Tomorrow's Brilliant Laboratory Scientists Rock iGEM Synthetic Biology Competition

The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) undergraduate competition is an annual event sponsored by MIT that challenges teams of undergraduate scientists around the world to design and build novel biological systems from standardized "biological parts".  The 2011 Competition just wrapped up, with the World Championship Jamboree held at MIT over the weekend of Nov. 5-7. Sixty-five teams advanced to the Championships from the three Regional Competitions: the Americas, Asia, and Europe.  The Grand Prize was taken by the team from the University of Washington, in Seattle.

Without a doubt, undergraduates who took on the iGEM challenge from around the globe are ones to watch: here are great examples of the future of science.  That undergrads are doing such great work at so many universities is tremendously promising for research 5, 10, and 20 years from now. These bright young scientists are becoming the leaders of tomorrow. They will be running labs, starting companies, and making the big discoveries of this century.  We're proud of them--and not a little daunted by the level of excellence show in their projects.  Congratulations!

The iGEM Americas Regional competition was sponsored this year by the Institute of Biological Engineering (IBE), and awards were handed out at the Americas Regional Jamboree in Indianapolis in October. 65 teams submitted projects, from the Unites States, Canada, and Central and South American countries. Some of the US medalists in the Regionals include: University of Nevada, Reno(a energy efficient biofueld apparatus), Duke University, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Minnesota, UPenn, University of California, San Francisco, and University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

(Synergistic bacterium icon courtesy of Team Nevada at UNR; petri dish photo courtesy of UC Davis)

Some of the US teams advancing to the Championships were, from the West Coast: UC Davis (foundational advances for BioBrick circuit synthesis), UC Berkeley, and UW Seattle.  From the Midwest: UW Madison. From the East coast: Harvard, Cornell, and Columbia.  

Anyone who doesn't think that there are undergrads doing serious research, would do well to talk to these young scientists.

Life science researchers, purchasing agents, and lab managers are actively invited to attend to see the latest products and equipment and discuss their laboratory tool and service needs. See our nationwide show schedule for 2012.

Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. is a full-service event marketing and planning company producing on-campus life science research tradeshows nationwide for going on 19 years. We plan and promote each event to bring the best products and services to the best research campuses across the country including many of the Universities listed above.