BIOMODÊInternationalÊNanoscaleÊDesignÊCompetitionÊ2018
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This project is for partial support of conference travel and meal expenses for participants in the BIOMOD competition in San Francisco, California from October 27Ð28, 2018. BIOMOD is an international molecular design competition that provides opportunities for undergraduate students to understand, design, and construct nanoscale machines from biomolecules for scientific and technological purposes. Over 1700 students, mentors, and judges have participated in the BIOMOD competition since 2011. The competition was founded by Shawn Douglas at Harvard University by the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, which conducted the competition during the years 2011 to 2015. In 2016, the BIOMOD Foundation, a 501(c)(3) California non-profit public benefit corporation assumed management of the competition. APPROACHES: Each year, university students form teams to conceive and perform original research under the direct supervision of a faculty mentor, and optionally additional graduate student or postdoc mentors. Topic areas typically include DNA nanotechnology, DNA computing, molecular self-assembly, protein engineering, cellular engineering, and synthetic biology. Students gain hands-on laboratory research experience during the summer months and subsequently create three project deliverables for evaluation by judges: a technical summary of their project in the form of a Project Website, a non-technical summary in the form of a 3-minute YouTube video, and a 10-minute live presentation. Presentations are performed at the Jamboree, followed by questions from the audience. Expert judges evaluate the project deliverables according to criteria that emphasize rigorous scientific study and strong communication skills. Jamboree concludes with an awards ceremony to recognize the top-performing teams. Breakfast and lunch are provided to all participants on both days of the conference, including a box lunch at the end of the conference with additional free time for interaction between teams and mentors. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES: The BIOMOD competition is focused on an emerging engineering discipline of nanoscience and bio-nanotechnology. The mission of the competition is to inspire a generation of students to learn to engineer biomolecules at the nanometer scale. Students engage in research projects ranging from low-level technology development to applied projects such as therapeutic drug delivery. As the fundamental capabilities and applications in the biomolecular nanotechnology expand, the relationship of BIOMOD may expand into other research areas such as Nano- and Bio- Electronics and Engineering Sciences. BIOMOD is well aligned with the Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) by providing an organizational framework for students to gain hands-on research experience. Student participation in BIOMOD is complementary to other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and offers unique elements that may not be available in traditional science laboratory coursework or even independent study in research labs. Students are required to conceive original research projects, perform their own laboratory experiments, and present their findings. Students must learn to work on teams because the project deliverables are too substantial for individuals to complete all of the requirements within the time constraints. Students must take intellectual ownership of their projects in ways that are similar to practicing scientists. IMPACT ON DoD CAPABILITIES: Nanoscience and bionanotechnology has tremendous potential to enable new technologies technologies such as high-performance materials, environmental sensors, and advanced medical treatments such as wound headling and tissue regeneration. Hands-on STEM research experience in this burgeoning field will accelerate and improve our capability to perform the research needed to realize these goals.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Feb 25, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1810393
Entities
People
- Shawn M Douglas
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army