Team:elan vital korea/Korea Youth Expo

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HUMAN PRACTICE
-Education & Public Awareness-

Education & Public Awareness: Korea Youth Expo

Elan Vital Korea’s education and public awareness-related human practice efforts – that is, our human practice efforts that are not directly related to our project at hand: using quorum sensing technology for early, efficient detection of MRSA or other antibiotics-resistant bacteria – focus primarily on our outreach at the Korea Youth Expo(http://www.youthexpo.kr/) this May.

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Threats of Antibiotics-Resistant Bacteria

For this purpose, Elan Vital Korea has set up a synthetic biology research club jointly with YMCA, which participated in the Korea Youth Expoas a program provider. The selection criteria for the provider was very high, and competition fierce. Ultimately, however, the hard work and preparation has been amply rewarded when the club was selected as one of 100 teams from more than 2,500 schools and community organizations. Korea Youth Expo is as the largest, most significant annual event for the young generation since its inception in 2001. The annual event is organized by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family of Korea, and run by Korea Youth Work Agency. This year, Korea Youth Expo was held in Gumi, Korea from 21st to 23rd, May. For the three days, about 159,600 people visited the event. We did our best to fully exploit the opportunity and promote the ideas of synthetic biology, bio-safety and bio-ethics. Our activities at the Expo are: (1) preparation meetings, (2) on-booth experiment sessions and DNA-related activities, (3) information seminar on synthetic biology, (4) on-booth discussions and talks on synthetic biology, and (5) survey.

1. Preparation Meetings

We held more than a dozen preparation meetings.

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2. On-booth Experiment Sessions and DNA-Related Activities

For 3 days, we taught more than 500 visitors about conducting DNA extraction experiments and assembling DNA models.

(1) Broccoli DNA Extraction Experiment

We have explained the DNA structure while students were conducting the experiments. Following pictures had been used to make visitors understand better.

1. Grind broccoli using the blender.
2. For 25g of broccoli, put 2g of salt and 7g of surfactant (liquid detergent) into 150ml of distilled water, then stir until it is completed melted, and wait for 5-10 minutes. The detergent captures the proteins and liquids of the cell membranes.

3. Pour the grinded broccoli through a strainer into another container.
4. Pour the mixture into test tubes (or small glass containers).

5. Tilt the test tube and slowly pour rubbing alcohol (70-95% isopropyl or ethyl
alcohol) into the tube down the side so that it forms a layer of the broccoli mixture.
6. DNA will rise into the alcohol layer from the broccoli layer. Use a glass stirring rod (or wooden stick) to draw the DNA into the alcohol.

3. Information Seminar on Synthetic Biology

Elan Vital Korea has organized an information seminar on synthetic biology during the Korea Youth Expo. For the seminar, we have invited Mr. Damon Tighe as our lecturer, who conducted the lecture in the English language, which was simultaneously translated into the Korean language. We have invited college students and professors as well as high school students visiting the expo. We also held an introduction session on iGEM. The entire session was video recorded, and offered to various institutions.

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4. On-Booth Discussions and Talks on Synthetic Biology

We explained to the visitors of our booth what is the synthetic biology, and what benefits and risks are inherent in the new field full of great potential and possibility. We began our discussions with visitors of our booth by asking them to express their opinions on the synthetic biology. This way, we were able to customize the level of information we share based on their answers and feedbacks. In the process of the discussions, we showed them various displays, including various pictures, videos, information brochures and the glow fish on display in our booth to explain the synthetic biology.

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Click here to see the Questionnaire

We have conducted surveys by designing questionnaires, distributing them to the visitors to our booth, then gathering their responses. The questionnaire is designed to solicit information on the level of public awareness of the topics and issues related to the synthetic biology. The survey results, which are summarized below, will give us better understanding of the public awareness of the synthetic biology and tools to better plan our promotional, human practice activities in the future.

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Most of the respondents belong to the age group of 10-18 years old. In fact, more than 80% of respondents belong to that age group. The result is expected, considering that the survey was conducted at the Youth Expo. Male respondents are tree times larger than female. The largest age group is high school students, followed by under and over graduates. Since program providers are mostly high school and college club members, the result is expected.

B. Public Awareness of Synthetic Biology

In general, the younger the respondent is, less likely that they knew what the synthetic biology meant, or ever heard about it. Respondents aged between 10 and 15, 174 out of 222 (about 78.83%) answered that they have never heard of the synthetic biology. Respondents belonging to the age group 16-18 showed similar results: 75% (147 out of 196) have never been exposed to the definition of the synthetic biology. As ages increase, more people answered that they have at least heard about it, or know what it is. About 66.67% of people aged between 19 and 25 (52 out of 78) responded that they have heard about the synthetic biology. For older age groups, more than 55% of age group between 26 and 40 and 83% of age group between 41 and 50 respectively understood what synthetic biology means. The result, however, is not reliable because the total number of sample belonging to these age groups are very few (only 15 out of 511). Furthermore, that they are aware of the subject is rather expected, considering that they visited the Youth Expo at all, visited our booth and volunteered to participate in the survey. The results seem to suggest that the synthetic biology is not well understood or accepted among school age teenagers.

