their belief inaction on such devastation. These results highlight the need for more accessible education that transforms willingness to practice. Through our outreach, we not only aimed to raise awareness about textile waste as an environmental concern but also to introduce synthetic biology as a powerful tool for addressing global challenges. By making science more accessible, we bridged the gap through interactive booths, workshops, games, and creative media to empower communities to recognize the role of biotechnology in combating these global issues.

Dadaocheng Event

On June 12, 2025, our iGEM team organized a large-scale community sustainability event in Dadaocheng, Taipei, in collaboration with Story Wear and Twine. The event brought together scientists, designers, entrepreneurs, and the local community to explore the intersection of synthetic biology, sustainable fashion, and public health. A highlight of the day was the expert panel talk, featuring Dr. Yen, who discussed the challenges of fabric waste management, and Deputy Director Mr. Liang Nai-Yun, who spoke about the impact of plastic on human health.

We chose Dadaocheng as the venue for its deep historical connection to textiles and trade. Once one of Taipei's most important commercial districts during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Dadaocheng was a thriving hub for tea, fabric, and dye trading. Today, it has reinvented itself as a creative and cultural center that blends tradition with innovation. Hosting our event here symbolized the bridge between Taiwan's textile heritage and the future of sustainable innovation—linking the city's fabric legacy with our team's research on enzymatic textile degradation.

The event took place at the Dadaocheng area with the goal to introduce the public to synthetic biology, raise awareness about the dangers of microplastics and textile waste, showcase sustainable fashion practices, and promote dialogue between different fields.

The program began with an opening session where our team introduced the purpose of the event, thanked partners, and invited the public to engage with our activities. From the early afternoon until evening, the venue hosted sustainable fashion pop-up booths, featuring eco-friendly brands such as Story Wear and Twine, as well as a series of interactive science booths designed and run by our iGEM team.

Each booth combined scientific education with hands-on experiences:

Booth 1 - Textile Degradation Booth

This booth showed how enzymes can break down PET fabric, using actual textile samples and infographics to illustrate the process. Visitors were able to see the difference between untreated and enzyme-treated textiles. To make the experience interactive, we created Textile Fighter: the world's first game centered on textile degradation. Using simple block coding, players play as an the in-game character to complete tasks while learning to sort clothing from waste, differentiate mechanical from enzymatic recycling, and understand how our TfCut enzyme works.

Booth 2 - Microplastics and Health Corner

This booth highlighted the effects of microplastics on human health. Through interactive digital games and infographics on medical insight, we taught how microplastics can impact the body and why reducing waste is critical for long-term wellbeing. We included a recycling-themed slicing game Plastic Cutters for the people to have fun with. As plastic bottles flow across the screen, players sliced them while avoiding other materials bottles. The game demonstrated how careful handling directly impacts recycling of material degradation. We also created a Kahoot quiz game where participants tested their understanding of microplastics, their health effects, and waste reduction strategies.

Booth 3 - Textile Sorting Booth

At this booth, participants tested their knowledge of biodegradability through both physical and digital games. We included a Sand Bag Sorting Game, where players tossed sandbags into bins labeled with different fabric types. By categorizing materials like cotton and polyester blends, visitors learned which fabrics decompose naturally and which persist as pollutants. The challenge lay in accuracy, where misplacing a sandbag highlighted the real-world consequences of improper waste sorting, while correct throws reinforced how small, everyday choices can reduce environmental damage. We also featured Enzyme Defense, another one of our team made digital games where players matched enzymes and substrates represented by a shape. Only the correct matches led to successful degradation, mirroring enzyme-substrate specificity. This provided an engaging way to understand how synthetic biology can contribute to sustainability.

Booth 4 - DIY Upcycling Corner

The DIY upcycling corner allowed families and children to repurpose old clothes into creative new crafts through hands on DIY. They were given pre-cut fabrics from unwanted clothes to assemble into little ornaments as decoration or accessories, then customizing them with beads or more recycled fabric. this booth combined sustainability with creativity, leaving visitors with handmade reminders of their role in reducing waste.

