News Archive
News Archive
Here you will find the archived news items from the iGEM 2020 Main page.
Your feedback is important to us! We introduced a lot of new things to the competition in 2020. If you participated on an iGEM team this year, please take the 2020 Competition Experience Survey to let us know about your experience in the 2020 iGEM Competition, and help to build an even better program for 2021. Please also consider taking our other 5-minute surveys about the Measurement and Human Practices programs. More Surveys.
The iGEM Video Universe is a decisive milestone in creating the future iGEM. For the first time, it is possible to watch (or even binge-watch) the Project Promotion Videos and Presentation Videos from every team participating in the iGEM competition, as well as Keynotes, Workshops, and Interviews from the iGEM 2020 season and Virtual Giant Jamboree.
Wondering what's next for you? After iGEM is here to excite, support, and inspire the 40,000+ iGEMers to continue leading in synthetic biology wherever you are around the world. Take this interest survey to find your next opportunity:
See what judges thought of your project! Access comments and voting details for your team by following the link below.
Note: You need to be logged into your iGEM account to view the feedback for your team.
The iGEM From Above photo represents the growth of our community from just a few people in 2004 to thousands of iGEMers in 2020. Check out the iGEM 2020 Virtual iGEM From Above! Find yourself on the full size version on Flickr:
Team wikis are now thawed so teams can edit and update their wiki pages with their final results from the Virtual Giant Jamboree and fix any mistakes they may have made prior to the Wiki Freeze. The wikis will be re-frozen and permanently archived on December 18, so please finish your edits and updates by that date. Once pages are archived, it will be extremely difficult to make changes!
HQ's tip: Don't forget to check your personal information and photos and make sure you are happy with those information being public for years to come!
Previous News Items
This year, our sponsors are putting on some amazing workshops during #iGEMCommunityWeek (Nov 17-20). Ginkgo Bioworks will host the Ginkgo Biworks Challenge, next Wednesday November 18, at 11:00 EST!
Submit your team’s idea by November 16, 23:59 EST for the chance to pitch to a panel of Ginkgo Bioworks judges (and SynBio rockstars!): Christina Agapakis, Patrick Boyle, and Tom Knight! Impress the judges and the audience to win Ginkgo’s prize: DNA synthesis as Twist plasmids, and Ginkgo mentorship to make your idea a reality. Join us, and let’s make biology easier and funnier to engineer together.
We built an app for the Virtual Giant Jamboree and it is now ready!
It is called "My iGEM" and features all the Jamboree activities. You can interact with attendees, make a personalized schedule, visit exhibitor booths, create meetings, and join over 350 Jamboree sessions!
All attendees should register on Eventbrite to get access to the My iGEM app!
Direct Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/igem-2020-virtual-giant-jamboree-tickets-125398561473
- Each team should nominate one person to be Team Representative for the Celebration Day events. The Team Representative will be in charge of coordinating between the team and the production company for the livestream of results at the Awards Ceremony on November 22. Due: November 12, 11:59 EST
- All team members, including PIs, instructors, and advisors, should register through Eventbrite to get access to the "My iGEM" Platform and App, and to sign media release agreements for the event. Due: November 13, 23:59 EST
- All attendees should submit photos to be included in the Virtual iGEM From Above Due: November 15, 23:59 EST
Direct Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/igem-2020-virtual-giant-jamboree-tickets-125398561473
Individual Registration is now open through Eventbrite! All attendees, including team members, should register through Eventbrite to get access to the "My iGEM" Platform and App, and to sign media release agreements for the event. Just a spectator? Registration is free to the public and alumni!
Direct Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/igem-2020-virtual-giant-jamboree-tickets-125398561473
Each year since iGEM began, our community has gathered in-person to marvel at and celebrate the achievements of the teams in engineering biological solutions for global challenges and building the field of synthetic biology.
This year our community is gathering together, but with a crucial difference: we needed to find a way to capture the brilliance and beauty of our former gatherings in a virtual setting.
New in 2020, iGEM teams will create an interactive poster using their assigned poster wiki page. To help teams with creating this new type of poster, we have designed an easily customizable template under your team namespace. Poster rules, guidelines, expected poster sections, plus full documentation of how to use the poster template, can be found on the posters deliverable page.
Have questions about the poster template? In this video, we show how to use the new poster template, and discuss the example poster and highlight how the example is documented to help teams to use the template for their own posters:
Although we can’t be together at one big in-person event this year, we are still celebrating your hard work - this time, at 250 places all over the world. Are you planning to host your own Jamboree Watch Party? Tell us about it! The parties can be run completely virtually, and if it is allowed in your area, you are welcome to hold small gatherings.
If you're planning a Jamboree Watch Party, let us know by November 4, 11:59AM EST for the chance to win iGEM swag and be featured on the live Global Screen. We want to help you share your excitement and joy with all the Jamboree attendees!
This year, the first three days of the Virtual Giant Jamboree will focus on the Competition and the judging activities for iGEM 2020 teams. Teams will interact with their judges at judging sessions, and network and present with their peers in virtual poster sessions.
Judging Session schedule information is now ready for teams! Click below for more information:
We want to hear from you! Fill out these surveys by SnapGene | Geneious by November 6 to have your experiences highlighted at the SnapGene | Geneious Virtual Giant Jamboree Workshop!
Did you use 
? Fill out this survey!
Did you use 
? Fill out this survey!
SnapGene Direct Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeu4AIKPWL3OhcpDNIdjH-9VJnfAq9cEEsm-X9fSh635sFCZA/viewform?usp=sf_link
Geneious Direct Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfiGcQDxqOwk0f431IWFg3MFvgCF2ean6ww0WrOBH3xZU9dtQ/viewform?usp=sf_link
In the midst of an unusual iGEM year, our sponsors are here for you and want to help you succeed! Participating in iGEM unlocks access to exclusive sponsorship offers for teams - Check out our guide below, and make the most of what our partners have to offer.
Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues
Judging forms are now available for teams to begin editing. This year, we have updated the Judging Form deadline to give you extra time since these have been released so close to the original due date. There is now a Preliminary Due Date and a final Freeze Date.
Preliminary Judging Form Due October 23
Start editing your Judging Form now! This will show you the Wiki URLs you will need for the medals and special prizes you are working towards.
Final Judging Form Freeze October 29, 23:39 EDT (11:59 PM EDT)
Final edits to your judging form must be complete by 23:59 EDT - no extensions, no exceptions!
All online project documentation on Team Wikis, Registry Part Pages, and GitHub must be complete by October 27 at 11:59PM / 23:59 EDT. Behind the scenes, we have seen teams in previous years lose entire wikis due to last minute changes at the midnight deadline (11:59PM / 23:59 EDT). Look below for advice from iGEM Headquarters.