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Comparing the result we got with the results obtained by the Team Oxford in 2014 iGEM and and UCL London 2010 (see the charts above), general public in Korean including high school and college students show higher percentage of people who have been informed of and/or interested in synthetic biology.

But comparing the results with those obtained in Hong Kong, Korea’s Asian neighbor, the level of public awareness of the synthetic biology among Korean population are substantially lower than residents of Hong Kong. It is rather surprising considering that the Korean government has demonstrated that it has a strong desire to drive growth in the synthetic biology-related industries. In August 2011, the Korean government has selected the synthetic biology as one of the ‘Global Frontier Businesses’ and established the Intelligent Synthetic Biology Center later the same year, in order to support the research and business development in the field. The Center (including 11 universities and more than 200 researchers) leads the development of the synthetic biology in Korea. In short, the government’s strong drive for the synthetic biology did not result in heightened public awareness of the field. The observation is supported by the level of participation in iGEM, which is quite low compared to the government’s and the industry’s drive and efforts to make the industry thriving. The result seem to suggest that as a further study, we need to look deeper into the actual works performed by the government, academics and the industry to promote the synthetic biology, and identify the challenges and issues that hinder the development of the synthetic biology despite government’s and industry’s resolution and drive.

c. Public Attitude Toward Specific Area of Synthetic Biology/Genetic Engineering

Answers on Question 5 shows interesting observation: The phrase we use to solicit answer leads to extremely different responses. Respondents expressed their concerns and generally responded negatively if the question includes the phrase “gene modification, gene alteration, etc.,” but answered more positively if the question is about the “genetic engineering.” The contrasting results seem to suggest that people do not understand what genetic engineering means, or what kind of works are done in the field. Also, people were more understanding and forgiving if given more generic, comprehensive phrases such as “genetic engineering” rather than specific works such as “gene modification or alteration.” The result also seems to show that the public attitude is largely decided based on the particular phrase used, (verbal and nonverbal) nuances and cultural contexts in which the phrase appears.

Absolute majority of respondents (about 65%) thought that the genetic engineering should be permitted only when justified by clear reasons and right purposes. About 17% said that the genetic engineering is very dangerous, and prohibited at any cost. About 10% answered that the genetic engineering should be permitted, even though it may pose dangers and concerns. And, another 9% of the respondents thought that the genetic engineering should be allowed for the welfare of the humanity.

About 10% answered that the genetic engineering should be permitted, even though it may pose dangers and concerns. And, another 9% of the respondents thought that the genetic engineering should be allowed for the welfare of the humanity.

D. Concerns About Synthetic Biology

When asked what comes to their mind first about the danger of the synthetic biology and gene modification, many respondents did not articulate their answers, but substantial portion of people (about 20-30 percent) answered the danger of human as well as animal cloning.

Comparing the responses we got with the responses of US, it seems that the Korean people do nothave sufficient knowledge on how the synthetic biology is actually used. It is possible such result is due to the fact we conducted our survey for mostly younger generations (aged between 10 and 25).

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Click here to see the Questionnaire

As follow-up activities, we have supported a few science clubs that are selected program roviders at the Korea Science Festival held from 27th of July to 3rd of August. We were not eligible for operating a booth at the event, because Elan Vital Korea is not a school science club but an interschool club comprising different school students. We had conducted subsequent survey for 141 program providers. Our initial expectation was that they must have had interests and knowledge on the synthetic biology, as they are members of science clubs in schools. However, the result showed otherwise.

7. Observations

During the process of our education and public awareness-related human practice at Korea Youth Expo and the Korea Science Fair, we have become keenly aware of the need for educating students and young generation about the synthetic biology. As our survey result and our on-site interview show, very few youngsters knew about synthetic biology, and none heard about iGEM before. Against the background, we have adopted a few strategies to facilitate our efforts to educate general public particularly focusing on younger generation about synthetic biology and iGEM. First, we have decided to establish an extensive network with teachers and education institutions in the field. After searching multiple options and reaching out possibilities, we were able to establish a cooperative network with the National Association for Science Teachers(http://k-sta.or.kr/), a nonprofit organization established in March 2003 with the purpose of encouraging science teachers of primary and secondary institutions to enhance expertise in the cutting edge technology and of motivating them to provide better science education. We have sent our information brochure, DNA extraction experiment equipment and videos that can be used for the science teacher to work with their students in the field. We have created Youtube videos explaining synthetic biology and MRSA, which was the starting point of our project and still has urgent need to teach school aged children what is MRSA and how to protect themselves from getting infected by the antibiotics-resistant bacteria. In addition, we have made public our blog which had been used only internally to store data and resources until then. We have committed to provide basic education on synthetic biology whenever requested. We believe that making full use of existing network of YMCA would be very much beneficial to promote public awareness initiative, because YMCA has extensive network comprising all ages from high school students to senior citizens. Our role there is to provide information including brochures and video and, if requested, to visit nursing homes and long term care centers for senior citizens to inform them of the dangers of antibiotics-resistance and of the measure that should be taken to reduce the infection.