Development of A Working Protocol for
Establishing Community Labs in Indiana
Human Practices
http://documentaryheaven.com/playing-god/
What is a Community Lab
“we offer hands-on courses to the public, provide extracurricular experiences for students, and encourage scientific entrepreneurship, particularly in the fields of molecular and synthetic biology”
“The best way to inform the dialogue about 21st century science is to have the stakeholders understand it from a hands-on perspective “
-Genspace
The Manhattan Model
Grassroots Science
12 staff members, including academic doctors, students, and other scientists
Offers courses in biotechnology, intro to synth bio
Projects in ecology, microbiology, forensics, synth bio
Funding from donations, revenue from classes, lab rental
What are the Benefits of a Community Lab
Provides environment of academic innovation
Fosters education the sciences
Produce entrepreneurship and furthers the field of biotech
Increase Indiana’s role in Biotechnology
What are the Challenges of a Community Lab
Funding
Community Involvement
Educated Personnel
Community Regulations (e.g. bio-safety, etc.)
Limited Material Resource
How Can we Bring these Labs to Indiana?
The Project DeliverablesConcise and Understandable protocol for the
establishment of Community Biotech LabPresent data on the effects and challenges of
Community LabsCreate a feasibility report for three sites in Indiana
The wealthy, educated suburbs of Indianapolis showing the strongest growth in the state and having access to biotechnology resources are good starting points/models for site investigation/feasibility
Considerations of Feasibility
Commitment to:Researching regulations and protocols Interviewing and discussing with economic
development officers of townships and Indiana CitiesGathering and presenting data in novel fashion
Does it fit within the budget?Few actual expenses beyond transportation, office
supplies
Who are the Contacts we Need to Investigate Feasibility
Purdue Office of Entrepreneurship
Genspace and collaborative partners (e.g. DIY biotech)
Economic Development Offices of prospective sites
Purdue/IU/ND synthetic biology/microbiology teams (technical contacts)
Practical Limitations to a Community Lab
• Adequate Funding Sources (Corporate Sponsorship)
• Target Audience
• Too much Risk
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Sustainabiltity
BioMakersHuman Practices
The Project
- Focus on Educational Outreacho Field Tripso Teacher Workshopso Open Space for High School iGEM Teams
-Collaboration with Children's Museum
Benefits of Focus on Educational Outreach
• Long Term Funding:
• NSF Grants Available
• Purdue Branding
• Purdue Extension
• Curriculum with Education and Science Majors
• Targeted Audience
Where We Are/The New Path
Develop a feasibility report for a collaborative Purdue Education Extension Lab
- Look for Industrial/Educational Partners
- Discuss marketability with BioBuilder HighSchool workshop
- Interview Teachers and Students
Metrics
• How many kids decide to enter STEM Majors
• How many kids come to Purdue
• Test Scores
• Teacher and Student Feedback
• Traffic/Demand
BioBuilder
3-5 High School Students
Campus Tours
Wet Lab
Personal Prospective
Brainstroming