Saloniki Greece iGEM 2012 Students from: Anatolia College(4 Students) American Farm School(6 Student s) Our advisor: Maria K. McClintock BSc Chemical Engineering, VCU '11 PhD Student in Chemical Engineering, UMN '17
The team
Why is it just the 2 of us? Lack of funds: No more than two kids for the mission Lucky us…!
Flow of Presentation American vs. Greek education Learning about Synthetic Biology Original Idea Second Idea Research in Greece Biotech in Greece Next year’s plan
Greek Educational System Relies heavily on teachers and tutors Requires the student to passively gain knowledge Strong theoretical background Students CANNOT do hands-on research
Comparison Greece United States Theory, theory, theory! More practical and hands-on Many mandatory courses, few A balance between the two electives No student-teacher interaction Emphasis on the relationship with the teachers No emphasis on science Science is required from everyone(usually 3 yrs. minimum) Little funding from the greek Government support government
Synthetic Biology: iGEM Greece participates in the iGEM competition for the first time ever! Students have the opportunity to: Gain knowledge on SynthBio Do hands-on research in labs Familiarize themselves with the field
Possible results and benefits We could: Introduce this type of education in Greece Ministry of Education might approve and adapt the current system to these standards
Original Idea Enhance bacteria in yogurt Improve fermentation process Lactic Lactose Yogurt! Acid We intervene!
Why we didn’t do it Lack of funding: No equipment No tools to study yogurt No lab space to do it Research on yogurt
Our second idea Greece Agriculture Economic crisis Agriculture Need for agricultural developments Soil needs plethora of bacteria to be fertile!
What is it about? Bacteria More Healthy Bacteria! Soil Certain types of bacteria make soil fertile
BACTERIA Decompose dead matter Nitrogen into simple carbons fixation N2 ( atmospheric ) NH3
So, that’s what’s happening: SUGARS PLANTS BACTERIA NITROGEN We hoped to: increase the amount of ammonia emitted work on protocols for easier manipulation of bacteria in Synthetic Biology
What we wanted to do.. AFS plants, roots, soil and equipment Take samples of soil Analyze chemical and bacterial composition Identify beneficial properties Focus on nitrogen-fixing bacteria (diazotrophs) Convert N2(atmospheric) into ammonia(NH3)
Problem doing research in Greece Not enough lab space Lack of equipment Bureaucracy Lack of co-op Lack of funds
Problems we encountered! We didn’t manage to complete our project, because of: Lack of lab space Lack of equipment so… We changed our approach!!
Research Protocols The participants: Used Google Scholar to find articles Explored Online Tools for SynthBio Bioethics
Biotech in Greece Help Greece’s economy status
Why should Biotech companies come to Greece? Reduced competition Existing “unused” buildings Cheap land Agricultural facilities Young, hardworking people with skill and potential
BIOTECH COMPANIES LABS, RESEARCH FACILITIES, FACTORIES TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE, THE “NEW GENERATION”
What can biotech companies do?
Is it that easy? Government approval and rectitude “Traditional” Greeks AFRAID! Protest against Biotechnology
What can we do? Inform people about Synthetic Biology – Biotechnology NO GMO’s or Hormones!!! HOW? Video, Pamphlets, Websites!!
About Next Year Proposed timeline/schedule Team structure and selection process Work plan (boot camp, teaching, labs, activities, assignments, goals) Required and suggested readings and videos
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