General Advice:
- NO EDITS WILL BE ALLOWED after the freeze, and no extensions will be granted (no exceptions!)
- It is not possible for two people to edit the same page at the same time; you may lose information if this happens, so you should be aware of what your teammates are up to.
- Due to the increased loads on our servers close to the deadline, users can experience delays. DO NOT leave your documentation to the last minute.
Wiki Advice:
- DO NOT leave your documentation to the last minute, and avoid making last minute tweaks to your wiki code (especially your css/formatting files).
- Review the wiki requirements; Failure to follow rules may prevent your team from winning medals or prizes.
- Review your Pages for Awards; Make sure alert boxes are deleted from the code, not just commented out.
Registry Advice:
- Document ALL part data on Registry Part Pages, not just on your team wiki. Judges will only evaluate part data on the Registry.
- DO NOT copy code from your wiki to the Registry at the last minute; Copying data from the wiki to Registry pages can generate errors. Write directly into registry pages, or leave extra time for re-formatting
GitHub Advice:
- You MUST have a GitHub repository within the igemsoftware2020 github page and you MUST have created a GitHub judging release of your software before the deadline
- We advise following the steps to transfer ownership by OCTOBER 24 to leave enough time for the Software Committee to assist you before the final deadline.
- Please review the detailed instructions here.
New in 2020, iGEM teams will create an interactive poster using their assigned poster wiki page. To help teams with creating this new type of poster, we have designed an easily customizable template under your team namespace. Poster rules, guidelines, expected poster sections, plus full documentation of how to use the poster template, can be found on the posters deliverable page.
Have questions about the poster template? Join HQ Reps Ana and Traci for a walkthrough of the new 2020 Poster Template, brief discussion of the new poster guidelines and rules, and Q&A session.
Webinar: Poster Walkthrough and Q&A
Wednesday, October 21
9:00AM EDT
Direct Link: https://igem-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mWEIxyQERVGNR8c03rAXIA
The Virtual Giant Jamboree is just one month away, and we hope that you are as excited as we are! The Virtual Jamboree event will be open and free for the public and alumni, and individual registration is coming soon! Stay subscribed to our newsletters to continue receiving important future updates about the Competition and the Jamboree.
Volunteer opportunities:
- Help broadcast the event - Become a Jamboree Commentator!
- Call for volunteers open now! Apply by October 25
Information for teams:
- Schedule Teaser out now
- Submit your own event for Community Week by October 20
- Planning to host a Watch Party? Let us know!
Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues
Almost every one of the iGEM medal criteria begins as follows: “Convince the judges…”
But how?
The judges aren’t trying to be mysterious—you can read the same medal criteria, rubric and handbook that we do. Still, when I (Tessa) was on an iGEM team, I wasn’t really thinking about the judges as people, who would have a particular experience of my project and presentation
This month...
- Applications to be an iGEM Judge close today!
- The iGEM Community is boarding the podcast rocket ship! New episodes every Wednesday
- Team Promotion Videos are ready to watch on the iGEM Video Universe
- New Resource: Best Practices for Leading Inclusive Panels
- Genetic Engineering Attribution Challenge less than 2 weeks left to enter
- Competition Updates: Title and Abstract, Judging Forms
- Team Highlight: 12 new collaborations!
- Last chance for Sponsor Offers in October
and more!
Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues
Title & Abstract
Due October 9, 11:59PM / 23:59 EDT (2 Days!)
Virtual Jamboree Late Team Registration
Ends October 9 at 11:59PM / 23:59 EDT
Judging Forms Under Construction
The Judging Form is still under construction. Stay tuned for updates! In the meantime, please review the Pages for Awards requirements for wiki content.
For the second year, Twist Bioscience has teamed up with iGEM to offer every team complementary synthesis of up to 10kb in Twist Gene Fragments. The deadline for ordering FREE DNA is October 13 (1 Week)! To find out how to claim your DNA, visit Twist Bioscience's Partner Page now.
Applications to be a judge at the first ever iGEM 2020 Virtual Giant Jamboree are closing October 7 (2 Days!). Judges will evaluate, celebrate, and help guide the next generation of synthetic biologists. Click below to learn more:
IDT is offering iGEM 2020 teams up to 20 kb of FREE custom DNA or equivalent in product. Teams must register with IDT for this offer by Friday, October 9 (1 Week!)
Late Registration
Due to the challenge of global scheduling for this event, we need confirmation for the participation of all teams as soon as possible. Therefore, late Registration will begin on October 1 and end on October 9.
To participate in the Virtual Giant Jamboree, ALL teams MUST submit their Virtual Giant Jamboree fee by October 9 at 11:59PM / 23:59 EDT.
For the second year, Twist Bioscience has teamed up with iGEM to offer every team complementary synthesis of up to 10kb in Twist Gene Fragments. The deadline for ordering FREE DNA is October 13 (2 Weeks)! To find out how to claim your DNA, visit Twist Bioscience's Partner Page now.
GenScript is sponsoring a total of 6 iGEM teams in 2020 through a voting competition on MolecularCloud. The team with the most votes by the end each month, April to September, will receive $2000 and a $1000 voucher to GenScript products and services. There is only 1 sponsorship left up for grabs! The final voting deadline is September 30.
Don't forget... Teams can also get 20% off select DNA synthesis and cloning products from GenScript.
Final Team Rosters
Due October 2, 23:59 EDT (1 Week)
Final Track Selection
Due October 2, 23:59 EDT (1 Week)
Title & Abstract
Due October 9, 11:59PM EDT (2 Weeks)
In the midst of an unusual iGEM year, our sponsors are here for you and want to help you succeed! Participating in iGEM unlocks access to exclusive sponsorship offers for teams - Check out our guide below, and make the most of what our partners have to offer.
Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues
We are happy to announce the launch of our new video platform: iGEM Video Universe. Created by the Video & Remote Technology Committee, this platform is accessible from everywhere in the world, open to everyone to create an account, and free of ads. In this way - all iGEMers in our community can use it to easily upload and watch videos.
We will be using this platform during the Virtual Giant Jamboree for hosting your Project Promotion Videos and Presentation Videos. We can't wait to see all the videos you've created!
For instructions on how to sign up or upload to the iGEM Video Universe, click here!
Looking to apply your data skills to improving global health security?
In partnership with iGEM's Safety & Security Program, altLabs is soliciting improved and inventive solutions to a crucial problem in genetic engineering: Where was this engineered?
This challenge offers prizes for lab-of-origin prediction accuracy and creative real-world application, with a total prize pool of $60,000. Whether you’re a data scientist, bioinformatician, synthetic biologist, or an interested solver from a different field, we’re calling on you to compete! This opportunity is open to both current and past iGEM participants.
