High School iGEM Team Earn Silver Medal at Paris Expo

The Concordia iGEM team recently returned from an exhilarating and successful trip to the iGEM 2024 Grand Jamboree (World Expo of Synthetic Biology) in Paris, showcasing their innovative project to acclaim from both industry and academia. Congratulations to our students who represented the school with such distinction on the global stage!  

* The iGEM foundation (international Genetically Engineered Machine) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of synthetic biology, education and collaboration. Its flagship program, the iGEM competition originally held at MIT, is an annual, worldwide synthetic biology event aimed at undergraduate university students, as well as both high school and graduate students. Multidisciplinary teams from over 50 countries work together to design, build, and test a system of their own design using interchangeable biological parts and standard molecular biology techniques. 

We’re incredibly proud of our students, who not only earned a silver medal in their debut but also represented Shanghai as the only high school team comprised entirely of their own students working within their own school. The Concordia team was also nominated for the best high school presentation, placing them among the top 10 out of over 140 high school teams.  

Their achievement capped off seven months of hard work on a synthetic biology project, guided by Mr. David Doyle, Synthetic Biology teacher at Concordia. The team, including two recent graduates now at Cornell and Rutgers University, successfully developed a novel method to produce beta-hydroxybutyrate (a ketone ester) in genetically modified bacteria. Their work allows for the biological synthesis of ketone esters which are used in the health supplement industry by performance athletes.  

Over three intense days at the Grand Jamboree in the Paris Convention Center, our students immersed themselves in cutting-edge talks from synbio leaders, engaged with professionals from companies and organizations such Ginko Bioworks, IDT, Frontiers journals and the US Department of State, and networked with peers from around the globe.  

The highlight of the Expo was undoubtedly the team’s presentation, followed by an intense judging session where our students defended their project with remarkable scientific rigor, leaving the panel of industry experts and academics astounded by their expertise.  

Team instructor Mr. David Doyle commented that seeing how well our students handled the pressure, presented themselves, and communicated the technical aspects of their work was the “proudest moment of his career as an educator”.   “iGEM is the epicenter of research, entrepreneurship, and passion, a serious once-in-a-lifetime experience. The best thing about it? Well, it’s not once-in-a-lifetime, I will definitely be going again next year,” says high school student Steve Y. (Class of 2025). 

“iGEM was an incredibly memorable and enlightening experience. From late-night impromptu calls to work out final details of documentation to presenting months of hard work to college students and startup companies, meeting innovators at the forefront of the future of synthetic biology left an indelible mark on all of us- something that our Gemmy socks and continued interest will corroborate,” recalls Rei A. (Class of 2026).  

Beyond the competition, the team enjoyed cultural experiences in Paris, creating lasting memories and strengthening their bonds.  

This journey not only showcased our students’ exceptional talents but also highlighted their growth as young scientists and innovators. Many of this year’s team have already begun to work on next year’s project, aiming for more advancements in their research.