Booth 5 - Sustainable Fashion Booths

Alongside the science booths, sustainable fashion booths for eco-brands like Twine were held, providing them a platform to showcase their innovative solutions to textile waste. Local companies displayed upcycled products and sustainable clothing, demonstrating how design and science can work hand in hand to reimagine the future of fashion.

Additionally, we held a traditional Chinese game called Mahjong, with the cards replaced with enzyme related themes like “receptor”, “terminator” etc. Our game, called Genetic Match, transforms the rules of Mahjong into an educational tool for synthetic biology.

Panel Talk

At the heart of the event was our panel talk, “The Future of Circular Fashion”, as well as “Microplastic pollution effect on human health”. Experts from both science and business fields discussed how circular design, biotechnology, and community initiatives can work together to address pressing environmental challenges. This interdisciplinary conversation offered the public a rare chance to hear from leaders across sectors and ask questions directly.

Planning for the event began months in advance. By late May, our team finalized the event concept and scouted venues in Dadaocheng. In early June, we reached out to vendors, medical experts, and guest speakers, and by mid-June, we had confirmed participants and prepared signage, games, and experimental samples. The event day itself ran smoothly thanks to careful planning and strong community support.

The Dadaocheng Collaboration was more than just an outreach activity; it was a platform for interdisciplinary exchange. By weaving together synthetic biology research, sustainable fashion, and public engagement, our team created an event that not only educated but also empowered the public to imagine and participate in a more sustainable future.

Youtube Podcast

The goal of our podcast series was to raise public awareness about the environmental and social challenges tied to fast fashion, plastic waste, and synthetic materials. As part of our broader educational efforts, we created this series to make the science behind our iGEM project more accessible and relatable. By blending storytelling, scientific explanation, and real-world connections, we hoped to spark curiosity and critical thinking in listeners of all backgrounds. The podcast format allowed us to reach beyond classrooms and booths, delivering educational content in an informal and reflective tone that invites broader dialogue around sustainability and synthetic biology.

Content

The podcast features three scripted episodes, starring fictional (but very relatable) student hosts Harry and Sydney, who guide listeners through conversations about biology, fashion, and sustainability—all from the perspective of two curious teens and their unexpected microbial neighbor.

Episode 1: “Wear and Tear: The Hidden Cost of Fast Fashion”

Harry and Sydney explore how fast fashion took over our closets—and landfills. They break down how synthetic fibers like polyester transformed the clothing industry, and why so many discarded clothes end up in dumps around the world. Along the way, they question their own habits and wonder if it's possible to unlearn overconsumption.

Episode 2: “Plastic: Designed to Stay, Made to Throw”

The hosts dive into the world of plastics—why they're so durable, how they became a miracle turned menace, and what that means for our environment. They also introduce listeners to the science of plastic polymers and why they're so hard to break down—laying the foundation for why synthetic biology might hold the key.

Episode 3: “Enzymes: The Plastic-Eating Superheroes”

Harry and Sydney meet the "cell next door"—an enzyme designed to break down plastic. In this episode, they talk about our iGEM project, how PETases work, and what it takes to engineer a biological solution to the textile waste crisis. They also dream big about how enzymes could transform recycling.

Each episode blends storytelling with clear scientific explanations and light humor. Some episodes include fun call-outs, metaphors, or discussion prompts designed to spark curiosity and further conversations among peers

Audience & Impact

The primary audience for our podcast includes high school and university students, environmentally conscious youth, and non-expert listeners interested in sustainability, science communication, or fashion ethics. Our distribution plan includes hosting the episodes on platforms like Spotify and YouTube, promoting through social media, and using QR codes at our event booths and partner schools.

By offering educational science content in an engaging audio format, we extended our outreach beyond physical events and classrooms. The podcast allows passive learning—whether during commutes or casual listening—and invites people to rethink their habits, understand the science behind textile degradation, and envision more sustainable futures. It also reinforces the educational themes of our iGEM project by grounding synthetic biology in everyday issues, ensuring our work is relevant, inclusive, and impactful.

