Team:UESTC-Software/Education
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Education
Overview
Although basic biology words such as“protein”,“ceil” are widely perceived，it’s much difficult for public to catch on their detailed composition and specific mechanisms . This situation hold true for synthetic biology. (let alone synthetic biology.)
Triggered by this dilemma, we devoted ourself to design a series of activities and products ,which get across biology and especially synthetic biology in an interesting way for diverse group. We designed a set of construction toys called “Probrick” and attached brochure “Magical domains” to vividly explain the way of the structure domain splicing. The domain splicing game “Protein Brick” was made for the same purpose.
On account of some reasons, there was a great barrier between biology and some groups. This year we concentrated on children and deaf people. We reach out to children by interactive teaching and questionnaire in iGEM Day activity and so far, the response has been very positive. Additionally, a science theme song played with gesture language show was launched under the help of the Xuan Lu Association of Sign Language.
In the process, all the education work were down on reflection, we embraced feedback from all aspects , consult layers and ask for relevant permission carefully.
Products Design
Probrick＆Brochure
In the eyes of the public without biological background, the relationship between the shape of proteins and domains remains ambiguous. Therefore, we designed a complete set of domain building blocks system and attached brochure.
First, we used Pymol to divide the structural domains of the actual protein model according to the results of CPD3DS. After that, we carried out some surface treatments to make it more suitable for popular science applications. Finally, we printed the model with 3D printing technology to show the relationship between the structural domains and protein splicing. To get children to try their hand at protein building blocks, we developed a set of protein blocks, shown on the right, that they can use with 100 domains probrick. Or we can put together proteins that follow our instructions, or we can put them together and have scientists come up with new proteins.
At iGEM Day, the building block model made its debut!
Protein Brick
In addition to the practical hand stitching of Brick products, we designed Protein Brick, a game with a wider and more convenient crowd.
Protein Brick has two parts ---6 game levels and 3D-Lab.
In each game level, you’re supposed to splice the individual blocks on the right side according to the shape of the blocks on the left. If you find it too difficult, click the help button "?" and get some hints!
Level one
Level one with hints
In the 3D-Lab, we provided 10 different domain blocks. You can hold down left click to drag blocks or hold down right click to rotate the spatial Angle. Imagine and splice bricks arbitrarily with 10 domain blocks in virtual 3D domain space!
Domain Photography
Like clouds, like ponies, like cars,
Like dolphins, like balloons, like balls…
What a wonderful world of domain!
We photographed various domains and made a collision of science and art. The photography was called The Art of Domain. Come and explore the beauty of domains together!
The iGEM Day‘Brick Boom’
For children, it’s the most interesting way to study via games. Through our craft sessions, accidental findings may sow the seeds of biology enlightenment in their hearts. When they learn relevant knowledge in the future, they may be surprised and exclaim "Wow, so that's it!”
Therefore, we tried to combine the knowledge of biology, synthetic biology and protein domain. We finally designed the protein building blocks exhibition, stage play and two manual classroom activities together with UESTC-China. On October 17th, the iGEM Day themed "Brick Boom" was held in the Sichuan Science and Technology Museum. Children and parents from nearly 200 families signed up to participate in our activity.
The wonderful iGEM Day attracted four national broadsheets including Toutiao, Sichuan SATELLITE TV, Sichuan Observation and Sichuan Daily.
In order to increase the interest of children, we have designed "Stamp collecting" Cards. Each activity has a special postmark, anyone who has attended at least 3 of the 4 postmarks can redeem the "Mystery gift Pack" of synthetic biology. And on the back of the card is a list of our activities. Finally, nearly 40 children participating got the "mysterious gift package".
"Can we eat Moldy thing, and why?" In the first class of "Microcosm in my Eyes", the team members led the children to observe both high-resolution photos and hand-drawn pictures of bacteria to understand the microcosm of life. After that, Children are encouraged to draw the microworld in their own eyes and made scratching painting works.
In the class of "Revealing the cell Structure", we prepared light clay (An environmentally friendly, non-toxic and naturally air-dried handmade material) to help children learn about cells. In the manual kneading part, parents also joined in the activity and worked with children to make 3D cellular structure works with light clay. "This will enhance the children's understanding of the cell and also reinforce their creativity and productivity." A parent said as she worked with their children to make cellular structures.
In order to have kids experience "touching" domains and proteins with his own hands, we held a Probrick exhibition. We extracted and modeled the 3D shape of the protein structure domain. On the day of the exhibition, we displayed 8 groups of protein structures made of building blocks on both sides of the corridor. Unspliced lego-like toys were also provided for children to splice domains on their own. Volunteers alongside explained the function and shape of proteins as well as answered questions about protein domains for kids!
We also wanted to know how children's understanding of domain changed after the activity. Therefore, we conducted a sample survey on 23 children after the activity in the science and Technology Museum.
After analyzing the results above, we found that most of the children participating had some understanding or at least heard of some biological terms such as protein and virus before. After participating in the exhibition, 73.9% of the children said that they "understand that proteins can be assembled like building blocks", while 65.2% of the children "found that protein shave various shapes". In the evaluation part of the whole day, 73.9% of the children said that they had a good time. More than half of the children said that the activity allowed them to learn a lot of protein knowledge and learn more about the biological world. In addition, we were encouraged that 95.7% of the children said "I want to join The iGEM Day again". Indeed, after the activity, many children and parents asked our team member initiatively with excitement radiating from their face: when will the next activity be held? We want to join it again!
Biochemistry knowledge explanation
In the community around the school, we tried to promote popular science within our scope. In October, we went to Shunjiang community to undertake various biological activities. Except from explaining how to observe cellular morphology under the microscope, we printed and presented Probrick models to the children as gifts to sharpen their sense of domains. It was also wonderful to conduct a biology question and answer session with these lovely kids.
3D domain model display
Explanation of microscope usage
Kids are learning to use the microscope
WeChat Public Account
For the general public, we made a series of protein-popularizing science articles in our WeChat public account “Workingcells”. The original content came from the authoritative PDB101 science section. In accordance with the PDB101 citation rule and the permission of reprinting through email, 15 popular science articles were published from July 11 to October 23, and the total visits were more than 1.5K.
Theme song&Gesture language show
We have noticed that biology, especially synthetic biology, is remote to the people with hearing loss, and many beautiful sounds of nature are unheard by them. Does this also limit the possibility of the deaf people's biological development to some extent?
Based on this, we paid attention to some interesting biological phenomena or something amazing related to synthetic biology. After that, a simple, warm story came into being. The story was about two domains of hemoglobin searching for each other. They swam over long distances in cytoplasm and eventually found each other. Finally, they connected to a complete hemoglobin and happily embarked on a new journey. We presented this story through a biological theme song, translated the song into sign language and made a sign language video called “Your Presence”.
This video was posted to Bilibili website with UESTC official account and got 869 views in the first 10 hours posted. We also posted the video on other social platforms.
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