To keep it short, the Human Practices investigates if our project would do any good in the world. We examine the ethical, social, environmental, and cultural dimensions of our project and synthetic biology at large. One way to think of it is that while the wet lab focuses on biological science, and the dry lab concentrates on engineering, Human Practices leverages clinical or social science to learn from real people who will be affected by our project. This approach integrates perspectives from diverse stakeholders to ensure that scientific advancements are socially responsible, applicable and beneficial to a broader public.
That’s a lot of information, so let’s break it down…within UBC iGEM, our Human Practices goals focus on certain areas - Education, Inclusivity and Sustainable Development. Read on to get more details about the different focus groups:
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Do you have a passion for making science accessible and inspiring the next generation? The education track focuses on outreach and science communication, which can range from creating STEM education workshops to organizing a bioart exhibition. This is a great fit for students interested in teaching, communication, and creative ways to share our project with younger generations, increase synthetic biology awareness and address stigma around novel science.
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Another aim within iGEM is to make science more accessible to people from diverse communities. We want to identify and address barriers that limit underrepresented groups' access to synthetic biology research (indigenous communities, physically impaired, remote/rural communities etc.). One way our team works towards this goal is through our Inclusive Design Project, where we engineer a solution to remove barriers for a problem that one person faces, which others can then utilize to improve accessibility.
This is a great opportunity for students seeking to create a more inclusive and representative scientific community, fostering increased access and participation for more voices. We will reach out to various individuals within these communities and plan initiatives based on their feedback that address the complex challenges of building a more inclusive environment in scientific research.
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This track focuses on aligning our project with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and understanding the broader environmental and social impacts of our work.
You will explore how our project’s implementation (experimental procedures, hardware etc.) is maximizing positive outcomes for the environment and communities. You will have the unique opportunity to directly be involved in designing sustainable approaches to developing scientific tools and making a meaningful impact on global challenges. This area will also involve more interaction with wet-lab and dry-lab work as it is directly relevant to our experimental deliverables.
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Then head over to the application form and begin your application to the HP subteam 😊
You will likely be assigned to projects in one of the three areas based on your interests and experiences so you don’t need to be interested in all three areas to apply.
As part of the team, you will actively engage in brainstorming and developing HP initiatives so if there are any ideas you really want to bring to life, this would be the place to do it!
No worries! The HP team welcomes students who are excited to be active members of iGEM, eager to pick up new skills and take on the challenge of organizing new initiatives. Enthusiasm, a growth mindset and commitment to the team are what matter most!