Instagram Reels

Introduction of the videos

Our “From Genes to Green” aims to explore how synthetic biology can address real-world environmental challenges. Through short and engaging animation and visual stories, we introduce and explain how certain aspects of synbio such as microbial engineering or enzyme development tackle problems hindering sustainable ecosystems. By connecting synbio concepts to everyday environmental issues, we are able to not only make science more approachable but also inspiring.

Purposes

The videos aim to illustrate the extensive impact and relevance of synthetic biology. We highlight how biology can be innovately and creatively engineered to solve pressing ecological issues. Moreover, through promoting these ideas on social media platforms, we encourage public understanding and discussion of the implications of biotechnology.

Content

In this series, each episode delivers unique but interrelated concepts. In the reels, we succinctly but comprehensively propose examples of real-world synbio application, explain the scientific principle behind the application, and complete it with visualizations, animations to clarify more complex ideas.

Expected Impact

Through these videos, we strive to increase awareness and understanding of synthetic biology amongst teenagers as they are the next generation. We also aim to inspire young adults of these social media platforms to think critically about the repercussions of certain behaviors that damage the environment and explore the scientific methods to amend them.

Line Stickers

As part of our outreach, our team designed a set of LINE stickers to make sustainability messages more accessible to the public. Since LINE is one of the most widely used communication platforms in Taiwan, creating stickers allowed us to reach diverse audiences in an interactive way. The set of stickers features a cheerful Earth charter to embody positivity and action to fight against textile pollution. By integrating education into casual messaging, it serves as a reminder to the greater public that small actions can contribute to reducing textile pollution.

Audiobook

Audio Book: 《小魚逃亡記：微塑膠風波》

(Escape of the Little Fish: The Microplastic Crisis)

Goals

Our goal with this original audio book was to introduce complex environmental and scientific issues—such as microplastic pollution, synthetic fibers, and plastic degradation—to young learners in a storytelling format that is emotionally engaging and scientifically accurate. The project reflects iGEM's educational values by connecting science to everyday life, empowering children with knowledge, and fostering environmental responsibility through accessible narrative tools. By using voice, sound design, and fictional characters, we aimed to reach audiences who might not engage with traditional science communication formats.

Content

The audio book blends scientific concepts with narrative storytelling to explore the issue of microplastic pollution and how synthetic biology can offer solutions. It follows fictional marine characters who experience the effects of plastic waste firsthand, weaving in themes such as environmental degradation, the origin of microfibers from clothing, and the potential of enzyme-based plastic breakdown.

Through a dramatic and emotionally engaging storyline, listeners are introduced to the real-world implications of human behavior—such as the shedding of synthetic fibers during laundry—and how these pollutants enter and affect marine ecosystems. The story culminates in a hopeful resolution, where science, innovation, and collective action restore balance to the ocean.

This content approach allows high school learners to understand scientific principles in a relatable and memorable way, making complex ideas—like enzymatic degradation and synthetic biology—more accessible without oversimplifying the science.

Publication & Distribution

The audio book was published through the Taiwan Digital Talking Books Association (台灣數位有聲書推展學會), a platform that supports accessible education through audio content. This collaboration helps us reach communities with limited access to visual materials, including students with disabilities. We also plan to share the audio book via our iGEM website, QR codes at events, and in partner schools—ensuring broad, equitable access across digital and physical spaces.

Education Tools

Digital Games

Textile Fighter

Step into the world's first online educational game about textile recycling! As a sustainability warrior, you'll learn how to sort clothing from waste, differentiate between mechanical and enzymatic recycling, and understand how our TfCut enzyme works, all through simple coding. Every level is a mission to protect the planet. Learn while you play, because sustainability isn't just a slogan, it's a change you create.

Play · Learn · Recycle

In game visual tasks teach sorting flows, mechanical vs enzymatic recycling methods, and show how the cutinase TfCut enables PET/cotton blend breakdown.

• Sorting — trash, rewear, textile recycling.
• Mechanical vs Enzymatic recycling — compare the process.
• Sustainability challenge — take action to rid textile waste.

Play Now

Screenshots

Purpose

We built this online game to make textile circularity easy to understand and easy to practice. Instead of reading about recycling, players make real choices during each level and can see the end results immediately. The goal is to turn “I've heard of recycling” into “I know what to do and why it works.”

Game Overview

• A guided experience where players learn to place clothing to the right destination (for reuse, donation, recycling or discard).
• A simple, visual way to compare machine-based recycling versus enzyme-based breakdown methods or how enzymes dissolve PET/cotton blends or polyester.

Target Players/Audience

It's a fun educational game for classrooms, museums, and community events for young individuals with no prior science background needed. The clear prompts and short tasks keep it accessible for all ages.

Key Takeaways

• Knowledge: Players learn which clothing can be reused, donated, recycled, or mostly discarded due to its blended polyester material which is not recyclable.
• New Recycling Methods: Enzyme-based recycling is introduced as a these blended polyester materials which makes up the majority of textile and clothing waste.
• Action: Learners leave with rules they can apply at home and language they can use to advocate for circular options at school and in the community.

Textile Degradation Clicker

Textile Degradation Clicker is an educational clicker game that explores the intersection of sustainability, consumerism, and financial literacy. Each click represents the degradation of a textile item, simplifying the often invisible labor and time behind recycling processes. For every item broken down, players earn one virtual dollar, symbolizing the value of time and effort in waste management. With accumulated earnings, players can choose to purchase new virtual goods—highlighting the cycle of overconsumption in the fashion industry—or invest in fictional stocks, introducing the basics of financial decision-making. The game creates a consequence-free environment where players can experiment with resource allocation and reflect on the real-world impact of their choices. Through simple mechanics and a satirical edge, Textile Degradation Clicker offers an engaging way to learn about sustainability, the true cost of fast fashion, and the fundamentals of economic systems—all with the click of a button.

Enzyme Defense

Enzyme Defense is a fast-paced educational game where players take on the role of an enzyme breaking down substrates like PET. Each enzyme and substrate is represented by a shape, and only the correct match leads to successful degradation, reflecting real enzyme-substrate specificity. As the game progresses through three increasingly challenging levels, players must stay focused and react quickly to maximize their score. Designed to demonstrate the principles of synthetic biology and enzymatic plastic breakdown, this game offers an interactive way to learn about sustainability and biotechnology in action.

Plastic Cutter

Plastic Cutter is a dynamic, recycling-themed slicing game built for a plastic degradation project: as vibrant plastic bottles sweep across the screen, you slice them to simulate the rapid sorting and processing required in real-world recycling. By rewarding precision and speed—and penalizing missed items—the game drives home how careful handling and split-second decisions directly impact the effectiveness of material degradation. This immersive experience sharpens reflexes while raising awareness of sustainable waste management, reminding players that every swift cut contributes to reducing plastic pollution and supporting a healthier planet.

Textile Sorter

Textile Sorter transforms the conveyor-belt challenge into a hands-on lesson in textile recycling: as garments glide past, you swiftly decide whether each belongs in the recycle bin or general waste, reinforcing how simple sorting choices prevent landfill overflow. By rewarding correct placements and penalizing mistakes, the game illustrates the stark difference between recyclable textiles and ordinary trash, shows how mis-sorting accelerates environmental harm, and underscores the power of individual action. In simulating the pace and precision of real-world waste management, Textile Sorter sharpens reflexes, deepens understanding of sustainable practices, and makes every drag and drop a meaningful step toward reducing our collective footprint.

Board Games

Synbio Mahjong - Genetic Match

Purpose

Our team created Genetic Match as an educational Mahjong-style game to introduce synthetic biology concepts in an interactive and engaging way. By incorporating common genetic parts such as promoters, RBS, CDS, terminators, and RE sites into collectible tiles, the game models the process of assembling genetic circuits and expression units. Players match tiles to build functional gene constructs, helping them understand how parts work together in real-life molecular cloning.

Beyond just learning the concepts, this game also encourages players to evaluate different part combinations as they work towards specific “mission cards,” mimicking experimental design in synthetic biology. It's designed for students, educators, or anyone curious about biology to explore genetic circuit assembly. Our goal is to make synthetic biology more approachable through hands-on play, making learning both accessible and meaningful.

