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 ModelGrassroots Science12 staff members, including academic doctors,

students, and other scientistsOffers courses in biotechnology, intro to synth bioProjects in ecology, microbiology, forensics, synth

bioFunding 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 LabFundingCommunity InvolvementEducated PersonnelCommunity Regulations (e.g. bio-safety, etc.)Limited Material Resource

How Can we Bring these Labs to Indiana?The Project Deliverables

Concise and Understandable protocol for the establishment of Community Biotech Lab

Present data on the effects and challenges of Community Labs

Create 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 FeasibilityCommitment 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 FeasibilityPurdue Office of EntrepreneurshipGenspace and collaborative partners (e.g. DIY

biotech)Economic Development Offices of prospective

sitesPurdue/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 Outreach

o 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 PathDevelop 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 StudentsCampus ToursWet LabPersonal ProspectiveBrainstroming