1) Meetup with Botchan_Lab_Tokyo

We invited team Botchan_Lab_Tokyo to Kyoto, and exchanged opinions about project and how to proceed iGEM activities. We especially discussed about the organizational framework of iGEM, fund-raising, human Practice and collaboration activities.
Team Botchan_Lab_Tokyo established several departments by taking advantage of the large number of members, and was doing division of work. It was a feature not found in our team so it was it was a good example for efficient organization management.
また、互いの財政状況も教え合いました。私たちはどのようにクラウドファンディング先を見つけるかをBotchan_Lab_Tokyoに教え、Botchan_Lab_Tokyoからは彼らの支援を受け取るコツを教えてもらいました。
Also, Botchan_Lab_Tokyo has participated in iGEM for only twice so they were not sure how to meet the criteria. Therefore,we taught how to interpret critatria and design project from our past experience attending iGEM competition.For example, they were conducting science experiments for junior high and high school students so as to meet the criteria of “Education & Public Engagement”but they did not extend to the level of synthetic biology nor their project. We advised them that it will become better by taking in more lectures and doing such a work like DNA work.
Also, as they were having trouble looking for opportunities for collaboration, so we taught about the existence of “Meetup” page and suggested attending the Asia Conference. It was exciting to interact with few Japanese teams through iGEM activity.

　　Thank you, Botchan_Lab_Tokyo!!!

↑Go to the Wiki Collaboration page of Team Botchan_Lab_Tokyo↑

2) Mentoring from Team Aachen

The Aachen 2017 team (###link###) was trying to collect Na + efficiently as a preliminary project, but because there was no assay method or detailed data on the Wiki, we contact them and repeatedly asked for advice via e-mail.
We were worried about how to measure the amount of Na + uptake of yeast, so team Aachen suggested their assay method. Their method was to Cultivate yeast in a salt-containing medium and measure 1 or 2 ml of the separated supernatant after several hours in the culture.
(Unfortunately their method was too expensive to us but we used it for the last assay as a reference---?) Furthermore, they said that the peak of yeast absorbing Na is 6 hours according to their modeling and it is better to divide it by its OD after culturing in order to measure uptake between different yeast strains. Their mentoring was truly encouraging and helpful. Thanks to their help, we were able to launch an improved project.

　　Thank you, Team Aachen!!!

3) 6th Asia Pasific conference

We went to Taiwan and attended the 6 th Asia Conference. We were very inspired by seeing many presentations and posters from teams all over the world. Also, it was a good practice of doing presentations and posters. At this conference, other iGEMers gave us much good advice on our projects and it was very helpful. After the conference, we continuously exchanged opinions through SNS.(picture)

4) Meetup with Gifu

We met up with Ryo Niwa from Team Gifu who came to Kyoto. We discussed the current situation of the Japanese iGEM team and their detailed progress of the project. We detailed how to meet the criteria and sent advice to each other. In addition, we taught how to secure the experiment site and how we are conducting experiments. Ryo also advised me that the important point to make the iGEM project successful is to take adequate food and sleep. There are very few teams in Japan, but we encouraged each other to do our best. It was a very unique and meaningful meetup.

　　Thank you, Team Gifu!!!

5) Providing Wiki Creation Assisting Software: KELN to other Teams

We improved software KELN which automatically changes experiment notes to HTML-language based on last year's feedback and distributed it to team Gifu and team Botchan_Lab_Tokyo. (Below is their Feedback. We are glad that you make it useful. The following is their year 's Feedback.----?)

From Botchan_Lab_Tokyo
• ・It was easy to use even for the people who are not familiar with computer. So we could divide the work among many people.
• ・It was easy to customize the software "KELN" because the edit display was simple.
• ・Our experiment sample numbers was so many that we couldn’t write all sample deta into the cell.
• ・If we can use copy and paste on the software, we will complete the wiki more smoothly.