Rules

The objective is to be the first player to complete the required tile combination. The game is for four players. Each player begins with eight random tiles, and the remaining tiles are divided into four stacks of sixteen, placed face-down in front of each player. A shared discard area is placed in the center.

Each turn, a player draws one tile from their stack and discards one tile face-up. If the player before you discards a tile that completes a set of three in your hand, you may immediately claim it and then discard one tile. When one tile away from winning, a player must declare their ready hand (tingpai).

Without mission cards, there are two winning options. Option 1: two sets of three (such as MCS + RBS + RE site with the same number, or three of the same type in sequence) plus one Promoter-Terminator pair. Option 2: three sets of two (two MCS, two RBS, two RE sites) plus one Promoter-Terminator pair. In both cases, the Promoter and Terminator must be the same color.

With mission cards, each player receives one card showing a specific synthetic biology goal. The winner is the first to assemble the exact combination shown on their mission card.

Educational Value

Genetic Match was designed as a playful way to introduce the logic of synthetic biology. By adapting the rules of Mahjong, the game translates abstract concepts such as genetic parts and circuit design into an accessible and hands-on activity. Each tile represents a fundamental element—promoters, ribosome binding sites (RBS), coding sequences (CDS), terminators, and restriction enzyme (RE) sites—allowing players to become familiar with the “building blocks” of molecular cloning.

The structure of the game mirrors the process of assembling expression units. To win, players must correctly combine parts into valid sets, which highlights essential design rules like promoter-terminator pairing and the need for proper order and compatibility. This makes the abstract logic of circuit construction more concrete.

Mission cards further enrich the experience by introducing unique goals, encouraging players to think strategically about how different part combinations can achieve a desired function. This element reflects the planning and creativity involved in real experimental design.

We hope to utilize our games not only as teaching tools but also as a way to serve the community. By creating a fun, approachable format, Genetic Match can be used in classrooms, science workshops, and public outreach events to engage diverse audiences. The social and interactive nature of the game makes synthetic biology less intimidating, encouraging curiosity and dialogue among students, educators, and community members alike. Through play, we aim to foster broader understanding of biotechnology while building connections between science and society.

Reflection After Playing

We played multiple rounds with our guests, including seniors and teenagers, introducing our mahjong derived from traditional mahjong and synthetic biology simultaneously. Although some struggled because it's their first time playing, the majority of them picked up the game quickly and succeeded. An improvement that could be made is to clarify the graphic illustration for a winning series, clearly displaying the winning conditions.

Card Games

To make DNA and enzymes accessible to younger students, our team created an interactive card game called “ATCG Match.” The game introduces children to the concept of DNA base pairing and shows how enzymes interact with molecules in a playful, memorable way.

The deck contains cards representing the four DNA bases: A (adenine), T (thymine), C (cytosine), and G (guanine). Each base can only be paired with its correct partner—A always pairs with T, and C always pairs with G. To add another layer of challenge, players must also match the color of the cards when making a valid pair.

The game begins with each player holding six cards. On their turn, a player draws one card from the person to their right and tries to form a correct AT or CG pair with matching colors. If they succeed, they place the pair down; if not, they keep the card and the turn passes on. The winner is the first person to discard all of their cards through correct pairings.

Adding to the excitement is the enzyme card, which functions like a joker. Instead of being helpful, this card is a trap: if all other cards are played and you are left holding the enzyme card, you “lose” the game. Students loved this twist, as it created tension near the end and made every card draw suspenseful.

During our workshops, we saw how quickly students picked up the logic of DNA base pairing through this game. The combination of science and strategy turned abstract biology into an easy-to-understand and highly engaging classroom activity. Many students asked to replay the game multiple times, showing how effective it was as both an educational tool and a fun experience.

By transforming DNA into a card game, we demonstrated that even complex molecular biology concepts can be taught through simple rules, teamwork, and play.

