Competition/Tracks
5. Track Selection
Each team can only compete in one track.
The purpose of the iGEM tracks is to help teams focus their projects. The subjects areas encompassed by the tracks aim to solve crucial global challenges; for examples, students have worked on projects related to environmental bioremediation, new medical delivery systems, and alternative energy sources using synthetic biology.
Teams can participate in the special tracks and have the showcase space for showing off giant robots, software demos, and art exhibitions to generate buzz about these things at the Jamboree. Or you can participate as a standard track team, make parts, and compete for these special prizes as well as the Grand Prize.
Track Declarations
As a team, you will indicate up to 2 possible tracks that you think you will most likely compete in. This can change over the course of your project and final Track Selection will take place in August. Your final track selection may be completely different from your two track declarations. This early declaration of your possible track will allow you to communicate with other teams in your declared tracks to help setup collaborations and foster useful discussions throughout the iGEM season.
Track Selection Freeze
Deadline: August 24, 2018
Your final track selection is important as it directly impacts the Giant Jamboree presentation schedule. We aim to group teams together by track in random groups of three to fit within the presentation schedule easily. The final track selection allows iGEM Headquarters to start working on the Giant Jamboree schedule, with final changes done after Registration closes August 31. You can enter your track selection on your Team Profile page.
Remember...
Institutions can also send two teams to the Jamboree. We have offered this option to software and wetware teams for many years. You can decide to split your team into two teams later than the regular registration deadline, so you can start in the lab before deciding if you have a great special project you want to show off! As with every team, there will be a registration fee, but registering a second team will come with the multiple team discount. Keep in mind, two teams gives you two presentations, two posters, and two chances to win most of the special prizes. See the Competition Registration page for instructions on how to register multiple teams.
TRACK LIST
Standard Tracks
- Diagnostics
- Energy
- Environment
- Food & Nutrition
- Foundational Advance
- High School
- Information Processing
- Manufacturing
- New Application
- Therapeutics
Special Tracks
Important Information for Standard Tracks
- Teams will be required to work with parts to win a medal
- Standard track teams will be eligible for the Grand Prize
- Standard track teams will be eligible to win special cross-track prizes like Best Software Tool, etc. corresponding to all of the special track areas (see special track list above)
- Standard track teams will not be eligible for space in the special exhibition space at the Jamboree, in order to be fair to all standard track teams.
Important Information for Special Tracks
- Special tracks will not be required to make parts to achieve a gold medal
- Special tracks are eligible for most prizes, except the Grand Prize
- We will offer cross-track prizes for all of these tracks. As with the current structure, teams in the Special Tracks will be ineligible for the equivalent cross-track prizes (teams in the measurement track will not be eligible for the measurement cross-track prize, for example)
- These special tracks will have special showcase space at the Jamboree