Celebrating the 20th Year of iGEM

iGEM began in January 2003 with a month-long course during MIT's Independent Activities Period (IAP), where students designed biological systems to make cells blink. This course then became a summer competition with 5 teams in 2004. 19 years later, in 2022, we've grown to +350 teams from over 40 countries.

In 2023, 4,000 people came together to celebrate the 20th year of iGEM at the The World Expo of Synthetic Biology - the iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris.


20th Year of iGEM Blog Series

iGEM Through the Years

2022iGEM hosts the first Grand Jamboree in Paris, with over 3,500 people
2021iGEM launches the first iGEM League competition
2020The iGEM Competition and Giant Jamboree goes online for the first time
2019First iGEM Startup Showcase
2018First iGEM Alumni Summit at the iGEM Giant Jamboree
2017iGEM launches iGEM Community, formally known as After iGEM, to provide continuing support to the thousands of iGEMers who have completed the Competition
2016First Delegates Program, with 5 delegates attending COP 13
2015iGEM merged the Collegiate and High School division. The Mentorship Program started
2014First Giant Jamboree. First Interlab Study
2013iGEM spins out of MIT and forms the independent nonprofit organization with lab and office space in Cambridge, MA, USA
2012iGEM launches the Entrepreneurship Division
2011iGEM launches the High School Division and hosts Regional Jamborees, followed by the World Championship Jamboree
2010130 teams and over 1300 participants attended the iGEM Jamboree on MIT campus. Kresge Auditorium only holds 1244 people!
2009iGEM makes the cover of Nature
2008Human Practices (HP) was formally integrated into iGEM
2007Safety and Security Committee (SSC) was formed
2006Ambassadors Pilot Program. Wikis are introduced
2005International teams participate in iGEM
2004First summer competition. First iGEM Distribution, containing many essential parts that are still used today
2003iGEM began as a January course during MIT's Independent Activities Period (IAP)

iGEM Alumni Stories

Gateway to Building Connections and Launching a Career in Synthetic Biology: Porfirio's iGEM Journey

Porfirio Quintero, Mexico

Greta Holland: From a Master's in Biology to a Career in Venture Capital

Greta Holland, New Zealand

Sheena Chan: Stories and Lesson From iGEM Competition and a PhD Journey

Sheena Chan, Singapore

The Story of Jellatech: A conversation with the CEO: Stephanie Michelsen

Stephanie Michelsen, Denmark

Navigating New Challenges and Environments: Yuika Matsushita's Journey

Yuika Matsushita, Japan

A Pursuit to Figuring Out How Biology Works: It Began at iGEM

Yash Jawale, India

From iGEM to Research and Development in Food Industry: Nathan Hawkins

Nathan Hawkins, Australia

Resilience and Learning Beyond Academic Research: Ari’s Story

Ari Dwijayanti, Indonesia

Deborah Chandra’s Story: Science Research and Communication

Deborah Chandra, Australia

A Glimpse of Synthetic Biology from Claudia Moratti’s Perspective

Claudia Moratti, Australia

Hui Emmanuela Miriam: The Journey to Find the Passion for Science, and Guide Others

Hui Emmanuela Miriam, Taiwan

Finding Her Passion and Building the Synthetic Biology Community in Indonesia: An after iGEM tale

Nurul Izzati, Indonesia

Finding a Place in Synthetic Biology: From Uganda to Around the World

Erikan Baluku, Uganda

Dr. Ingrida Olendraite: From Leading the First Lithuanian iGEM Team to Virology Research

Ingrida Olendraite, Lithuania

Building the first iGEM Gifu Team in Japan: Lessons from 2014

Moriyama Akihiro, Japan

Suhasini Iyer: iGEM Led Me to Synthetic Biology

Suhasini Iyer, Singapore

Once an iGEMer, now an entrepreneur

From dead bodies to a paper - PIs perspective on iGEM. In conversation with Ioana Popescu

From Rookie to Mentor: My iGEM Journey and How it Shaped My Career in Synthetic Biology

Business Symbiosis with iGEM - Story of Bluepha

The winding path of an iGEMer