September Newsletter

This month's newsletter is packed with new resources for teams! From measurement protocols for using red fluorescent proteins, to a new webinar on creating great poster presentations, we've got all kinds of resources for teams to add an edge to their project. Plus, a few lucky teams will have the chance to visit NEB headquarters after the 2019 Giant Jamboree this year, and attend a lecture by Nobel Laureate Sir Richard Roberts.

Keep scrolling to find new collaborations, meetups, and other upcoming dates!

In this issue...

• Giant Jamboree late registration closes this month
• Second round of volunteer applications now open!
• Sign up to tour NEB headquarters, including a lecture by Nobel Laureate
• Give your project an extra edge - FREE software tools for teams
• Using RFP? A new message from iGEM's Measurement Committee
• Join Promega's new webinar about creating poster presentations
• Important competition deadlines TOMORROW - September 13

2019 Giant Jamboree Updates

We are looking for volunteers!

We are still looking for volunteers to help us make the 2019 Giant Jamboree a great event! The second round of applications is open through October 6, and notifications will be sent by October 11. This opportunity is open to iGEM alumni and other non-team members only. This opportunity is not available to current team members or their affiliates. For the application and more details, visit the Volunteers page: https://2019.igem.org/Giant_Jamboree/Volunteers.

Please email Kitwa if you have any questions: kitwa AT igem DOT org. Please feel forward to share this opportunity with friends or colleagues!

Direct Link: https://2019.igem.org/Giant_Jamboree/Volunteers

Are you using NEB® reagents in your iGEM project?

Sign up your team by Monday, September 23rd, for a chance to tour NEB’s laboratories, meet their scientists, and hear a presentation from Nobel Laureate Sir Richard Roberts, immediately following this year’s iGEM 2019 Giant Jamboree. Selected teams will visit NEB for a half day on Tuesday, November 5th, 2019.

Click below to learn more and sign up for this amazing opportunity!

Direct Link: https://2019.igem.org/Giant_Jamboree/Related_Events

Don't forget...

Late registration for the Giant Jamboree will end on September 30. Register now!

On the iGEM Blog

From the Measurement Committee

Many of you have used our fluorescein calibration protocol for standardizing GFP measurements, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! Many teams have also wondered about a parallel protocol for red fluorescent proteins. You asked, and we’re working on it!

On this protocol you will note an addition under step 2.2 that describes how to make stocks for calibrating red fluorescence using either Texas Red or Rhodamine B. This protocol is a work in progress. We need your feedback! So please let us know how it works for you by leaving comments in protocols.io or by email to measurement [at] igem [dot] org.

Please note! When you are using a fluorescent protein like RFP, OD600 measurements will be inaccurate. We recommend measuring OD at 660nm or higher. You can read more about the problem here.

Happy measuring!

Free Software Resources for Teams

Looking to give your project an extra edge? Make sure to check out the Software Tools resource page! We have special offers from MathWorks and Benchling, as well as many free tools for you to use, including:​

Direct Link: https://2019.igem.org/Resources/Software_Tools

Competition Deadlines - September team checklist

The following items are due by 11:59PM EDT on September 13:

• Final Safety Form Due. Failure to comply with safety requirements can lead to disqualification from the competition.
• Track Selections Due
• Team Project Title and Abstract Due
• Final Team Rosters Due

Direct Link: https://2019.igem.org/Calendar#September

Dont forget...

• Submit a team banner (optional) by September 27
• Register to attend the Jamboree by September 30.
• Apply for your travel visa. Approval of your visa application may take a long time, even if your peers receive their visas quickly. 
• Check your inbox for messages from the safety committee. Respond to the safety committee in a timely manner to comply with competition rules.

With Thanks to iGEM's Partners for 2019

Don't forget...

• IDT giving FREE 20kb of custom DNA as gBlocks® Gene Fragments OR Alt-R® CRISPR Genome Editing products to ALL teams. Last day to order: October 14.
• GenScript offering 20% off synthesis and cloning services to all teams. Last day to order: October 15.
• Benchling giving complimentary Benchling accounts, with Benchling Sync, and 10 GB of extra space
• MathWorks giving complimentary MATLAB software (includes 13 products) and technical support to all teams
• Opentrons offering $2000 off a team's first OT-2 Robot

Find a Collaboration

• Maybe you need a comic book! - Team OUC-China
• Kings College London Bio-security standards survey - Team Kings College London
• iGEM Weather Contingency Plan - Team UPRM
• A map filling game to investigate pollution - Team HBUT-China
• Let's fight food allergens together !!! - Team Strasbourg
• Texas Red as a standard for measuring mCherry - Team Bielefeld-CeBiTec
• Beta-test our codon harmonisation program! - Team Sydney_Australia
• What is iGEM for you? - Team UAAAN

Email HQ to get your collaboration request listed on the collaborations page!

Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues