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In the beginning of this year’s iGEM competition, every Dutch iGEM team received an invitation from iGEM team Wageningen. They suggested to share our ideas and give feedback to one and another. After the formal presentations they welcomed us to have a barbecue with them, and the other teams.
At June 21, this day started with all the presentations at the university complex in Wageningen. This formal part, consisted of several talks. First of all there were the talks of every individual 2014 iGEM team, questions were asked and advices were given. Some “old” iGEM members were invited as well, to tell about their project and to share their experiences. Some people of the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) were also invited, and they were given an opportunity to speak. They offered a cooperation between the iGEM teams and the RIVM, because they want to inform more people about the synthetic biology and its opportunities. However, they considered it very hard to promote the synthetic biology in a proper way. They arranged an information marked at the 17th of September with all the Dutch iGEM team, and invited several people to visit this day. You can find more about this day.
After all the formalities we went to another part of Wageningen, where we enjoyed a well-organized barbecue. The teams started to get to know each other, and several people spoke about organizing a second meet up. In the end we (the Groningen) team decided to organize a second meet up in a more informal way.
It was a very successful day, and a nice first introduction to the other teams and their projects!
Team:Groningen/Template/MODULE/PP/events
From 2014.igem.org
Falling walls is a annual science event with the finals in Berlin where researchers can tell how their idea breaks down the walls of humanity’s biggest problems. The day before the Falling Walls Conference, the Falling Walls Lab is organized, where young researchers can pitch their work. Speakers get three minutes to tell the audience about their project, and convince them of its importance.
On our behalf, Andries went to the qualifying round in Groningen where he won us the first prize! After the iGEM finale in Boston, he will fly back to Amsterdam, take the train to Berlin, and tell a large international audience about our bandage on November 8th.
For more information visit [http://www.rug.nl/news/2014/09/andries-de-vries-wint-nederlandse-voorronde-falling-walls TO DO] or [http://www.falling-walls.com/lab/programme TO DO]
Due to the 400 year existence of the University of Groningen, ScienceLinX organized several expositions throughout Groningen, and one spectacular evening, with all kinds of artists and events. The evening, better known as the “Night of Arts and Sciences” took place at May 24.
We were lucky enough to get a spot in the Der Aa-Kerk in the centre of the city during the “Night of Arts and Sciences”. Throughout the exposition, the project of the iGEM 2012 team of Groningen was shown to warm the public. At the night itself, we introduced synthetic biology, the iGEM competition, and our bandage to the public. People were able to win a small consumable prize if they answered a sufficient amount of question of our quiz correctly. All in all a successful night!
For more info visit http://www.denachtvankunstenwetenschap.nl/
After the success of the first national meet up, we (iGEM team Groningen) decided to organize a second national meet up. We enjoyed the hospitality of the Wageningen team, and liked the conversation and the set-up of the first meet up. We liked the whole day, but one thing. The travelling! Going to Wageningen was not the problem, but returning home was the hard part. Once we were in the mood for an even more fun evening, it was already quite late, and we needed to travel back. We decided it would be more fun to extend the day even more. Therefore we decided to organize a second meet up, with a more informal set-up including a sleep over. At the 13th of September the day started with some drinks, while sharing our progress. After the talks about the project, we went to the pizzeria with all the teams present (unfortunately the Delft-Leiden team could not be present). We showed all the teams some nice and cheap places to stay in Groningen on forehand, and the Wageningen team decided to spend the night in Groningen. All in all an informative day!