Direct Link: https://www.drivendata.org/competitions/63/genetic-engineering-attribution/
Project Promotion Videos
Due September 25, 11:59AM EDT (1 Week!)
Final Team Rosters
Due October 2, 23:59 EDT (2 Weeks)
Final Track Selection
Due October 2, 23:59 EDT (2 Weeks)
Regular registration for the Virtual Giant Jamboree ends on September 30 at 11:59PM EDT / 23:59 EDT! Each team must be registered by this date to ensure you have a presentation session at the Virtual Giant Jamboree!
Although surveys may seem simple and straightforward, they are often challenging to execute well. Surveys are a form of experiment, and like any experiment, they can be designed and implemented poorly.
Interested in joining the growing network of iGEMers working towards meeting the SDGs? Join the Just One Giant Lab (JOGL) iGEM 2020 program to collaborate or share skills and resources with other iGEM teams. Deadline for signups is Friday, September 25.
You can learn more about the iGEM 2020 X JOGL Collaboration and find the onboarding guide here:
This year, teams are required to create a Project Promotion Video. You must submit your project promotion video by September 25, 11:59AM EDT. The length of the video should not exceed 2 minutes, including the iGEM-provided intro sequence which can be downloaded on the Deliverable page below.
Instructions for submission will be available on the Project Promotion Video page closer to the deadline.
This month...
- Virtual Giant Jamboree registration ends at the end of this month
- Apply to be an iGEM Judge
- New Data Science Opportunity: Genetic Engineering Attribution Challenge
- Last chance to sign up iGEM 2020 x JOGL sustainable goals program!
- New SDGs resources page
and more!
Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues
The pandemic was a disruption for everyone in our community – it changed the way we work, the way we meet, and the way we do our jobs. But disruption is often followed by innovation. And nowhere has this been more evident than in the iGEM 2020 season.
Your team's Final Safety Form must be signed off by a team Instructor or PI by September 11, 11:59PM EDT / 23:59 EDT (Today!). Any team member may edit the form, but it must be signed off and submitted by a team Instructor or PI. Get in contact with your Instructors early so that you don't miss this deadline!
Your team's Final Safety Form must be signed off by a team Instructor or PI by September 11, 11:59PM EDT / 23:59 EDT (3 days!). Any team member may edit the form, but it must be signed off and submitted by a team Instructor or PI. Get in contact with your Instructors early so that you don't miss this deadline!
At iGEM, it is important to give credit where credit is due. Indeed, integrity, honesty and respect are among the iGEM values that all teams are expected to uphold.
Congratulations to GenScript's sponsorship recipients for August, UPCH Peru! There is just ONE sponsorship left. The final voting deadline is September 30.
As part of your Human Practices work, you will encounter complex issues across areas such as ethics, sustainability, inclusion, and security. We know this is not always easy! The Human Practices Committee is here to help you. This anonymous survey will help us figure out what challenges teams are facing and how we can help:
Direct Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/65LF677
Your team's Final Safety Form must be signed off by your team PI by September 11, 11:59PM EDT / 23:59 EDT (2 Weeks!). Any team member may edit the form, but it must be signed off and submitted by the team PI. Get in contact with your PI early so that you don't miss this deadline!
In the midst of an unusual iGEM year, our sponsors are here for you and want to help you succeed! Participating in iGEM unlocks access to exclusive sponsorship offers for teams - Check out our guide below, and make the most of what our partners have to offer.
Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues
We provide a Judging Handbook for both judges and teams to review during the iGEM season. While intended to help judges navigate the judging process, this public document can also be accessed by iGEM teams at any time.
This handbook allows everyone involved in the competition to see how judging works in iGEM.
Click below to access a PDF of the 2020 Judging Handbook!
GenScript will be sponsoring 6 iGEM teams in 2020 through a voting competition on MolecularCloud. The team with the most votes by the end each month, April to September, will receive $2000 plus a $1000 voucher to GenScript products and services. There are 2 more sponsorships left up for grabs! The next voting deadline is on Monday, August 31 (1 week!)
Thank you to all attendees for joining the first iGEM Global Meetup last week! We hope you enjoyed it, and had a chance to meet new people from all around the world. If you missed the Team Spirit Poster Session, you can view the team posters here:
IDT is offering iGEM 2020 teams up to 20 kb of FREE custom DNA or equivalent in product. Teams must register with IDT for this offer by Friday, August 28 (1 Week!)
For the second year, Twist Bioscience has teamed up with iGEM to offer every team complementary synthesis of up to 10kb in Twist Gene Fragments. To find out how to claim your DNA, visit Twist Bioscience's Partner Page.
This year iGEM is also partnering with Twist Bioscience so teams no longer need to send physical DNA samples to the Registry. Instead, teams will submit their sequences and accompanying data and Twist will handle the synthesis of your submitted parts at the end of the year.
10,000 BASES OF FREE DNA for all iGEM 2020 teams. Get started:
We invite you to join your fellow iGEMers from all over the world to connect, collaborate and celebrate at the first-ever iGEM Global Meet-up. With over 50% of the activities led by iGEM 2020 teams, the iGEM Global Meet-up is your chance to meet and engage with your fellow iGEMers! Read more on the iGEM Blog:
This Friday at the #iGEMGlobalMeetup, join in for some team fun at the Team Spirit Poster session. This is no ordinary poster session. Present your team members in a fun way this Friday, at 15:00 UTC. Check out Team Thessaly's "Super" example poster on the right!
Poster submissions are due Tuesday, August 18 (Tomorrow!)
Submit a poster:
Click to expandIDT is offering iGEM 2020 teams up to 20 kb of FREE custom DNA or equivalent in product. Teams must register with IDT for this offer by Friday, August 28 (2 Weeks!)
Last week, we asked iGEMers to submit content for the first ever iGEM Global Meetup - and we have collected over 50 sessions! We even added an extra day! We are excited to now announce the full schedule:
This month...
- Join us at the 2020 Virtual Giant Jamboree
- Be an iGEM judge! Applications are now open
- Check out the iGEM 2020 Team Map!
- iGEM Global Meetup: Team spirit poster session, submissions due August 18
and more!
Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues
To help us all adapt to the new competition conditions this year, we have made some changes to the 2020 Competition Calendar. Please see below for the full list of changes, and mark your personal and team calendars accordingly!
