Tec-Chihuahua strongly believe that what´s most important about a project rather than the lab results, it is how transcendent it can be at the local, national and international aspect. None of the work is fully complete until results are shared and explained. Nevertheless, in Mexico, for people to understand the impact and benefit of our project, the society must first be aware of what biotechnology and synthetic biology are. Therefore, our public engagement consists in giving outreach about these subjects at everyone's understanding; looking to boost or initiate discussions within the public in general. To achieve these Tec-Chihuahua worked intensely on two projects.

TecChMun

TecChMun is a national event organized by a student group of the same name and takes place inside the facilities of the Tecnológico de Monterrey at Chihuahua, Mexico. This edition, the event is celebrating its 20th anniversary and, with the intention to have a more realistic approach, it has combined forces with iGEM´s Tec-Chihuahua to seek realistic, innovative perspectives for problem-solving.

Mission: The student group of TecChMun from Prepatec Campus Chihuahua, together with the support and collaboration of professors, iGEM´s Tec-Chihuahua and executives, focuses on the simulation of a United Nations model for students to roleplay delegates of different countries at UN committees while addressing current problems. The group seeks to promote problems solving techniques among participants through the simulations within the model that subsequently generate sensitivity and empathy for the daily problems they face in their life. At the same time, we intend to create global awareness in them.

Objective: To conclude in a realistic and efficient resolution of one of the presented conflicts in order to create awareness among participants making them agents of change.

Who is it for?: The people we seek to impact are mainly students in the third and fifth semesters of high school. However, as part of the 10th anniversary, we are looking to expand our impact. This year the event will be extended to junior high and professional students.

Estimated Outreach: The estimated outreach, considering that it was a national invitation within all the high school campus of our Institution, is expected to be for 400 students of the Tecnológico de Monterrey.

Why is it important to iGEM?: Tec-Chihuahua strongly believes that TecChMun is a key way to spread knowledge about biotechnology and synthetic biology among young students and professors. Furthermore, we are sure that by discussing as delegates from different countries, students are going to be able to acquire a general and more abroad perspective of the different necessities, demands, and problems that scientific society and the general un public suffer around the world.

Experiment Handbook:

According to UNESCO’s Integrated Science Education report, most educational programs in Latin America include the teaching of the specialized sciences (mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) in their upper and middle levels. However, most programs are not able to establish relations between these sciences, because each of them is perceived as an independent field isolated from the others. Nevertheless, this perception is wrong, for all sciences are integrated and interrelated. Hence the main observed issue is the educational trend of “packaging" the teaching of sciences.

With the reason to solve this problem from the root; elementary school. The following Experiment Handbook (aimed at students) has been designed. We wish to foster a pleasure for science at the basic levels. The manual includes 30 experiments divided into 3 blocks: 6-8 years (easy), 9-11 years (intermediate) and 12-13 years (expert). Each category is slightly more difficult than the previous one. Additionally, each experiment has been designed according to the required knowledge determined by SEP for each year of primary education.

The guide will consist of 30 experiments designed to motivate and involve students in a scientific environment while having fun.