What's iGEM?

Behind the term "iGEM" (short for: international Genetically Engineered Machine competition) is an interdisciplinary competition in the field of synthetic biology for students. Synthetic biology is a field that consists of many different disciplines besides biology, such as computer science, engineering and biochemistry. The goal is to create new biological systems using the recombination of elements from different organisms.

Since 2016, students from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf have also successfully participated in this competition.

To participate, students must work on an independently managed scientific project. As a rule, the students deal with problems such as world hunger, environmental pollution and diseases in their projects.

An important area is not only the scientific work, but also the exchange with experts, other teams and the society. Through public relations as the main criterion, synthetic biology should be made more accessible to the general public. As another part of the competition, the results and experiences are published on a self-programmed wiki (website).

The iGEM competition has been run by the iGEM Foundation since 2003. Due to the steadily growing number of participating teams from all over the world, since 2020 the final (Giant Jamboree) is no longer held at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), but in Paris. At the Giant Jamboree, the teams present their projects in front of judges and medals are awarded for various categories.

Further information about the competition in English: igem.org/Main_Page