Human Practices

In addition to our laboratory work exploring the vast usefulness and potential properties of silk, we were strongly inspired to look at the societal and environmental implications of our actions.

Discussing the Potentials of Silk in Industry - Interview with David Breslauer, CSO and Co-Founder of Bolt Threads

First, we were motivated to discuss the societal implications of our research outside of the “iGEM” space. Namely, we wanted to hear from members in industry how work with silks can transform and revolutionize the field of manufacturing high performance fibers. We were fortunate enough to meet with David Breslauer, CSO and Co-Founder of Bolt Threads, a start-up company determined to bring high performance synthetic silks to the market using yeast as a model organism. In our interview and tour of their facility, we learned a great deal about the implications of our silk as a product that could shape an entirely new output of novel materials for defense and biomedical purposes. He expressed that not only could our work we useful for synthetic biology applications, but could also yield a product that is highly useful for social purposes.

Social Implications of Silk Engineering: Exhibit and Workshops at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum and UCLA Art|Sci Center

Second, we wanted to discuss the concept sidel of our research, namely, how producing novel silk materials could affect our perception of nature and the artistic implications behind doing so. To expand upon our collaboration with local silk artist Jason Fahrion and the UCLA Art|Sci Center, we were graciously invited to deliver a lecture and workshop at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, entitled Ask Me Anything", where public commenters and members of the iGEM team could freely disseminate information to the general public. Our AMA was a success, we generated over 1400 up votes and approximately 100 questions reneging from issues stemming from our project, to how iGEM and synthetic biology can positively impact current academic research and frontiers in biotechnology. We were very honored to represent iGEM and the silk engineering field to the wide public through our interview!

Lastly, we wanted to bring this level of education not only to those inspired by the artistic elements, but also to those that we as STEM students desperately need to inspire scientifically -- secondary students. Students attending at-risk and underprivileged high schools and becoming less interested in pursuing science as a career in alarming rates. To help engage our community, we partnered with a UCLA science outreach group called CityLAb and a nonprofit education summer camp organization called STAR Education, to develop a module specifically designed to enhance students interest in synthetic biology. We had students design basic gene circuits, and offer suggestions about where they think the science of silk can take us in the future. We hope that this model of education, where we give students’ hands on experiences and the opportunity to collaborate and give ideas to scientists in the field, can inspire and enrich students to pursue a STEM career.