Building with Biology

The Building with Biology kit is designed to help museum and scientist partners engage public audiences in conversations and hands-on activities about the field of synthetic biology and the ways this emerging technology is interconnected with society.

Published in the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, Fostering Conversation about Synthetic Biology Between Publics and Scientists: A Comparison of Approaches and Outcomes is an article that highlights Building with Biology project outcomes. Abstract: Public engagement with science (PES)...

The Multi-Site Public Engagement with Science - Synthetic Biology (MSPES) project, publicly referred to as Building with Biology, was a three year project funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that promoted public engagement with science (PES) - a model...

This set of recommended videos created from different sources may be helpful to use for training videos and to provide visitors introductions to synthetic biology, gene editing, and CRISPR.

As gene editing techniques become more refined, the possibility of editing the human genome is moving from science fiction to reality. In this forum, participants have a chance to discuss the future of human genome editing and important concerns for...

This guide is designed to help staff at informal science education organizations and others who are interested to develop, implement, and evaluate activities and events that incorporate the multi-directional dialogue and mutual learning at the heart of public engagement with...

In 2016, 200 Building with Biology kits were distributed to museums and informal science education organizations around the country. Kit recipients hosted events with hands-on activities and forum programs that fostered public engagement with science about synthetic biology. This online...

This online worksohp will prepare participants to collect evaluation data from participants of the Building with Biology forums call Should We Engineer the Mosquito? and Editing the Genome: Now We Can. Should We? All sites receiving a forum stipend must...

On your mark, get set, explore your new Building with Biology 2016 kit! Join us as we walk you through your new public engagement kit filled with hands-on activities, a public forum, and educational and professional development resources about synthetic...

Hear about the resources the Building with Biology evaluation team has created to understand what public visitors at 2016 Building with Biology events learn from their experiences and value about their participation. This webinar is required for sites that have...

This online workshop covers what a forum is and how hosting a forum might benefit your Building with Biology event and institution - it's a great way to engage adult audiences! We'll discuss each of the two forum topics that...

To help support Summer 2016 Building with Biology event host sites, we're offering several upcoming professional development opportunities for host site staff, volunteers, and scientists. Online workshops will provide an overview on public forums, the contents in the Building with...

New tools—like "CRISPR"—are making it possible to edit DNA with great precision. Soon, we will be able to accurately alter targeted sections of the genome of other animals and plants, as well as our own DNA. But should we? In...

Welcome to the Building with Biology project! The evaluation letter contained here explains both the required and optional reporting of your Building with Biology event, and includes links to further online resources and contact information for any questions you might...

These materials will help prepare you, your staff, and your event volunteers for a successful and engaging Building with Biology event. Included are the event orientation presentation (with notes) and the tips for conversations reference sheet.

This page contains all the logos and specifications for making your own Building with Biology event and marketing materials. Each logo comes in jpg, png, and AI file formats.

Here is a selection of NISE Net Building with Biology press photos! Please use these images for marketing Building with Biology events, and in creating other related materials. These photos are free for use under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0...

These files contain digital copies of a wide variety of promotional materials for your Building with Biology event. They include multiple formats of ready-to-print and customizable ads, posters, and banners. Collections of sample press photos and Building with Biology logos...

This is a collection of colorful, printable reference sheets on the basics of synthetic biology and related fields of study. Using illustrations and simple language, the sheets describe the essentials of genes and DNA, traditional agricultural breeding, genetic engineering, and...

These stickers can be used at your Building with Biology event to help visitors identify scientist volunteers. Each sticker says "I'm a scientist," and invites visitors to ask the wearer how they are building with biology. (Spanish versions also available.)

These "passports" can be used at your Building with Biology event to help visitors keep track of everything they've done there—they can collect stamps to mark when they've talked to a scientist, asked a question about synthetic biology, shared an...

This is a detailed guide for planning and promoting your Building with Biology event. The guide covers each step of preparing for your event, recruiting and training volunteers and scientist partners, facilitating conversations during the event, and evaluating the event...

This welcome letter will introduce you to the Building with Biology kit, walking you through the contents of the physical and digital kits, as well as the basics of museum-scientist collaborations and the reporting/evaluation requirements for recipients of physical kits....

This is a set of printable materials for your Building with Biology events. These materials invite visitors to imagine all the ways that new technologies and techniques of synthetic biology could affect their lives, now and in the future. Visitors...

These colorful, printable posters introduce visitors to the principles of synthetic biology. One shows synthetic biologists at work, and the other features the student teams at the 2014 International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) synthetic biology competition.