Activities and Conversations About Synthetic Biology

Engaging publics and scientists nationwide

The Building with Biology project is a community of informal science educators, researchers, and scientists dedicated to developing innovative resources, practices and processes to build the capacity of the field to use public engagement with science (PES) activities to extend STEM learning about science, technology, and societal implications through public and scientist dialogue about synthetic biology. Through collaboration with informal science education (ISE) institutions and partnering scientists, a physical Building with Biology kit of hands-on activities and programs has been developed to create conversations among publics and scientists about synthetic biology. During the summer of 2016, science centers and children's museums, universities, DIY bio labs, and iGEM teams nationwide hosted and participated in Building with Biology events.

Online professional development

To help support Summer 2016 Building with Biology event host sites, we offered several online workshops and project orientations for host site staff, volunteers, and scientists. Online workshops provided an overview on public forums, the contents in the Building with Biology physical kit, and event and forum evaluations. Project orientations, led by project partner the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), helped scientists learn the context for the Building with Biology project, prepare scientists to approach the hands-on activities as conversations and opportunities to learn from visitors, and the importance of bringing this topic to the public discussion. Orientation also allowed scientists a chance to network and ‘meet’ other project volunteers!

• See the archived list of recorded project orientations and online workshops
• Project orientation information for Building with Biology host sites
• Project orientation information for scientists