- Final Team Rosters due: Friday, August 7 -> Friday, October 2
- Final Track Selection due: Friday, August 7 -> Friday, October 2
- Testing Day: Wednesday, August 12 -> Wednesday, August 26
- Giant Jamboree Registration closes: Monday, August 31 -> Wednesday, September 30
- Giant Jamboree Late Registration opens: Tuesday, September 1 -> Thursday, October 1
- Team Project Promotion Videos: September TBD -> Friday, September 25 at 11:59AM EDT*
- Final Safety Forms Due: Friday, September 11 -> Friday, September 11 (no change)
- Team Project Title and Abstract due: Friday, September 25 -> Friday, October 9
- Final Judging Form due: Wednesday, October 14 -> Friday, October 23
- Github Freeze: Monday, October 19 -> Tuesday, October 27
- Registry Pages Freeze: Monday, October 19 -> Tuesday, October 27
- Wiki Freeze: Monday, October 19 -> Tuesday, October 27
- Team Presentation Videos Due: TBD -> Friday, October 30 at 11:59AM EDT*
- Poster Freeze: TBD
- Opening Ceremony for Giant Jamboree: Friday, November 13
- Giant Jamboree begins: Thursday, October 29 -> Saturday, November 14
- Giant Jamboree ends: Monday, November 2 -> Sunday, November 22
- Team Wikis Thawed: Thursday, November 5 -> Wednesday, November 25
- Closing Date for 2020 Competition / Wiki Archive Date: Friday, December 11 -> Friday, December 18
More information can be found on the official Competition Calendar:
There has been a lot of buzz about the iGEM X JOGL collaboration. Some of you may be wondering what it is, how it ties into the iGEM values, what it has to offer and how you can be part of this. This newsletter is dedicated to answering these questions!
You can learn more about the iGEM 2020 X JOGL Collaboration and find the onboarding guide here:
Judging is a complex task and can seem mysterious to iGEMers at times. We're aiming to help teams understand how they are evaluated and provide more information ahead of time. Teams can view the judging rubric to get an idea of how they will be evaluated for Medals, Awards, and Special Prizes. Check it out:
Applications to be a judge at the first ever iGEM 2020 Virtual Giant Jamboree are now open! Judges will evaluate, celebrate, and help guide the next generation of synthetic biologists. Click below to learn more:
We are inviting iGEM 2020 Teams to lead and organize activities with us for the iGEM Global Meetup (August 20-21). You can submit your activity/ideas through the form below, and we will reach out to you to help get you started! These activities can be related to your iGEM Project, synthetic biology, or something totally different which you think will be fun for our global community. Submit a session by Sunday, August 9:
Final Track Selections and Final Team Roster deadlines have been extended! Track selections and team rosters are now due on October 2 by 11:59PM EDT.
Congratulations to GenScript's sponsorship recipients for July, FCB-UANL! There are still 2 sponsorships up for grabs. The next voting deadline is August 31.
iGEM 2020 Virtual Giant Jamboree
November 14-22, 2020
We are excited to announce the dates for the iGEM 2020 Virtual Giant Jamboree! Even though we can’t come together at one big in-person event this year, the virtual format brings some exciting opportunities to celebrate iGEM at a scale never before experienced.
Nine -- yes 9! -- full days to gather for Competition, Community, Contribution, and Celebration.
The Measurement Committee is hosting a series of weekly webinars to help with your projects. The final webinar of the series is tomorrow!
- Session 8 (August 4, 10AM EDT) - Protein Purification and Characterization
If you have questions for the Measurement Committee, join in on their office hours Tuesday, August 4 at 1PM EDT
In the midst of an unusual iGEM year, our sponsors are here for you and want to help you succeed! Participating in iGEM unlocks access to exclusive sponsorship offers for teams - Check out our guide below, and make the most of what our partners have to offer.
Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues
Did you miss last week's MathWorks Workshop "Modeling and Analysis of Synthetic Biology Systems with SimBiology and MATLAB"? View the recording now on YouTube or Bilibili.
MathWorks is offering complimentary MATLAB software to iGEM 2020 teams for use in the competition. Learn more
We have recently become aware that updated security settings on several web browsers has changed how our igem.org pages are displayed. We are working on this issue, and we hope to have it fixed soon. Please contact us at hq AT igem DOT org with any questions.
The Measurement Committee is developing a series of weekly webinars to help with your projects. The next webinars on July 21 will cover:
- Session 6A (7AM EDT) - Quantifying fluorescence and cell phenotypes with flow cytometry
- Session 6B (10AM EDT) - Transformation and Sequencing
If you have questions for the Measurement Committee, join in on their office hours Tuesday, July 21 at 3AM EDT or 1PM EDT
MathWorks: Modeling and Analysis of Synthetic Biology Systems with SimBiology and MATLAB
July 23, 10AM EDT
Modeling is an important part of synthetic biology and the iGEM Competition. This workshop, presented by our Partner MathWorks, will provide iGEM teams with an introduction to modeling, simulation and analysis with MATLAB and SimBiology using an example from synthetic biology literature.
Click below to register:
Video deliverable guidelines and video production resources are out now!
Deliverable: Presentation Video
Each team must make one 20-minute presentation video for their project.
Deliverable: Project Promotion Video
New in 2020, all teams must create and submit a Project Promotion Video.
Resources
New resources about video production:
The Diversity & Inclusion Committee will be hosting "Office Hours" to explore various Diversity and Inclusion topics with our community. The focus of the first Office Hour is on systemic racism in academia and STEM. This forum is intended to give the iGEM community a platform to discuss diverse experiences with racism, and systemic racism especially in the context of Academia and STEM.
Please join us:
Thursday, July 16 at 1PM EDT or
Friday, July 17 at 11AM EDT
Have a question about judging? Need some help understanding special prizes or medals? Not sure how to use the Pages for Awards? Join us for Judging Office Hours! The first Judging Office Hours will be on Friday, July 17 at 4:00 AM EDT and 1:00 PM EDT. Click below to learn more:
The Measurement Committee is developing a series of weekly webinars to help with your projects. The next webinars on July 14 (tomorrow) will cover:
- Session 5A (7AM EDT) - Quantifying fluorescence and cell count with plate readers
- Session 5B (10AM EDT) - Cell-Free Systems
iGEM is hosting the first ever global meetup for all teams to connect, collaborate and celebrate! This year, we can't meet each other in person, but we want you to have an amazing iGEM experience and still meet other teams!
Save the date: August 20-21 (Thursday-Friday)
Need help with Arduino? Ever wondered what iGEM sounds like? Animal Crossing hangout and more...
Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues
We are taking applications for the After iGEM 2020 Mentorship Program! Apply to be a mentor or to receive mentorship by Friday, July 10, 11:59PM EDT (Tomorrow!). If you have a question about the program, contact the co-ordinators at after-education [AT] igem [DOT] org
Click to expand"If you find interpreting social science research challenging, please know that you are not alone. Finding insights from social science research does not come naturally to anyone, including social scientists!" Read Joy Zhang's top five key points for finding insights from social science research related to your iGEM project.
As a result of the current pandemic, we were unable to manufacture and ship out our 2020 DNA Distribution Kits to teams. Fortunately, we have a very limited amount of 2019 Distribution Kit Plates that we can ship out to teams this year.
The deadline to submit a request is Wednesday, July 8, by 11:59PM EDT (Tomorrow!). For more information and for instructions on how to request kit plates, please visit this page:
The iGEM Safety Committee has trained the 2020 Ambassadors to run Risk Workshops with iGEM 2020 teams. These small-group sessions will help your team evaluate risk in your project, and navigate the iGEM Safety Program. By the end of the workshop you should know where to go for information on different risks and be confident you have the tools you need to manage them effectively.
Sign up for a pre-scheduled workshop with an Ambassador, or invite an Ambassador to present at your regularly scheduled team meeting.
iGEM is teaming up with Just One Giant Lab (JOGL) to foster efficient collaboration among teams and enhance the accessibility to skills and resources amidst the pandemic. This is also the start of iGEM’s journey to Vision 2030 for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Join the official launch event of the program on July 8 to learn what it's all about!
9:00 AM EDT / 3:00 PM CEST
Click below to register:
Direct Link: https://bit.ly/iGEM-JOGL-Launch
Click to expandLearn more about the iGEM 2020 X JOGL Program: https://app.jogl.io/program/iGEM2020
The iGEM 2020 Season is quite different from previous years, and we've made some exciting changes to the medal criteria so that all iGEM teams can participate and achieve medals – with or without lab access – this year. Check out the new guide on our blog:
We are taking applications for the After iGEM 2020 Mentorship Program! Apply to be a mentor or to receive mentorship by next Friday, July 10. If you have a question about the program, contact the co-ordinators at after-education [AT] igem [DOT] org
As a result of the current pandemic, we were unable to manufacture and ship out our 2020 DNA Distribution Kits to teams. Fortunately, we have a very limited amount of 2019 Distribution Kit Plates that we can ship out to teams this year.
The deadline to submit a request is Wednesday, July 8, by 11:59PM EDT. For more information and for instructions on how to request kit plates, please visit this page:
MathWorks: Modeling and Analysis of Synthetic Biology Systems with SimBiology and MATLAB
July 23, 10AM EDT
Modeling is an important part of synthetic biology and the iGEM Competition. This workshop, presented by our Partner MathWorks, will provide iGEM teams with an introduction to modeling, simulation and analysis with MATLAB and SimBiology using an example from synthetic biology literature.
Click below to register:
Stream Benchling's webinars for free:
- Webinar 1: Introduction to the Benchling Platform
- Webinar 2: Mastering Benchling Notebook
- Webinar 3: Mastering Benchling Molecular Biology
Note: If you cannot access the Videos through YouTube, please contact hq AT igem DOT org to request the video files.
iGEM teams can get Benchling software and extras for free! Visit their iGEM 2020 Partner Page to get started ahead of the next webinar.
Click to expandApplications for the After iGEM 2020 Mentorship Program are now open! Apply to be a mentor or to receive mentorship by next Friday, July 3. If you have a question about the program, contact the co-ordinators at after-education [AT] igem [DOT] org
Applications for the After iGEM 2020 Mentorship Program are now open! Apply to be a mentor or to receive mentorship by next Friday, July 3. If you have a question about the program, the coordinators will be holding an information session on Wednesday, July 1. Join either session time that works best for you: at 3 - 4 AM EDT and at 1 - 2 PM EDT.
The Measurement Committee is developing a series of weekly webinars to help with your projects. The next webinars on June 30 (tomorrow) will cover:
- Session 3A (7AM EDT) - Modeling circuits with ODEs and experimental data
- Session 3B (10AM EDT) - DNA Assembly Techniques
Late Team Registration for iGEM 2020 will end next Tuesday, June 30 (Tomorrow!). Teams must submit their team fee by June 30 at 11:59PM EDT to register for the 2020 Competition. Please contact us at registration [AT] igem [DOT] org if you have any questions or need more time to submit the late registration fee.
High School teams will also need to submit Principal, PI Participant, and Department Head (if applicable) consent forms before the team can be approved. Learn more about consent forms.
Congratulations to GenScript's first two sponsorship recipients: RUM-UPRM, and IISER Bhopal! There are still 4 sponsorships up for grabs. The next voting deadline is June 30 (Tomorrow!).
iGEM is teaming up with Just One Giant Lab (JOGL) to foster efficient collaboration among teams and enhance the accessibility to skills and resources amidst the pandemic. This is also the start of iGEM’s journey to Vision 2030 for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Join the official launch event of the program on July 8 to learn what it's all about!
9:00 AM EDT / 3:00 PM CEST
Register by Sunday, July 5:
Direct Link: https://bit.ly/iGEM-JOGL-Launch
Learn more about the iGEM 2020 X JOGL Program: https://app.jogl.io/program/iGEM2020
The first Competition Deadline is today: the Preliminary Safety Form. An initial version of this form, with as much information as possible, is to be provided by the team by June 26, 11:59PM EDT. Any team member may fill the form, and the information will save automatically for the June 26 submission. The form does not need to be signed off by the PI until September 11.
In the midst of an unusual iGEM year, our sponsors are here for you and want to help you succeed! Participating in iGEM unlocks access to exclusive sponsorship offers for teams - Check out our guide below, and make the most of what our partners have to offer.
Missed something? See our newsletter archive to read previous issues
Late Team Registration for iGEM 2020 will end next Tuesday, June 30. Teams must submit their team fee by June 30 at 11:59PM EDT to register for the 2020 Competition. Please contact us at registration [AT] igem [DOT] org if you have any questions or need more time to submit the late registration fee.
High School teams will also need to submit Principal, PI Participant, and Department Head (if applicable) consent forms before the team can be approved. Learn more about consent forms.
The first Competition Deadline is coming up at the end of this week: the Preliminary Safety Form. An initial version of this form, with as much information as possible, is to be provided by the team by June 26, 11:59PM EDT. Any team member may fill this in and save the form for submission. The form does not need to be signed off by the PI until September 11.
The Measurement Committee is developing a series of weekly webinars to help with your projects. The next webinars on June 23 (tomorrow) will cover:
- Session 2A (7AM EDT) - Modeling: ODEs and Hill Function
- Session 2B (10AM EDT) - DNA parts and Basic Molecular Biology
If you have questions for the Measurement Committee, join in on their office hours tomorrow at 3AM EDT or 1PM EDT
iGEM stands against racism and inequality, and seeks to break down barriers that currently exclude people of colour from synthetic biology. We seek to do this not in a way that tokenizes, but in a way that embraces the talent that the synthetic biology industry needs to fulfill its potential. We at iGEM Headquarters commit to taking action towards building a more representative and equitable iGEM community. Through internal reflection on our structures and practices, we are identifying tangible ways to implement this vision in our own organization.
The Measurement Committee is developing a series of weekly webinars to help with your projects. New videos from Week 1 "Getting Started" are available now on YouTube.
