Special Edition Newsletter: September Deadlines
There are a lot of important deadlines approaching this September. We're bringing you this bonus special edition newsletter to dive deeper into each deadline and why they are so important for your team.
Direct Link: http://2018.igem.org/Calendar#September
September 7: Final Safety Form
A final version of your team's safety form must be completed and submitted by September 7 at 11:59PM EDT.
Your team should be updating the form as your project changes through the season. This includes keeping it up to date with information from any Check-In Forms or Animal Use Forms created during the year. Remember though, only your PI can submit your Safety and Security form! Plan for this in advance; your PI being unavailable or on vacation is not an acceptable excuse for missing the deadline.
Complying with the safety and security requirements is a condition of competing at iGEM - that includes providing all the information in the Safety Form by the relevant deadline.
Failure to do so can lead to immediate disqualification from the competition and referral to the Responsible Conduct Committee.
Our Advice: Try to finalize the content of the form as early as possible, and don't wait until the last moment to ask your PI to sign it off! If in doubt, email the safety committee as early as possible with your questions so that: Safety [AT] iGEM [DOT] org.
Direct Link: http://2018.igem.org/Safety/Final_Safety_Form
September 14: Title and Abstract Freeze
Your team project title and abstract must be submitted to your Team Profile Page by September 14 at 11:59PM EDT.
The title and abstract will be automatically copied into your team judging form, and will be your team's first impression to your judges! It will also be your team's first impression to the rest of the Jamboree attendees, as they will be used in the Jamboree program booklets.
Since this is a freeze deadline, there will be no extensions provided. Don't make a blank impression; make sure you submit your title and abstract on time!
Our Advice: For some teams, it may seem too early to write a definitive abstract if you still don't have results! Try copying your project description over well before the deadline, and then update it as soon as you have your final abstract ready.
Direct Link: http://2018.igem.org/Competition/Title_and_Abstract
September 21: Team Roster Freeze
Your team roster must be finalized on your Team Profile Page by September 21 at 11:59PM EDT.
The team roster is used to assign collegiate teams to the Undergraduate or Overgraduate section. Please note that this is done automatically based on the ages of student members on the team, and is not an option that a team can select. If any student members were over the age of 23 on March 31, 2018, or if the ages are not completed at the deadline, then the team is automatically assigned as an Overgraduate team.
The roster will also be used to assign iGEMers with competition participation awards: if you're not on the roster, you won't get one! You also need to appear on at least one team roster to take part in After iGEM initiatives after you complete your first iGEM year.
Since this is a freeze deadline, there will be no extensions provided.
Our Advice: By this time in the season, you probably already know who your teammates are! You can make sure that your roster is completed as early as today. High school consent forms must also be received at HQ by the deadline. High school teams should prepare to send in consent forms the week or two before the deadline to allow for processing time.
Names will appear on certificates exactly as they are entered in the system, with the exception of special characters which may appear as errors. To avoid errors on your certificate, use only English alphanumeric characters to express your name on the roster.
Find your team profile page in the team list:
Direct Link: http://igem.org/Team_List.cgi
Other Dates in September
- September 28: Giant Jamboree late registration ends. After this date, attendees will only be able to register on-site. More...
- September 28: Team banner files due (optional). This is a fun way to display your team spirit, and contribute to decorating the Giant Jamboree! Teams can take home their banners after the Jamboree is over. More...
Documenting Your Project
Have you started working on your wiki? Do you know about Pages for Awards?
These are pages with standard URL links that judges will use to find information about your project. Specific award and medal criteria have specific pages with static URL links that you must use. If your team wants to be evaluated for an award/medal, you will need to document your achievements related to this award/medal on these pages.
As you create new pages and start documenting your project in your wiki, remember to keep these pages in mind!
Direct Link: http://2018.igem.org/Judging/Pages_for_Awards
Don't forget...
If you're traveling internationally for the Giant Jamboree, apply for your visa as early as possible! Information about travel visas and instructions on accessing the iGEM visa application letter system are available on the Visa Help page.
