Competition Results and Future of Project

Since writing this, UCSC IGEM has participated every year. We have done work to synthesize a low-calorie sugar, made a human-usable form of vitamin B12, synthesize progesterone as a home-brew contraceptive. Every year, I have the privelege of working with 16 students on real-world problems where synthetic biology can make a difference. Every year, we read and debate the next project with hopes of finding a place where we can make a difference. Our work in science, human-practices, outreach and funding must begin again each year. Somehow, we seem to be making this happen. For 2019, we are addressing world hunger; over 800 million people are food challenged. In parts of our world survival requires a hunt in the bush. That hunt might yield an animal that will transfer the next virus to build the next human disease. Hunger is like that. A number of organizations including Heifer and the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, are introducing chickens as a sustainable source of eggs and meat protein. Those chickens are susceptible to a preventable virus that just requires vaccination. Like all vaccines, they must be kept cold during the long journey from production, through layers of distribution and finally delivered to the flock. In each step, a break in this "cold-chain" can destroy the utility of the vaccine. Can we make a thermal tolerant formulation for vaccines? This is the UCSC 2019 project. 16 students, designing, collaborating, learning from this community, working with suppliers ,,. 16 more students are learning to make a difference .. 16 more bioengineers with talent and vision. dlb