RIGHT OR RISK? WORLD'S FIRST PUBLIC BIOBRICK

Grant Museum of Zoology, London, UK

Risk or Right? - the Worlds first Public BioBrick: Exploring Public Access to the Tools of Synthetic Biology. As part of UCL iGEM’s advisory team, C-LAB helped orchestrate the event at the Grants Museum of Zoology providing a rich fusion of components to disseminate what happens when we invite biohackers to the field of synthetic biology.  
worlds first public biobrick
worlds first public biobrick
Philipp Boeing (UCL iGEM) welcoming and introducing the evening with Howard Boland (C-LAB) and the London Hackspace.  

introduction
introduction
The smashing cocktails by mixologist Haralambos Dayantis with James Rutley (UCL iGEM)A molecular cocktail bar had been set up with stacks of polystyrene boxes filled with dry ice as a makeshift freezer serving spectacular and delicously strong drinks such as 'The Ginger Gene', 'Craig Venter’s Cherry Vodka' and 'DNA In Vitro' in super chilled sample tubes. 

molecular cocktails
molecular cocktails
The brilliant sitarist, Jonathan Mayer.

Seated amongst a collage of displays, our sitar player (Jonathan Mayer) filled the room with an esoteric eastern atmosphere. 
sitarist
sitarist
Howard Boland (C-LAB) explaining what was happening as the DNA fragments start splitting. 

howard boland
howard boland

The custom made box hosting the 'Public BioBrick'. 

At the centre, a real-time gel visualisation box presented us with the first ‘Public BioBrick’ - an anti-freeze gene (as it emerged) produced by the biohackers (London Hackspace) with the help and training of UCL iGEM 2012.
world first public biobrick exhibit
world first public biobrick exhibit

Wrapping up the event - a debate on the topic of public access led by UCL iGEM coordinator Philipp Boeing with the biohackers and iGEMers teaching them.
q&a with biohackers and UCL iGEM
q&a with biohackers and UCL iGEM

The event follows on from the critical and engaging speed debate aimed at tackling ethics of releasing GMO into the oceans as part of this year’s iGEM project Plastic Republic. The 2012 UCL iGEM architectural bioremediating project aims to bind microplastic in the Pacific Ocean to build new land or floating islands (i.e. Plastic Republic) by making use of about 100 million tons submerged micro-plastic pollutants (known as "the Great Pacific Garbage Patch").

Photos of the 'Right or Risk' evening can be seen on UCL iGEM's facebook page or UCL iGEM's website.

UCL iGEM's video with background to DIYbio collaboration - "Public BioBrick" 
Q & A
Q & A
Philipp Boeing, UCL 2012 iGEM Coordinator
Philipp Boeing, UCL 2012 iGEM Coordinator
Howard with Ian and Fernado
Howard with Ian and Fernado
A Beaver head, one of the many curious displays surrounding the event
A Beaver head, one of the many curious displays surrounding the event
Magic molecular cocktails (Crystina, Margherita and Paul)
Magic molecular cocktails (Crystina, Margherita and Paul)
Visualising the gel
Visualising the gel
Biohacking incubator / shaker
Biohacking incubator / shaker
Howard (C-LAB) talking about the biohacking anti-freeze gene
Howard (C-LAB) talking about the biohacking anti-freeze gene
Customised box with Darkreader, Gel and DNA
Customised box with Darkreader, Gel and DNA
The Sitar Player (Jonathan Mayers)
The Sitar Player (Jonathan Mayers)
Exploring the Public BioBrick
Exploring the Public BioBrick
Howard (C-LAB) setting up
Howard (C-LAB) setting up
Howard (C-LAB) explaining the process
Howard (C-LAB) explaining the process
Customised box with Darkreader, Gel and DNA
Customised box with Darkreader, Gel and DNA
Right or Risk? Debate with Biohackers
Right or Risk? Debate with Biohackers