Difference between revisions of "Team:NTU-Singapore/Practices"

 
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<li><a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:NTU-Singapore/Team">Team</a></li>
 
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                                <li><a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:NTU-Singapore/Attributions">Attributions</a></li>
 
<li><a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:NTU-Singapore/Project">Project</a></li>
 
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<li><a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:NTU-Singapore/Practices">Human Practices</a></li>
 
<li><a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:NTU-Singapore/Practices">Human Practices</a></li>
 
<li><a href="https://2015.igem.org/Team:NTU-Singapore/Modeling">Modeling</a></li>
 
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<h5>Industry Interviews</h5>
 
<h5>Industry Interviews</h5>
 
<p class="subtitle" style="font-style:italic">Industrial Waste</p>
 
<p class="subtitle" style="font-style:italic">Industrial Waste</p>
 
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<p class="explainBox">As our project concerns waste to energy conversion, we interviewed two companies to understand more about the waste generated in the chemical industry and how they are disposed. We also discussed potential niche for synthetic biology in the process.</p>
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<p class="explainBox">As our project concerns waste to energy conversion, we interviewed two chemical companies and one food company to understand more about the waste generated in their respective industry and how they are disposed. We also discussed potential niche for synthetic biology in the process.</p>
 
 
 
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<h5>Public Perception</h5>
 
<h5>Public Perception</h5>
 
<p class="subtitle" style="font-style:italic">Genetically Modified Organism</p>
 
<p class="subtitle" style="font-style:italic">Genetically Modified Organism</p>
 
 
 
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<p class="explainBox">GMO in Singapore is not an issue as controversial as that in other industrial countries, so this <a href="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/e/ed/Public_Perception_Towards_Genetically_Modified_Organisms.pdf">survey</a> delves into the phenomenon. Other than providing us with an <a href="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/8/8c/Public_Perception_towards_Genetically_Modified_Organisms_%28GMO%29_in_Singapore.pdf">insight</a> into the landscape of Singaporean's perception on GMO, this survey also prepares us for other Human Practices activities.</p>
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<p class="explainBoxHP">GMO in Singapore is not an issue as controversial as that in other industrial countries, so this <a href="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/e/ed/Public_Perception_Towards_Genetically_Modified_Organisms.pdf">survey</a> delves into the phenomenon. Other than providing us with an <a href="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/8/8c/Public_Perception_towards_Genetically_Modified_Organisms_%28GMO%29_in_Singapore.pdf">insight</a> into the landscape of Singaporean's perception on GMO, this survey also prepares us for other Human Practices activities.</p>
 
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<h5>Policy Advisers</h5>
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                         <p class="subtitle" style="font-style:italic">What do experts say?</p>
 
                         <p class="subtitle" style="font-style:italic">What do experts say?</p>
 
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<h5>Industry Interviews: industrial waste</h5><br>
 
<h5>Industry Interviews: industrial waste</h5><br>
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<p class="subtitle explain">We did interviews with representatives at Inventa Technologies and Eastman Chemical Company. Inventa Technologies is specialized in the development and commercialization of new process technologies. They are also working on the improvement and optimization of existing chemical and biochemical processes with the aim to increase yield and conversion to make systems more economic while protecting the environment. Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of advanced materials, additives and functional products, specialty chemicals, and fibers that are found in products people use every day.
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<p class="subtitle explain">We interviewed representatives of Inventa Technologies and Eastman Chemical Company. Inventa Technologies is specialized in the development and commercialization of new process technologies. They are also working on the improvement and optimization of existing chemical and biochemical processes with the aim to increase yield and conversion to make systems more economic while protecting the environment. Eastman is a global specialty chemical company that produces a broad range of advanced materials, additives and functional products, specialty chemicals, and fibers that are found in products people use every day.
 
