A community comes from a group of people with shared experiences. Each year the iGEM Competition brings together over 300 teams to share their work and advance the field of synthetic biology while solving changes important to their local communities. Each individual in those over 5000 have their own reason to participate in iGEM, but once they reach the end of the season and graduate from the competition, they retain a shared experience and core values.
While competition teams are one element of this community, it extends far beyond them and involves individuals who create what we call the iGEM experience. These are the judges, the mentors, the advisors, the volunteers, anyone interested in learning about synthetic biology and anyone who is a part of the global synthetic biology ecosystem. More than 60,000 individuals have shared this iGEM experience and their contributions have gone on to develop the field of synthetic biology over the past 2 decades.
Our Purpose
The iGEM Community program brings together all of them to amplify their individual impact, support and grow the global synthetic biology community through a collective effort, and further develop their own skills and careers. It is a resource-rich space for iGEMers to team up, and collaboratively build assets for the synbio ecosystem, while developing into the future leaders of the field.
Our People
iGEM Ambassadors
In 2022, we hosted 40 Ambassadors from 21 different regions from across the world. The iGEM Ambassadors represent and promote iGEM and synthetic biology in their respective regions. They are a diverse and international team of regional leaders who have experienced iGEM and now work together to promote initiatives to expand iGEM and collaborate with local stakeholders to disseminate cooperation across their community.
Interface between the teams and iGEM HQ and voice for their regional iGEM communities
Recruit potential teams and identify barriers to entry
Connect to iGEM alumni and help improve iGEM Community's programs
Promote or help create the iGEM League in your region
iGEM Community Network topics
The iGEM Networks are dedicated to connecting individuals, building communities, sharing resources and developing initiatives geared towards specialized areas related to synthetic biology. Each Topic is led by a dedicated Steering Group.
Discover and re-curate the resources which are produced and benefit iGEMers
Connect individuals and maintain communities around the different areas of interest
Develop projects and initiatives geared towards specialized areas related to synbio
iGEM Community initiatives
The iGEM Community initiatives are efforts designed to address specific challenges that are important to our community.
Discover and re-curate the resources which are produced and benefit iGEMers
Connect individuals and maintain communities around the different areas of interest
Develop projects and initiatives geared towards specialized areas related to synbio
Our Community Efforts
Supporting iGEM teams
Regional ambassadors activities
Africa
The iGEM Ambassadors for Africa worked on improving the iGEM Competition experience for both established and prospective iGEM teams from the region. The team members had proficiency in Arabic, English, French and Swahili, and also helped connect with the community in Middle eastern countries.
- The Ambassadors engaged in Egypt, Ghana, South-Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Morocco, Tunisia, UAE and Qatar.
- They supported 5 Teams from the region and connected with over 11 potential teams.
- Events Organized: iGEM x AfricaOSH, Values & Risks Workshops (In-Person), Ambassadors On-Site Meeting, Synbio Africa Showcase
- Projects Organized: Hacking iGEM, Handbook for African iGEM teams, Beyond Biology Workshop, Leagues proposals
Asia and Oceania
The iGEM Ambassadors for Asia & Oceania engaged with iGEMers and students particularly from high-school to promote iGEM Competition to new institutes.
- The Ambassadors engaged in China, India, Taiwan
- Events Organized: Highschool Synthetic Biology Summit
- Events Attended: All India iGEM Meetup, Taiwan iGEM Meet 2022
Latin America
The iGEM LATAM Ambassadors are the main support team for all Latin American iGEMers, from both the iGEM Competition and Design League. They act as a bridge between the teams, the HQ, and the iGEM Community and provide advice, access to platforms and resources, or help with your projects.
- The Ambassadors engaged in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Venezuela.
- They supported 14 teams from the region.
- Events Organized: Pitch and Match; On-site meeting for LATAM ambassadors; LATAM meetup (jamboree); Time for games! (jamboree); Hacking iGEM Workshops.
- Projects Organized: Connecting with ambassadors; Pitch and Match; Hacking iGEM; LATAM Cycle, Teams Database.
North America
The North American Ambassadors are a group of nine passionate individuals currently residing in Canada and the United States working to support iGEM teams and iGEM alumni across the region. They organized different events and resources to act as a source of guidance for teams as they tackle the competition.
- The Ambassadors engaged in Canada, United States of America.
- They supported 8 Teams from the region.
- Events Attended: The Canada + US iGEM 2022 Mini Jamboree: Virtual Presentation, PuMP Let’s talk Biotech - Ontario Canada, Indigenous Voices in Science - Saskatchewan, Canada, Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board - Canada
- Projects Organized: How to iGEM - Resources for iGEM Teams
Europe
The iGEM Ambassadors for Europe are passionate individuals that went through the iGEM competition cycle and guided the journey of European teams with additional resources, networking opportunities and advice. - The Ambassadors engaged in Turkey, France, Germany, Finland, Greece, Spain, Belgium, UK, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Netherlands, Latvia, Norway - They supported 74 Teams from the region and reconnected with 100-150 Alumni - Events Attended: Congreso Nacional de emprendimiento stem, synbio e innovacion social, Congreso Estatal de Estudiantes de Biociencias, iGEM UK meet-up, Mini Jamboree Benelux, The Biomania Student Scientific Meeting - Projects Organized: How to iGEM - Resources for iGEM Teams
Understand Global Biotech & SynBio Governance
Stockholm 50 & iGEM World Environment Day
iGEM hosted the online seminar Synthetic Biology: A Bold Choice for a Healthy Planet? on June 3, 2022, in honor of the World Environment Day and the 50th anniversary of 1972 United Nations Conference on the Environment.
Governance and Policy Weekend
The Shipping Policies project studied how to extend access to synthetic biology and its tools by understanding local/regional bureaucracy and policy with the pilot project in Latin America.
iGEMers Discussion
NTI | Bio, in partnership with the Next Generation for Global Health Security - GHS Network (NextGen), the iGEM Foundation, SynBio Africa, and the Global Health Security Network, launched the Sixth Annual Next Generation for Biosecurity Competition. The iGEMers Discussion provided an opportunity to iGEMers and anyone interested in the competition, to connect, learn more about the competition and build projects for it.
Biofoundaries policy research
Members of the iGEM Community Governance and Policy Steering Group published a preprint arguing for expanding the scope of applications for biofoundries towards roles in biosurveillance and biosecurity. They concluded that this could be achieved through developing measurement standards and protocols, engaging citizens in data collection, closer collaborations with biorefineries, and processing of samples. This document should prove useful to policymakers and other stakeholders who wish to strengthen biosecurity programs in ways that synergize with bioeconomy.
Building Synthetic Biology Resources
Excelling beyond the competition
Improving Accessibility in SynBio
EduHall
The EduHall project created an online catalog of synthetic biology content in a reader-friendly format as a go-to resource for iGEM teams, SynBio beginners and the SynBio community in general to learn about synthetic biology. EduHall currently hosts 14 resources developed by our members.
ORIgin Project
Origin built a repository of SynBio learning resources from various channels of different languages on the Internet including videos, MOOC (Massive Open Online Course), curriculum, articles, etc. The database currently contains 54 resources from individuals and organizations from around the world in 9 different languages.
Hope By Nature
Hope by Nature is a virtual arts gallery curated by the Steering Group of iGEM Bioart Network. The gallery was launched during the Grand Jamboree week and will be open to our community to view. Check out artworks which explore the major challenges earth is facing, how synthetic biology can solve them, and the impact on all living beings and society.