- Part 1: Project Overview YouTube | Bilibili
- Part 2: Using Databases YouTube | Bilibili
- Part 3: Cloning Strategy YouTube | Bilibili
Learn more about this webinar series:
MathWorks is offering complimentary MATLAB, Simulink and SimBiology software to iGEM 2020 teams for use in the competition. Using MATLAB and Simulink products helps your team organize, model, and develop complex biological systems for your iGEM project. Visit the 2020 Software Page for more information on how to request FREE MathWorks Software:
For the 2020 Competition, Revive & Restore have selected 12 iGEM teams whose projects are focused on solving a problem in conservation to receive their team grants.
Congratulations to the recipients:
Team UGent Belgium
Drought Relief
Team UNSW Australia
Genetic Rescue
Team MichiganState
Genetic Rescue
Team MSP-Maastricht
Invasives Control
Team HK CPU-WFN-WYY
Remediation, Plastic
Team Qdai
Remediation, Soil
Team Alma
Remediation, Soil
Team RUM-UPRM
Remediation, Water
Team AshesiGhana
Remediation, Water
Team BNDS China
Synthetic Alternatives
Team Manchester
Synthetic Alternatives
Team FCB-UANL
Synthetic Alternatives
Thank you to Revive & Restore for supporting innovation in conservation at iGEM!
The Measurement Committee is developing a series of weekly webinars to help with your projects. The next session will provide an overview of:
- How and where to start your project, as well as what you can plan and design.
- A beginner’s guide on how to utilize databases effectively in conjunction with bioinformatics tools.
- The decision making process when choosing a cloning strategy.
The next webinar is on Tuesday June 16, 10:00AM EDT (Tomorrow!). Click below to register for the webinar series:
Direct Link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oPciCO3WQ3K1VMe1YVpq5g
The first Competition Deadline is coming up at the end of this month: the Preliminary Safety Form. An initial version of this form, with as much information as possible, is to be provided by the team by June 26, 11:59PM EDT. Any team member may fill this in and save the form for submission. The form does not need to be signed off by the PI until September 11.
Teams can compete for various awards on top of the medals. These awards include the Grand Prize, Track Awards, and Special Prizes. For more details about the 2020 awards, click below.
Today we stand in solidarity of Black Lives Matter through the #Strike4BlackLives. We pledge to continue our ongoing discussions at iGEM HQ on how to best support the Black Lives Matter movement, and what actions we can take to address racism in STEM, academia, and in society. #ShutdownSTEM #ShutdownAcademia
We have got an absolutely jam-packed newsletter this month: new Award & Special Prize info, new collaborators, new webinar series', new team meetups, new sponsor offers, new videos, and so much more!
Look inside for:
- First competition deadline: Preliminary Safety Forms due June 26
- Doing Human Practices During a Global Pandemic
- FREE MathWorks software for iGEM 2020 teams
- GenScript announces second sponsorship winner
- New iGEM Summer Webinars Series & Measurement Committee Office Hours
- Team Highlight: German Meetup, UK Meetup, Southern China meeting, and more!
- Join iGEM 2020 on the JOGL platform and be a part of achieving Vision 2030 for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- Missed the Opening Weekend Festival? New Videos Ready Now
Do you have questions about engineering and measurement for your project? Please join our friendly Measurement Committee at their new Office Hours to ask your questions! We will be running office hours on every other Tuesday starting June 9.
The first Office Hours Sessions are on June 9 at 3:00AM EDT and 1:00PM EDT.
The Measurement Committee is also hosting a new series of weekly webinars to help iGEM teams with your projects! Planned topics include taking your ideas into the lab, designing DNA sequences, DNA part assembly from classical to modern methods, engineering your organism, modeling your project, measuring cellular phenotypes like fluorescence, and how to purify and characterize protein products. Learn more.
Stream Benchling's webinars for free:
- Webinar 1: Introduction to the Benchling Platform
- Webinar 2: Mastering Benchling Notebook
- Webinar 3: Mastering Benchling Molecular Biology
Note: If you cannot access the Videos through YouTube, please contact hq AT igem DOT org to request the video files.
iGEM teams can get Benchling software and extras for free! Visit their iGEM 2020 Partner Page to get started ahead of the next webinar.
New Video Ready Now: Judging in iGEM 2020
The Executive Judging Committee (EJC) has made some exciting changes to the medal criteria so that all iGEM teams can participate and achieve medals with or without lab access this year. Join a panel of our EJC members as they talk about these changes, and take questions and feedback from teams.
- View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mD46ACdSF-E
- View on Bilibili: https://www.bilibili.com/video/bv1pK411s7vm
Congratulations to GenScript's first two sponsorship recipients: RUM-UPRM, and IISER Bhopal! There are still 4 sponsorships up for grabs. The next voting deadline is June 30.
Join Benchling in their webinar training series for iGEMers. In the next webinar, they will walk through a molecular cloning workflow on Benchling. They will also cover importing sequences from the iGEM Parts Registry, cloning assemblies, primer design, and sequence alignments. Note that this webinar is scheduled for 1:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).
Congratulations to GenScript's first sponsorship recipient: RUM-UPRM! There are still 5 sponsorships up for grabs. The next voting deadline is this Sunday, May 31.
We are changing the online system we use for credit card payments and we have also changed our system for creating invoices for wire transfers and checks.
Please visit the Team Fee page for information on the new system.
If you generated an invoice previous to May 26 for a wire transfer or check payment, you will need to request a new invoice as we will no longer use the previous invoice to collect payments, effective immediately.
For the 2020 Competition, Revive & Restore will award up to 12 grants of $5500 (USD) each to iGEM teams whose projects are focused on solving a problem in conservation. This sum will be provided to help kick-off your team project and will offset the iGEM 2020 regular registration fee. Proposals are due no later than 11:59PM PDT Monday, May 25.
Please let us know (through this anonymous survey) how the Human Practices committee can help you succeed in iGEM 2020! Fill out the survey on Google Forms, or here on Microsoft Forms if you cannot access Google Forms. Please contact the committee with any questions: humanpractices [AT] igem [DOT] org.
Direct Link: https://forms.gle/c1hQEzaFsSe1KZiW87
The iGEM Measurement Committee wants to know what Engineering and Measurement resources will be most useful for your team this year! Help them by filling out this survey by Friday May 22. If you cannot access Google Forms, please download the questions here and return your responses to the Measurement Committee by email: measurement [AT] igem [DOT] org.
Direct Link: https://forms.gle/DgQtKjKtXmnjLPJ47
For the 2020 Competition, Revive & Restore will award up to 12 grants of $5500 each to iGEM teams whose projects are focused on solving a problem in conservation. Proposals are due Monday, May 25 (1 Week!).
