Exploration of an integrated competency development model for undergraduates training by participating the international Genetic Engineering Machine Competition / 生物工程学报

Starting from participating the high-level professional competition, our school has built a talent training system with the spirit of "biomaker" and an innovative practical ability training system. Such system takes the interest of student as the starting point, and relies on the strong scientific research and teaching infrastructure. The programme gives full play to students' initiatives and enhances the scientific research literacy and comprehensive ability of undergraduates majoring in biotechnology. It is an effective exploration of the traditional university education model and meets the urgent demand for innovative talents training in the era of rapid development of life sciences.

Bringing scientific research education closer to undergraduates through International Genetically Engineered Machine competition / 生物工程学报

In recent years, the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition has experienced rapid global development. In 2017 alone, the number of iGEM teams registered around the globe reached an unprecedented 313, with 98 iGEM teams from China having enrolled in the competition and obtained outstanding results. In contrast to the many college students' innovation projects and scientific research training programs in China, iGEM's organization mode is focused on student-centered research learning. Moreover, it achieved a rich educational effect, embodying a new educational idea, which gives it great significance for the extracurricular scientific research training of undergraduates in Chinese universities. In this article, we took Peking University's participation in the iGEM competition as a starting point. The first part introduces the background and general situation of the iGEM competition. The second part reproduces the general procedure of one iGEM season and organization of Peking University's team. The third part compares iGEM's organization mode with those of other undergraduate research training courses and discusses them in detail. The fourth part sums up the experience with iGEM activities as well as explains its effect on developing the research capacity of undergraduate students as well as inspiring them to organize an undergraduate scientific research competition. This article aims to provide a reference for the organization of iGEM activities in domestic universities and for the reform of undergraduate education.

Preface for special column on iGEM (2018) / 生物工程学报

Themed in synthetic biology, supplemented with multiple inter-disciplines, International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM)Competition provides with a most influential and dynamic platform for young minds in the field of biology. Many college and high school teams not only achieved excellent results in this competition, but got academic breakthrough achievements as well in recent years. Hence, we launch this iGEM special editorial column, featured in latest domestic iGEM research projects. Simultaneously, we discuss, in this special issue, about the progress of iGEM in China, and its inspiration on development of research skills and scientific competence of collegiate students.