Synthetic Biology Education

Journal Club

During our project development phase, multiple journal club workshops took place where each team member presented their research ideas and paper findings. The paper discussion sessions covered topics such as plastic degradation, enzyme engineering, upcycling and recycling strategies, and pretreatment methods. These discussions allowed us to explore diverse possibilities within enzymatic degradation and set the stage for our final project decision.

Highlights from Team Presentations

Venus: This study explains how microbes and enzymes degrade PET plastics in optimized conditions like temperature, pH, and humidity. Bacteria, fungi, and worms can degrade plastics, with enzymes such as PETase playing a key role. Biodegradable plastics like PLA and PHA break down and produce valuable byproducts like TPA, supporting a circular economy.

Caden: Researchers developed a thermophilic microbe-enzyme (TME) system using Bacillus thermoamylovorans JQ3 and the cutinase variant ICCG to efficiently degrade PET. Optimal conditions enabled 100% PET degradation at high loading, offering a cost-effective and scalable alternative (Zheng et al., 2024).

Harry: This paper discussed PET's durability as a barrier for recycling. Biological innovations such as engineered enzymes (PETase, MHETase) and microbial systems like Ideonella sakaiensis show potential. Chemical hydrolysis was also considered as a scalable recovery route (Knott et al., 2020).

Jessica: A study on Ideonella sakaiensis demonstrated PETase and MHETase's ability to break PET into recyclable monomers, though PETase's low thermal stability limits industrial application. Pairing PETase with thermostable hydrolases like TfCut and optimized bioreactors improves feasibility (Taniguchi, 2019).

Janet: Research on the marine fungus Alternaria alternata FB1 found that its cutinases AaCut4 and AaCut10 effectively degrade PBAT plastic at mild temperatures. AaCut10 depolymerized over 80% within 24 hours, maintaining activity even in seawater.

Katherine: A review highlighted how genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics, and machine learning accelerate enzyme discovery and optimization (Herbert, 2022).

Lillian: Presentation compared chemical/mechanical recycling with enzymatic methods (PETase, MHETase, TfCut), showing enzymatic approaches as more sustainable with fewer byproducts.

Andrew: This study focused on MHETase, an α/β-hydrolase that hydrolyzes MHET into TPA and EG using a catalytic triad. It outlined optimal ranges for enzymatic activity.

Maggie~ Sung: Wild-type TfCut requires 48 hours to decompose PBAT, while the TfCut-double mutant reduced this to 24-36 hours. This confirms TfCut as an ideal candidate with strong degradation activity (Yang et al., 2023).

Neo: A machine learning-guided approach engineered FAST-PETase with five mutations, improving PET hydrolysis across broad temperature and pH ranges (Lu et al., 2022).

Michelle: Research on synthesizing biodegradable copolyester by TPA showed enhanced biodegradability while maintaining structural strength (Wang, 2010).

Nash: Plastic waste can be converted into carbon nanomaterials like graphene using methods such as flash joule heating. Pairing with enzymes could improve efficiency (Abdelfatah et al., 2025).

Annie: AUPE resin, combining UPE with TAS, showed higher thermal stability and adhesion, presenting an alternative to PET plastics (Mohammadi, 2024).

Maggie Hsu: Waste PET can be upcycled into BHETA, further developed into adhesives and rigid foam, showing strong performance under various conditions.

Janet: Research on carbon-fiber reinforced polymers suggested that engineered enzymes like TfCut could break down PET into valuable by-products, supporting sustainable strategies (Lyu et al., 2024).

Michelle: Alkaline hydrolysis with NaOH softens PET, increases surface area, and improves enzyme binding. Experiments showed that combining NaOH pretreatment with PETase greatly enhanced degradation compared to either treatment alone. Other pretreatments like heat, ball milling, or fiber production are too energy-intensive or impractical. NaOH pretreatment is more scalable, though its efficiency still needs improvement.

References

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Zheng-Fei, Y., Chu-Qi, F., Jian-Qiao, Z., Qing-Song, H., Xiao-Qian, C., Wei, X., & Jing, W. (2024). Complete degradation of PET waste using a thermophilic microbe-enzyme system. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129538

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