Join Benchling in their webinar training series for iGEMers. In the next webinar, they will demonstrate the best ways to design and plan experiments with Benchling, keep your projects and notes organized, and use advanced features, such as built-in tables with formulas and Benchling Sync. Note that this webinar is scheduled for 1:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), Tuesday May 19.
Thank you to all attendees and contributors for helping us make iGEM History!
We will be uploading session videos to YouTube and Bilibili in the coming days. Main Stage videos from Day 1 and 2 are ready to view on YouTube. Stay tuned!
Ready to start the 2020 iGEM Season? We have prepared this welcome booklet with key information for navigating 2020 and special messages from our Committees and Sponsors.
The FIRST EVER iGEM Opening Weekend Festival is starting tomorrow! Introducing the Virtual Blueprint - With 50 confirmed sessions across 4 "Virtual Stages". See our guide on how to join sessions.
We're trying out a few different platforms to make it all happen. To make your weekend experience seamless, we recommend starting with these 5 steps to activate all the platforms on your devices:
New Confirmed Sessions:
- Judging in iGEM 2020
Executive Judging Committee - Sequence Optimization for Expression and Synthesis
Software Committee - Discovering the data need to model biochemical networks with Datanator
Software Committee - Fostering Open Collaboration Between iGEM Teams
Just One Giant Lab (JOGL)
The FIRST EVER iGEM Opening Weekend is starting in just 2 days! We're so excited to see you there and to welcome all of our teams to the competition.
We'll be hosting 40+ sessions designed especially for iGEM 2020 teams, and we're trying out a few new platforms to make it all work. Keep an eye out for instructions in your inbox on how to join sessions. In the meantime, check out some of the new sessions we have lined up for you, and browse the newly released schedule!
New Confirmed Sessions:
- Wiring the Past & Future: A Transition for Engineering Biology
Keynote and Panel Discussion with Drew Endy, Pamela Silver, Tom Knight and Megan Palmer - Maximizing Benefits, Minimizing Risks
iGEM Human Practices + iGEM Safety & Security Committees - Designing Scientifically Valid Surveys
iGEM Human Practices Committee - Wondering about your High School iGEM journey? A conversation with HS iGEM alumni
After iGEM High School Committee
Join Benchling in their webinar training series for iGEMers. In the next webinar, they will demonstrate the best ways to design and plan experiments with Benchling, keep your projects and notes organized, and use advanced features, such as built-in tables with formulas and Benchling Sync. Note that this webinar is scheduled for 1:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).
We are honored to Partner with SnapGene and Geneious for the first time! SnapGene and Geneious are joining forces to help iGEM teams create successful projects by offering free access. Request SnapGene or Geneious sponsorship:
We're kicking off iGEM 2020 with a bang! Tune in during Opening Weekend for exclusive sessions with iGEM Headquarters, Committees, After iGEM, and more!
Confirmed sessions so far:
- COVID-19 Projects in iGEM 2020
- GMOs in Agriculture - The Nobel Laureates’ Campaign Supporting GMO’s
- Engineering Biological Information Processing Systems
- Modeling for Synthetic Biology
- Cloning and Assembly Plans
- How to build an inclusive iGEM project
We're publishing new sessions every day, and the schedule of events is coming soon... Save the date, and stay tuned!
Regular registration for iGEM 2020 ends next Friday May 15! Be sure to submit your team's registration fee by May 15 at 11:59PM EDT to avoid the late registration surcharge. Teams may request an extension of the regular registration rate by following the instructions on the Team Fee page.
The deadline to request a credit or a refund is also May 15.
We are happy to announce an early release of the 2020 Medal Criteria:
We're kicking off iGEM 2020 with a bang! Tune in during Opening Weekend for exclusive sessions with iGEM Headquarters, Committees, After iGEM, and more! Attend webinars, panels, workshops, and Q&As designed to help your team make the most of your iGEM experience this year. Meet other teams from all around the world, form bonds and forge pathways towards a truly collaborative iGEM season.
Looking for a way to connect? Join the Global iGEM Slack Workspace! All iGEM 2020 team members are welcome to join: chat, discover other projects, create collaborations, and help each other out with your scientific (and non scientific) dilemmas.
Join Benchling in their webinar training series for iGEMers. In the first webinar, they will introduce you to Benchling’s core applications – Notebook and Molecular Biology, and show you how you can collaborate with one another using Benchling. This webinar is May 5, at 1:00PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) (Tomorrow!).
"It’s often been said that iGEM is not easy, iGEM is worth it. And we at IDT believe this is especially true during this time of a pandemic." Check out IDT's new guest post on the iGEM Blog. Read more.
Due to the continued impact of COVID-19, the proposal deadline for the Revive & Restore grant will be extended to Monday, May 25. Teams will now have more time to assess their situation, find funding, and form a project plan.
We are proud to welcome back GenScript as a Partner Plus Sponsor for iGEM 2020! GenScript has been a proud sponsor of iGEM teams since 2009, providing logistical support, team grants, and products through the years.
This year, GenScript will once again be extending a 20% discount on select products to all iGEM Teams, and a team grant opportunity of $3000 for up to 6 teams through a voting contest. The first voting deadline is on Thursday, April 30 (4 days!).
IDT’s partnership with iGEM is entering its seventh consecutive year. This partnership has transformed the way that iGEMers around the world approach synthetic biology, and was a big step towards bringing our vision to life: synthetic biology without DNA manipulation.
We are incredibly thankful for IDT's continued support. For 2020, teams can once again access up to 20 kb FREE custom DNA or equivalent products from IDT.
Join Benchling in their webinar training series for iGEMers. In the first webinar, they will introduce you to Benchling’s core applications – Notebook and Molecular Biology, and show you how you can collaborate with one another using Benchling. This webinar is scheduled for May 5, at 1:00PM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).
This is not a normal year. Together, we are facing the biggest pandemic in the past 100 years. Based on your feedback, we are adapting the iGEM experience - we have examined each part of the competition to make it even better this year. This is iGEM in the time of a pandemic. It will be different but it will be worth it.
See the full announcement here.
Take a look at some of the changes on our "New for 2020" hub, including: Changes to Judging, New iGEM Activities Starting Now, Virtual Giant Jamboree, Changes to Registration,
Two-Phase Projects, New Video Deliverables, Safety and Human Practices and COVID-19, and New Resources.
For the 2020 Competition, Revive & Restore will award up to 12 grants of $5500 each to iGEM teams whose projects are focused on solving a problem in conservation. Proposals are due Monday, May 4 (1 Week!).
With the day-to-day changes everyone is facing around the world, we are looking for information from our community to help guide some decisions for this year. No one knows your situation better than you. Whether you are a PI, advisor, instructor, student leader, or student member, if you are thinking of participating in the iGEM 2020 Competition, we want to hear from you.
