From 2007.igem.org

May 26, 2007

attendance, about 30 people

0900 - Randy Rettberg Introduction
Overview of the iGEM program evolution, goals, and challenges
For 2007, about 55 schools
Earlier preparations
Three teachers workshops
Jamboree November 3 and 4

Goals: High quality parts and descriptions
Automatic assemblies
Modern internet experience
Prepare to scale to hundreds of teams
New ideas

New things:
Sponsorship!
BioBrick Part Program
iGEM and Registry in Europe
New registry workshop (Fall @ MIT)
iGEM Steering committee

---

0930 - Team Summaries
Tom Richard, Penn State
Continuation of last year's project, 1 returning student, 5 new students (freshman), good diversity
iGEM is recruiting judges
Fundraising:
Tom is involved in IBE
Previously, not much funding, but not a high burn rate
This year, more proactive -- $22K
IBE has run a special session for iGEM presentations > consider this for sharing team projects as well as the jamboree

Beth Beason, Rice University
Last year: started late
2006 goal was to combine quorum sensing and chemotaxis > quorumtaxis!
Learned that projects should not depend completely on novel biobricks<br? 2007: Courses were offered, 500 level but no prerequisites
Overview of Bios590 course -- interesting! (contact Beth for details)
Support: Last year, not much money. This year, full support! Wow!<br?

Ron ??, Virginia
Bottom up approach
Funding is a major challenge

??, MIT
Whole new slate of team and advisors
New project as well
Funding is dependent on MIT's undergraduate programs, media lab, other sources
Outside sponsorship is being sought
Aim low! Get the basics to work and then make it more advanced.

Sergio, UCSF
UCSF has long history in iGEM
No undergraduate at UCSF. Makes for some interesting recruitment challenges.
Six students -- other universities and high schools, about 10 graduate students and advisors helping this group
Fundraising: stipends to all the students. Respectful and prevents biases as to who can participate.
Potential for biotechnology industry support

Mexico Team
There are several institutes participating in Mexico
Long term research goals: creation of new biobricks, VR in biological systems, etc.
5 instructors, 10 students with about half biology, half comp-sci backgrounds
Facilities and support have been provided by the various schools, grants are being sought

?? Purdue
Really want to change the way teams communicatate > electronic laboratory notebooks?
Funding: support for team travel has been provided
Supplies and reagents, facilities is internal
High school students are joining here too!

Sonja, Calgary
Second year that Calgary has been participated
Started to organize early
Six undergraduate students, diverse backgrounds, 2 from last year
Weekly lab meetings have been held
No formal courses yet
Lab facilities are provided
Reagents and supplies are provided by other departments
NSERC awards for several of the students (federal funding source)
Stressing interdisciplinary approach, better intercommunication

?? Cold Spring Harbor
First time at iGEM
Some interesting programs at CSH, some funding available
2 postdocs as supervisors

Katie Shannon, UMR
Engineering school primarily, lots of engineering challenges
Expectations and hopes include getting people interested, having fun, a foundation for biology on campus in future years
8 students, came up with their own design projects, small stipends and supplies budgets provided
4 advisors Projects: biological timer, biological breathalyzer

Noah, Princeton
Weekly meetings for 2 months, team selected
9 undergrads, 2 high school students
Stem cell project this year
Many different sources of funding
Expectations: crash course in synbio, stem cells, design of a small cell fate regulation system, etc.

??, Harvard
9 undergraduates, 5 faculty advisors, 4 teaching ellows, 2 lab advisors
Large pool of interested people

??, ?? Check!!
5 students, in the process of organizing their projects
3 faculty members

Andy Mendelson, California
Private institute, small
Volunteer students, highly motivated