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April Newsletter
With less than one month until Opening Day (May 1), we have so many big announcements for our teams in this month's newsletter. Even if you've participated in iGEM before, you'll want to take a close look because there are some changes from previous years that will be affecting medal and award criteria this year.
In this issue...
- *New* iGEM is going sample submission free AND Type IIS is now fully supported
- Distribution Kits are now shipping to a team near you!
- No InterLab Study for 2019 - message from the Measurement Committee
- Still choosing what to work on? Start with Human Practices
- Meet the new members of the Diversity Committee
- iGEM Featured in The Economist
iGEM is going sample submission free
AND
Type IIS is now fully supported
With technologies ever changing, iGEM is changing too. For 2019, we are removing the requirement for teams to submit physical samples of their parts to HQ. We are now accepting parts in the Type IIS standard alongside the usual BioBrick RFC[10] standard. We are also including Type IIS parts in Kit Plate 6 of the DNA Distribution Kit. These combined changes will give teams more flexibility, and allow teams to be closer to the cutting edge than ever before.
What else is new for 2019?
In addition to the changes above, there are more changes to Bronze Medal criterion:
- New deliverable - Project inspiration
- No InterLab Study for 2019:
Look below for a message from the Measurement Committee
We have created a page to help teams keep track of these competition changes:
Direct Link: https://2019.igem.org/New
Distribution Kits are on their way!
2019 Distribution Kits have started shipping to registered and approved teams! Some things to keep in mind:
- TAKE a picture! Use the official hashtags #iGEM2019 and #WelcomeToiGEM on social media to let us know you got your kit. We will collect the most creative photos and show them off!
- BE MINDFUL of Safety! Check out the safety information in the kit and remember to visit the Safety Hub at 2019.igem.org/Safety
- DO NOT FREEZE! Some components of the Distribution Kit cannot be frozen - make sure to carefully read the storage instructions in the kit before proceeding
- Don't know how to use your distribution kit? Learn how by reading the 2019 Distribution Handbook
Still choosing what to work on? Start with Human Practices!
Human Practices at iGEM is about understanding which problems synthetic biology can help solve, and exploring the impacts of your project on the world. Is your project responsible and good for the world?
This year, every team is expected to explain why they chose their project as part of the Project Inspiration Bronze Medal Requirement. Winning teams are often inspired by the potential impact of their project, and consider Human Practices questions throughout the year. This integrated approach is part of designing a successful project and essential to being an engineer.
Learn more and get started with human practices today. Visit the Human Practices hub, watch the introductory video, and check out FAQs, exemplary projects, resources, and tips for how to succeed in the competition.
From the Measurement Committee
There is no InterLab Study this year, but there is still a Measurement Kit as part of the distribution to help teams improve the quality of measurements in their projects. Fluorescence is often measured in arbitrary units, which can vary from instrument to instrument, leaving part users with significant doubt about reproducibility. The Measurement Kit can be used to measure GFP fluorescence using standard units: See the 2018 William and Mary and Newcastle projects for examples.
Are you measuring something other than GFP? Designing reliable ways to calibrate measurements using a standard is an important contribution teams can make not just to iGEM, but to all of synthetic biology. The Measurement Committee is available to help with your questions about measurement, parts characterization, calibrants, and standards.
Contact us anytime at measurement [AT] igem [DOT] org, and be sure to visit the Measurement Hub for more resources.
Welcome - New Diversity Committee Members!
The iGEM Diversity Committee welcomes seven new members for 2019: Peivand Sadat Mousavi, Asal Golshaie, Landon Getz, Christina Clodomir, Brigitte Vannier, Alba Iglesias Vilches, and Cibele Zolnier Sousa do Nascimento.
Click here to view their biographies.
We look forward to working together in 2019 to foster and improve diversity and inclusion in iGEM. If you have any ideas for how we can work to increase diversity this year, please let us know at diversity [AT] igem [DOT] org.
iGEM Featured in "The Economist"
"... there are already 32 startups around the world that began life as iGEM teams"
iGEM was featured in the latest issue of the Economist:
Upcoming Team Meetups
- April 12-14: BioBrick Tutorial
- April 13: iGEM Shanghai Regional Conference
- May 3-5: iGEM Spring Festival
With thanks to iGEM's partners for 2019
Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues
