Difference between revisions of "Team:Aix-Marseille/Public Engagement"

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= [https://2018.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/ScienceMarket Science market] =
 
= [https://2018.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/ScienceMarket Science market] =
[[File:T--Aix-Marseille--SDS.png |450px|right|]]
 
Created in 2003, the science market is a place to exchange ideas and '''popularize science''' using interactive, accessible, and fun activities. The aim is to '''sharpen the scientific''' knowledge of the general public. At the market, we had '''two main products''' to sell to the public: synthetic biology and the current challenges, and the breaking bugs project.<br>
 
  
We delivered our ideas through '''three interactive activities'''. Firstly, we used a '''dollhouse''' to simulate a household. The game is as follows: they have to '''find''' 12 bed bugs (Stickers). Thus, they learned where bed bugs could be possibly hiding in their homes. Secondly, we have brought materials to make the [https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/banana-dna banana experiment], so we could teach them that all living things, bananas and people included, pass on '''information''' from one generation to the next using the same basic material, '''DNA'''. Thirdly, we have '''created small sketches''' to simulate and explain to the public the '''basics about the breaking bugs project'''. Among other things, our remarkable mascot '''Heisenbug''' was on board to lighten up the mood and attract the '''younger ones''' with their parents.
 
 
We met kids and adults, succeeded in delivering our ideas and got multiple '''feedbacks''' on the project. Furthermore, we met with researchers with whom we discussed the '''bioethics''' challenges surrounding our plan.
 
  
 
= [https://2018.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/ScienceFestival Science festival] =
 
= [https://2018.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/ScienceFestival Science festival] =
[[File:T--Aix-Marseille--fds2018.png|450px|right]]
 
The [https://www.fetedelascience.fr/ fête de la science] or science festival is a national event that promotes scientific culture and, in a festive setting, exchanges between science and society! Led for 27 years by the French ministry of higher education, research, and innovation, it is a meeting point between the general public and the actors of science who through experimentation, debate, and exchange, offer the opportunity to build new knowledge and to form opinions about the issues facing our society.
 
  
To cover the most cities possible, science villages are set up where universities, research institutes, associations, and companies occupy stands, each of them bringing several interactive experiments. It is this diversity that contributes to the wealth and success of the festival.This year we had a stand on  12th, 13th and 14th October in the departmental archive of Marseille.
 
 
The first day was dedicated to the scholar, so we had to hoc their attention in a fun way. For this event we decided to make them aware about fake news, so we did a “jungle speed” abou fake news about GMOs with a quiz that we prepared based on articles. We also discussed biology with them, and our project. It was  interesting because a lot of pupils were scared about GMOs without knowing what they are. We want to spark their curiosity and a lot of knowledge beyond this game.
 
We hope that this intervention bridging a little the gap between biology and society.
 
 
The second and third days was open to the general public, so we continued the game for  children and we presented our project to the others. With a poster we explained the “breaking bugs” project. A lot of people were enthusiastic about it, and some of them were victims of bed bugs, so they shared their stories with us. We had testimony of people who spent thousands to get rid of bed bugs. We discussed current solutions and the advantage of our solution. With others we debated GMOs and  Synthétic biology. These exchanges were rewarding for us and our project. We were directly confronted with the general public and we could see how society welcomed our project.
 
  
 
= [https://2018.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/SHUC Social housing union convention] =
 
= [https://2018.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/SHUC Social housing union convention] =
  
The [https://www.union-habitat.org/congres social housing union] is a confederation which gathers all the French social landlords ie about 730 organisms managing '''4.5 millions of housing'''.
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The sector, like many others, '''is confronted to bed bugs infestations'''. The union organized its '''national congress''' in Marseille on the 9th, 10th and 11th of October, bringing together around '''22,000 people''' over 3 days and 10,000  social housing professionals. The congress was covered by about 90 journalists.
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Following our nationwide advertisement campaign, we '''got invited''' to the convention to present the '''breaking bugs project''' as an '''innovative solution''' to develop, for bed bugs infestations treatment, that can directly '''impact the inhabitants'''.
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= [https://2018.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Biotech Biotechnology forum] =
 
= [https://2018.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Biotech Biotechnology forum] =
[[File:T--Aix-Marseille--FDdB.png|450px|right]]
 
In collaboration with [https://polytech.univ-amu.fr/en/faculty Polytech Marseille], we were able to get a stand at the '''19th biotechnology forum'''. The forum brings together students and professionals. Conferences are held to address the current '''challenges of biotechnology''', which now occupy a major role in the health and environmental sectors. Participants were able to exchange with experts on the latest biotechnology advances. This year, four main topics were addressed: '''gene therapy''', '''genetically modified organisms''', '''the pharmaceutical industry''', and '''genomics'''.<br>
 
  
Our team took part in the forum with three main goals to achieve:
 
 
'''Promoting synthetic biology''' through presenting the [https://igem.org/Main_Page iGEM organization].<br>
 
Presenting '''the breaking bugs project''' and getting the community's feedback.<br>
 
'''Recruiting''' engineers for next year's iGEM team.<br>
 
  
 
= [https://2018.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Night European researchers night] =
 
= [https://2018.igem.org/Team:Aix-Marseille/Night European researchers night] =
[[File:T--Aix-Marseille--ERN.png|450px|right|]]
 
 
Every year at the end of September the “European researchers’ night ” take place in several cities in Europe .
 
This year we have the opportunity to participate in this event the 28th and 29th September.
 
 
28th September
 
 
The topic was “a thousand a one ways to do research” , that is why the first day we went to several high schools in Marseille  with  three other researchers to tell people about our IGEM adventure.
 
 
In order to make synthetic biology accessible to high schools students, we had to adapt our language and supports so we made a simple graph of our project. Our motivation was to share our passion and knowledge about biology and to stimulate the students’ curiosity.
 
We had 8 minutes to popularise science and tell a story of one years. This event was a great opportunity to teach students and raise their awareness about biology synthétic and the ethical limits, it was interesting for them to know more about biotechnology and our  bed bugs project. We also had a lot of questions about our university studies. We wanted to show that it is possible to talk about biology, and science in general with people from all ages and with different knowledge and we think that this message was received by the students.
 
 
the 29th september
 
 
on the second day , The gathering aims to attract a public that is not familiar with science and awaken the desire to develop and maintain a connection with research after the event.
 
Through the art of storytelling, we engaged with the public in a game of exchange that enables all participants to critically discuss communication and to come to a better understanding of what research activity entails. Our team had two tales to share with the audience: synthetic biology and the breaking bugs project.
 
We were invited to participate on a radio show  dedicated to the european research night , with ‘’ radio grenouille “ , we explains the igem competition and the built of our project , we met other scientist and we had the opportunity to discuss about our project with them and had an another point of view about our project.
 

Revision as of 17:09, 15 October 2018

Education & Engagement



Bed bugs infestations are increasing each and every year in Marseille and all over the world. The grounds of our breaking bugs project was that heavy increase. We wanted to help our local community as well as the whole world. We engaged in our society by going to as many fairs and gatherings as possible, with three main messages to deliver:

What is iGEM?
What are bed bugs and how to prevent infestations?
Engaging the public in the breaking bugs project.


Science market

Science festival

Social housing union convention

Biotechnology forum

European researchers night