Starting Thursday, April 23 (tomorrow!) until Tuesday, April 28, our Ambassadors will be hosting video calls to hear from you and the other teams in your area. Please join any of the calls happening in your region to meet with the rest of the iGEM Community, and tell us about your situation.
Due to the continuing impact of COVID-19, teams must follow these instructions in order to request an extension of the regular team registration rate:
- Team PI completes the New Team application on iGEM.org: https://igem.org/New_Team
- Team PI emails hq AT igem DOT org with the following information:
- team name, as shown on the team information page (https://igem.org/Team.cgi)
- team code, as shown on the team information page (https://igem.org/Team.cgi)
- Invoice confirmation number
- documentation of the reason(s) the team is unable to transmit their registration fee by April 30 (ex: administrative offices are closed, banks are closed, etc.)
- expected date of when the team will be able to transmit their registration fee, and supporting documentation
- iGEM Headquarters will respond to the email to confirm the extension, or request additional information as needed
Please note that iGEM Headquarters must receive an email from the team PI in order to grant the extension, and teams must receive confirmation from iGEM Headquarters in order to receive an extension. The regular registration rate will end on May 15 and a late registration surcharge of $500 will apply beginning May 16, unless you request an extension by following the above instructions.
The COVID-19 pandemic will undoubtedly affect 2020 iGEM projects. Some teams may even want to respond to COVID-19 using the tools of synthetic biology. Regardless of your project choice, we want to caution that this public health crisis poses some special challenges for iGEM teams. We have created new Safety and Human Practices guidelines for teams conducting iGEM projects during this COVID-19 pandemic.
Click below to learn more about iGEM's rules for projects focused on COVID-19, and social distancing and responsible interactions.
With the day-to-day changes everyone is facing around the world, we are looking for information from our community to help guide some decisions for this year. No one knows your situation better than you. Whether you are a PI, advisor, instructor, student leader, or student member, if you are thinking of participating in the iGEM 2020 Competition, we want to hear from you.
Starting Wednesday, March 25 (tomorrow!) until Tuesday, March 31, our Ambassadors and iGEM Headquarters will be hosting video calls to hear from you and the other teams in your area. Please join any of the calls happening in your region to meet with the rest of the iGEM Community, and tell us about your situation.
Remote and video participation is becoming a large part of everyone's daily lives. It feels natural to start bringing plans, originally intended for 2021, to reality even sooner. We are working hard on offering a possibility for full remote iGEM participation everywhere - at the Jamboree and during the year, as well as including project videos in the competition.
New member of iGEM HQ, Nemanja, will be launching a Video & Remote Technology committee to work on this. Are you interested in helping bring this new reality to the iGEM Competition? We are looking for members with passion, skills, or experience in: Remote & virtual technology, Video filming & editing, Science Communication, Art & Science. Apply by April 3rd at https://bit.ly/iGEMVideo
We are excited to welcome Benchling as an iGEM Partner for the second year in a row! Benchling is a cloud-based software platform that helps scientists around the world record scientific data, design sequences, and collaborate more efficiently.
As part of our partnership, iGEM 2020 teams can unlock Notebook, Molecular Biology, extra space, and an enterprise feature — all at no cost to iGEM teams. Visit Benchling's Partner Page to unlock this iGEM offer, and join the community of iGEMers already using Benchling:
Due to the continued impact of the novel coronavirus upon our community worldwide, we have decided to extend the deadline for our regular registration rate of $5,500 USD to April 30, 2020, for all of our iGEM teams this year. We hope this will make signing up for the competition easier for everyone. Please read the full message here.
To stay up-to-date, please makes sure that you are subscribed to iGEM Newsletters, or check the 2020 Competition Website for updates.
If your university or school is closed due to COVID-19, we will extend our Regular Registration period for your team so your team will not have to pay the late fee. Please read the full message from the Director of the Competition here.
To stay up-to-date, please makes sure that you are subscribed to iGEM Newsletters, or check the 2020 Competition Website for updates
Please note that iGEM Headquarters will begin working remotely due to COVID-19, and will not be able to receive phone calls. Please direct questions to the appropriate email:
- general inquiries: hq AT igem DOT org
- registration inquiries: registration AT igem DOT org
- consent form inquiries: documents AT igem DOT org
- sponsorship inquiries: sponsor AT igem DOT org
Registration for iGEM 2020 is now open! Visit the Registration page to learn about the registration process, complete the team application (PIs only), and submit your team fee. Register by March 31 to take advance of the Regular Registration rate of $5,500 USD. Late Registration begins on April 1, with a Late Registration rate of $6,000 USD.
Please visit the Competition/New page for an important message regarding COVID-19 from the Director of the Competition.
Anybody planning to join the competition in 2020 should take some time to read through the 2020 Competition Hub. On this hub, you will find detailed information about the requirements for this year's competition. Some examples include:
- Team Requirements - detailed information on who should be on the team, how many instructors are required, and how to qualify your team for the competition
- Rules of Conduct - expectations for teams during the competition
- Competition Deliverables - teams must deliver certain items by predetermined dates to participate in the competition
Revive & Restore is the leading conservation organization promoting the incorporation of genetic tools into standard conservation practice.
For the 2020 Competition, Revive & Restore will award up to 12 grants of $5500 each to iGEM teams whose projects are focused on solving a problem in conservation. Applications are due on Monday, May 4. Learn more about this fantastic opportunity for iGEM 2020 teams:
IDT has helped iGEMers make their mark on the synthetic biology industry for the last 6 years. By giving free custom DNA to ALL iGEM teams, we've been taking steps together towards an imagined future: synthetic biology without DNA manipulation.
Thanks IDT for your continued support for iGEM 2020!
We're looking for YOUR suggestions!
Past iGEM teams have built, coded and produced great resources for the community, and this year the Measurement Committee is setting out to make these available to everybody! They want to hear from iGEMers past and present what you’d like the committee to integrate.
Who can be on the team? How many supervisors do we need? Where do I start?? It can all seem daunting at first. Here are some guidelines to help you get started.
2020.igem.org will be your key resource for all competition related details and announcements. Visit this page often for news and updates. To get started, learn about competition requirements and registration by visiting 2020.igem.org/Competition.
We will be opening team registration soon! Regular registration for 2020 teams will be $5500 USD. We will send out the announcement through our Newsletter, so please sign up for the Newsletter to get the latest updates about iGEM 2020! You can see previous Newsletters and sign-up to receive them here: https://igem.org/Newsletters.
iGEM Foundation
The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of synthetic biology, education and competition, and the development of an open community and collaboration. Visit us at igem.org
Contact
hq AT igem DOT org
45 Prospect Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Due to COVID-19, iGEM staff are working remotely and cannot receive phone calls.
Please contact us by email.
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