Project in Laboratory Synthetic Biology I and II
Course Summary:
This course links to an international competition in synthetic biology “iGEM” (www.igem.org). Supported by faculty, students organize a team and research, plan and prepare a project that is evaluated by an international jury. iGEM projects are characterized by interdisciplinarity and links to societal challenges and sustainability goals, and require students to become responsible, organized and knowledgeable in scientific method. They discuss with peers, academia, and civil society stakeholders such as authorities, patient groups, high school students, and biotechnology companies. The students are trained in scientific skills, but also in general skills such as communication, collaboration, problem-solving and leadership.
Course Design:
The course was developed as an academic support of the student initiative to join the international student competition iGEM (www.igem.org) in 2009. Since then, Uppsala University has participated in iGEM competition every year. The department of Biology Education with faculty and researchers have developed the activity and the support. In 2017, the course was started to optimize the activity and to make the student competition linked to a formal curricular teaching and learning opportunity for Uppsala University students.
The course joins students on the bachelor and master levels from different educational programs. The interdisciplinary character of the challenges requires students to
- decide on an experimental project of their choice,
- research and prepare the work to be done,
- organize and carry through project during the summer and finally,
- present the project including a Wikipage and other information materials to an international jury.
The projects vary in content and scope every year which requires agile and intense support from faculty and other expertise. Throughout the years, a core group of engaged faculty participants has emerged and the course content has been defined in Uppsala University course syllabi:
Project in Laboratory Synthetic Biology I: https://www.uu.se/en/study/syllabus?query=42713
Project in Laboratory Synthetic Biology II: https://www.uu.se/en/study/syllabus?query=43870
General lectures, workshops and training, such as safety and environmental training to support the students have been developed. Furthermore, extra efforts have been done to accommodate flexible and supportive lab and innovative spaces for the students that work through the summer. Course description: The iGEM year: The course starts during spring when interested students plan and research (3 credits) potential challenges/projects for the experimental fulltime laboratory part during the summer (10 credits). The course is summarized and presented during the fall (2 credits) and the course ends in October with a jamboree where the student projects are judged by an international jury.
Contact:
Margareta Krabbe: