Final Ethics Handout

Ethics Ethics Analyzing the ethical implications of our project… The goal of our ethics project was to reach out to the general public, addressing concerns and analyzing issues that relate to the field of Synthetic Biology as well as our project in particular. From our exploration of ‘ethical issues in synthetic biology’, an ethics webinar organized by the Hastings Centre, we started our work by examining ethical issues through two different frameworks: the Proactionary and Precautionary frameworks. We then examined the E3LS: environmental, economic, ethical, legal and social implications of our project in particular focusing on both positive and negative possible impacts. With these issues in mind, we are developing a list of topics for further discussion during our Second Life ethics conference. Using this virtual world as a platform, we hope to be able to foster debate and discussion between individuals with different backgrounds in biology and ethics. Outreach: Plans are underway for presentations in the Fall at local high schools discussing the promise of Synthetic Biology and the potential for being recruited to our team Ethics: Following planning, we will hold an ethics conference in Second Life on our island Marketing: Completion of designs and Tshirt ordering. Beginning our marketing efforts for iGEM 2010, in line with the corporate community’s fiscal calendar.

CONTACT A TEAM MEMBER TODAY:

Students Jamie Feng: [email protected] Emily Hicks: [email protected] Jeremy Kubik: [email protected] Fahd Mirza: [email protected] Prima Moinul: [email protected]

Facilitators Sonja Georgijevic: [email protected] Thane Kubik: [email protected] Christian Jacob: [email protected] Anders Nygren: [email protected]

University of Calgary iGEM University of Calgary Health Science Centre 3330 Hospital Drive NW. Calgary AB T2N 4N1 (403) 210-8704 http://2009.igem.org/ Team:Calgary www. www.

Human Practices Engaging our community on various levels

TARGET BUSINESS CONSULTING

Marketing Reaching out to the corporate community… Our team dove right in to marketing our project and fundraising with the creation of a sponsorship package outlining our project goals, marketing initiatives, partnership opportunities and corporate benefits. The initial proposal was emailed to numerous biotech and pharmaceutical companies. Later, follow-up phone calls, organizing one-to-one meetings and the sending of monthly updates focused on our team’s progress helped establish a relationship with companies and tremendously improved our fundraising team.

Our University of Calgary iGEM team successful at raising over $100, 000 from a variety of very generous donors who recognize the importance of undergraduate student education and Synthetic Biology.

We hope to raise the fundraising target bar next year by gathering project information and contacting companies from early November, as this marks the beginning of the budget allocation for the upcoming fiscal year.

Outreach

Collaboration

Encouraging future participation… Human Practices

Working together to help other teams…..

Our outreach program targets high school students who may be interested in pursuing iGEM in the future. Six interested high school and undergraduate students were able to gain hands-on lab experience during the iGEM summer camp. They learnt about our project and receive hands-on wetlab training. Not only were the students introduced to Synthetic Biology, our team gained experience presenting the project to individuals from various backgrounds.

In collaboration with the UChicago team, we are working on designing an outreach package containing materials such as powerpoint presentations, videos and pictures that can be used for outreach and recruitment presentations. This kit will be distributed to other teams at the iGEM Jamboree to help continue to build the iGEM community down the road.

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UofC Campus Fair gave us a chance to bring our project to a younger audience. Through crafts and games we introduced kids to bacteria, DNA and genes. We also had the opportunity to speak to parents and older siblings about our project and the promise of Synthetic Biology. We advertised last year’s lab poster in a fun, easy to understand way. Campus fair was a great way to give people an idea of what we do, to get kids engaged and to have fun!

Elementary students took part in a fierce Pipetting competition at the iGEM booth during Campus Fair (June 6, 2009).

A team picture with a high school student taking part in our hands-on wetlab iGEM summer camp.

Co-team leader, Thane Kubik featured on CTV News June 3rd 2009 for iGEM broadcast.

Furthermore, in the spirit of collaboration, we introduced the Chicago team to Second Life. We had the opportunity to meet with them virtually and show them around Genome Island while describing some of our visions for our own project. Various media sources broadcasted our team’s innovative approach to Synthetic Biology. CTV and various campus (NUTV, CJSW radio and the Gauntlet paper) news outlets successfully promoted various aspects of our project.