iGEM Competition May Newsletter
Look below for more in competition news, highlights, and announcements:
- Giant Jamboree returned to regular 4-day schedule
- Sponsorship opportunities for teams, Apply by May 31
- Open invitation: Be an iGEM Judge!
- Sign-ups now open for the InterLab Study
- Upcoming dates to consider
Message from iGEM Headquarters
This month at iGEM, we had a number of exciting opportunities presented by our sponsors. Opentrons announced the 10 winners of their Robot Challenge, Promega successfully hosted their first LIVE Q&A Workshop "iGEM Crash Course: Ask the Experts", and GenScript announced a new sponsorship opportunity for iGEM Teams.
Back at HQ, we also celebrated Opening Day on May 1, and have continued shipping distribution kits to approved teams. So far, we have shipped 194 kits to registered and approved teams, and this week we are preparing to send 105 kits to China. We are still waiting for 51 teams to finish registering so we can send the rest, so if you're still not approved, check your team profile page to see what information you're missing and email us at HQ [at] igem [dot] org if there are discrepancies.
Check out our News Archive to see what else has been happening this month, and read on to learn more about what's next!
Direct Link: http://2018.igem.org/Community/News_Archive
Giant Jamboree Returned to Regular 4-Day Schedule
This month we were excited to a change to the 2018 Giant Jamboree schedule so that all attendees can make the most of their Jamboree experience. The change allows us to return to our regular 4-Day program, with the same three full days of presentations, posters, workshops and special events. Sunday October 29 will feature finalist presentations, more special events, and the highly anticipated Awards Ceremony, followed by the exclusive iGEMers Social Event.
Please note that the 2018 Giant Jamboree will start with Registration on Wednesday this year and presentations will start on Thursday. The Jamboree will end Sunday Night with the Social Event. The event is now structured like our usual program, but shifted one day earlier in the week due to scheduling concerns at the convention center.
If you're staying until Monday, we also have special Boston experiences organized for Jamboree attendees, including industry and university tours, and discounted tickets for site-seeing and museums. More information coming soon.
If you have any questions and concerns about the new schedule, don't hesitate to contact us. Email: HQ [at] igem [dot] org.
For the revised schedule, click the link below.
Direct Link: http://2018.igem.org/Giant_Jamboree
Don't forget...
If you're traveling internationally for the Giant Jamboree, apply for your visa as early as possible! Visa applications can sometimes take months to process, so be sure to apply for your travel visa early! The staff members at iGEM Headquarters cannot contact the consulate on your behalf if your visa application is delayed, but we can create a visa invitation letter to assist with your application.
Information about travel visas and instructions on accessing the iGEM visa application letter system are available on the Visa Help page.
Special Offers For Teams
iGEM's partner sponsors have organized special offers for teams to access throughout the 2018 competition season. IDT is once again helping iGEMers live in the future of synthetic biology by generously offering 20kb of FREE custom DNA to all teams. We also have two sponsorship opportunities with upcoming application deadlines.
GenScript will sponsor 5 iGEM teams, offering $4000 of total support for each sponsored team
Promega will sponsor 10 iGEM teams, offering $2000 in Promega products for each sponsored team
There is less than one week left to apply, (Deadline: May 31, 2018) so apply soon to be considered!
Direct Link: http://2018.igem.org/Sponsors/Special_Offers
Don't forget...
- IDT giving FREE 20kb of custom DNA through synthesis OR Alt-R® CRISPR Genome Editing products to ALL teams
- GenScript offering 20% off synthesis and cloning services to all teams
- Promega supporting all teams with free technical support all year
- 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 (equivalent to 50% off)
You are invited - Be an iGEM Judge!
With 340 teams from over 40 countries this year, our goal is to recruit a judging panel that reflects our teams’ diversity in terms of gender balance and regional representation. We welcome people of all genders to apply and especially encourage female and non-binary applicants. As we work towards recruiting a more diverse judging panel, we are asking for your help to spread the word! Please pass along this invitation to apply to people in your network who you believe would make iGEM better.
This year we are accepting applications on a rolling basis so there is no hard deadline to apply. The current round of applications will be evaluated on May 31st with decisions sent out in mid-June, so apply today! (The next round will be evaluated on June 30th.)
Apply today or learn more by visiting: 2018.igem.org/Judging
Direct Link: http://2018.igem.org/Judging
Note: Team affiliated judges (PIs, instructors, and advisors) will receive a 50% discount on their Jamboree attendance fee, and we will waive the fee for any judges not associated with a 2018 iGEM team.
Sign Up Now for the 5th International InterLab Measurement Study!
All teams in iGEM 2018 are invited to participate in the 5th International InterLab Measurement Study. This is an optional and voluntary exercise for all teams in the competition, and also an optional activity for fulfilling the Bronze Medal Requirement #4 this year. Sign-ups are now open, and will close on June 29. Don't miss out, sign up today!
Direct Link: http://2018.igem.org/Measurement/InterLab
Don't forget...
- Track selections are now open for teams
- iGEM Github Repository signups open for software teams
- See the official iGEM 2018 Calendar for more information. Direct Link: http://2018.igem.org/Calendar
Best wishes,
The iGEM Headquarters Team
Remember to...
Connect on Social Media! Join us on Facebook, Instagram (@iGEM_HQ), and Twitter (@iGEM)! Be sure to tag your photos with #iGEM2018; we'll be collecting them to show off at the Giant Jamboree.
Let us know if you are planning a meet up! HQ would love to help you publicize it and connect with other teams. Email hq (at) igem (dot) org.