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We also interviewed the CTO&CRO of Oceanus Group, Mr. Matthew Tan. Oceanus Group is a company focusing on abalone production and abalone processing and distribution. It is currently the world largest land-based producer of abalone. And it is also a SGX-listed company.
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<b>1. Can you share with us the typical types of waste that is generated by your company?</b>
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The main waste that is generated in my company would be the guts of abalone.
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<b>2. How does your company manage its waste?</b>
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For the guts of the abalone (food waste), they will be collected by the waste collector. We pay a certain fee for the waste collector to collect the waste. I know that some companies, they buy these food wastes to make compost for anaerobic digestion, etc. As for the abalone shells, we will sell them to companies. They will extract pearls from the shells which can be used to make pearl powder for facial products.
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<b>3. Our project is on engineering the metabolism of Shewanella bacteria for enhanced performance in microbial fuel cells. We were thinking of using wastes as an alternative carbon source for the cells. What do you think of using genetically engineered organisms to treat chemical waste?</b>
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I think it’s fantastic. However, studies have to be made to find out whether there is an impact on bacterial stability when these bacteria are released into the wild. Bacteria regulate important processes, such as nitrification and denitrification, thus if these processes are affected, it will be very bad news. Also, your team should find out what is the regulation of genetically modified organisms in Singapore.
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<b>4. Shewanella bacteria have the potential to treat waste and produce electricity in the process. Do you think this sounds appealing to the industry? Will your company welcome this alternative approach to treat its waste?</b>
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Yes, it is appealing. And yes, we will welcome this approach, but only if these bacteria do not affect the stability of the ecosystem, as I mentioned earlier.
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<b>5. What will your company look out for when considering the adoption of this particular method of waste disposure? (e.g costs, environmental effects)</b>
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First and foremost, it would be the ethics issue that we discussed previously. That is, ensuring that the bacteria released into the environment will not affect any natural processes. Secondly, this method has to be cost effective. What I like about this method is that instead of using heat or chemicals to dispose of the waste, this method is natural.
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<h5>MR-1 growth in the presence of heavy metal</h5>
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<p class="subtitle explain">As part of our effort to understand the waste generated in various industries and the feasibility of applying <i>Shewanella oneisensis</i> MR-1 for the waste to energy conversion, we did some preliminary testing to explore how the heavy metals, typical industry waste, may impede the growth of MR-1. Detailed experiment results can be found <a href="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2015/c/ca/MR-1_growth_in_heavy_metal.pdf">here</a>.</p>
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<p class="subtitle explain">Our survey has revealed many intriguing stance of the general public in Singapore. For example, on the one hand people seems to trust government's judgement that GMO is safe; on the other hand, people hesitate to purchase GMO products and question if regulation of GMO is good enough in Singapore. With the interesting voices, we approached <b>professor Peter Droge</b>, who is also the <b>Chairman of Subcommittee on
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<p class="subtitle explain">Our survey has revealed many intriguing stances of the general public in Singapore. For example, on the one hand people seem to trust government's judgement that GMO is safe; on the other hand, people hesitate to purchase GMO products and question if regulation of GMO is good enough in Singapore. With the interesting voices, we approached <b>professor Peter Droge</b>, who is also the <b>Chairman of Subcommittee on
 
Agriculture-related GMOs, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee</b>. The manuscript of the interview is summarized below.   
 
Agriculture-related GMOs, Genetic Modification Advisory Committee</b>. The manuscript of the interview is summarized below.   
 
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Latest revision as of 01:54, 14 November 2015

NTU SG iGEM 2015




Human Practices

Industry Interviews

Industrial Waste

As our project concerns waste to energy conversion, we interviewed two chemical companies and one food company to understand more about the waste generated in their respective industry and how they are disposed. We also discussed potential niche for synthetic biology in the process.

Details
Public Perception

Genetically Modified Organism

GMO in Singapore is not an issue as controversial as that in other industrial countries, so this survey delves into the phenomenon. Other than providing us with an insight into the landscape of Singaporean's perception on GMO, this survey also prepares us for other Human Practices activities.

Details
Policy Advisors

What do experts say?

Having conducted the survey on the public perception towards GMO, we would like to know if policy advisers in Singapore are aware of some of the concerns reflected and how they interpret the findings. Thus we interviewed two policy advisors.

Details
Outreach

Inform the Young

We held a talk at River Valley High School because as researchers we are responsible to reach out to the public and inform them about synthetic biology, particularly at school as students are the future of our nation. By piquing their interest in synthetic biology, perhaps they would make great advancements in this field.

Details