(A)spiring Syn(T)hetic Biologists and (G)eneticists (C)amp Workshop

About

We received over 400 applications for the ATGC Camp and selected over 80 participants. This 4-day camp was designed to engage high school students in synthetic biology. To inspire SynBio ideas we have made the concept of idea generation graspable and enjoyable!

The workshop was divided into two modules, emphasizing a hands-on approach - the first focuses on incorporating synthetic biology fundamentals, and the second is a “SynBio Auction”. The Synbio Auction allowed the students to apply the concepts they have learned and propose a strategy to solve a real-life problem, giving them an actual flavor of current cutting-edge synbio innovation. This will make it relatable such that the students do not need a background in biology to learn and understand these concepts.

The workshop aimed to introduce Indian students to synthetic biology by organising bitesize sessions from passionate educators, game-led sessions to demonstrate the design-build-test-learn process, and career oriented talks in collaboration with other After iGEM initiatives. The broad goals for this workshop were:

  • To promote interest in synthetic biology at the high school level
  • To encourage and nurture high-school participation in iGEM

Format & Sessions

The workshop was spread over 4 days, with each day averaging around 3 hours of sessions and events. The technical session modules about foundations of Synthetic Biology are developed along with the steering group for the Education network at iGEM Community. Apart from this, there are career sessions with iGEM alumni speakers and a session by the Women in STEM initiative at iGEM Community. The SynBio auction engaged the students and helped them understand and apply SynBio through a hands-on game-like activity. It is developed based on the template of the iGEM 2019 SASTRA_Thanjavur team.

Recordings


Careers in Biology I
Careers in Biology II
Introduction to Bioinformatics
Introduction to Lab Techniques
Women in STEM
Intro to SynBio I
Intro to SynBio II
Introduction to Human Practices and Career in Biology III
Team Presentations and Closing Ceremony

Organizers

Avadhoot Jadhav
Avadhoot Jadhav
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Pune, India
Ayesha Sameer
Ayesha Sameer
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Priyannth RS
Priyannth RS
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Suwon, South Korea
Shruti Sridhar
Shruti Sridhar
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Bangalore, India
Smriti Suresh
Smriti Suresh
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Montreal, Canada
Soumodeep Sarkar
Soumodeep Sarkar
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Shrestha Rath
Shrestha Rath
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Regional Head
Shivaramakrishna Srinivasan
Shivaramakrishna Srinivasan
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Varsha Jaisimha
Varsha Jaisimha
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India

Feqeuently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can attend the ATGC Workshop?

This workshop is open to all high school students from grades 8th through 12th.

Who takes the sessions at the ATGC Workshop?

Distinguished professors and alumni conduct the sessions from leading institutes across the globe. Our schedule contains information about the speakers for each session.

What do students get at the end of the workshop?

This 4-day workshop is meant to encourage students and showcase the various opportunities of synthetic biology. Participants will have a chance to interact and engage with speakers and get the first-hand experience of cutting-edge synthetic biology innovation.

How long are the sessions each day?

On average, the sessions are 3-4hrs per day. This also includes the time needed for the SynBio Auction.

What language is the workshop taught in

The medium of instruction for the workshop is English.

Do you offer certificates of completion

Yes! We offer a certificate for all participants upon completion of the 4 days.

How many seats are available for the workshop?

There are 100 seats up for grabs for the workshop! So do fill up the registration form ASAP!

What do I need to participate in the workshop?

We will be using Zoom and Airmeet as platforms for instruction. After successful registration, you will receive a mail with the login details.

What happens if I am unable to attend all the days of the workshop?

We would strongly encourage and recommend that you attend all 4 days of the workshop. Each day is filled with unique sessions. Further, the Synbio Auction is spread across the 4 days, and each participant is required to be present to be able to meet the deliverables at the end of the workshop.