iGEM 2011

Each year iGEM Headquarters holds the iGEM workshops in May and June. In the past these workshops have been held at MIT / Americas region, in Europe, and in Asia. iGEM HQ works with a school or a few schools to provide a venue for these workshops. At these events, instructors from iGEM HQ teach principles of synthetic biology based on standard parts, how to work with the tools, and how to be a successful iGEM team. The workshops are also the first opportunity to meet and get to know members from other iGEM teams.

Over the past several year the iGEM workshops have been increasing in the number of participants as well as in the number of days (much like the iGEM Jamborees). With one workshop event per region, team instructors had only one opportunity to attend. Holding the event over the weekend proved to be an advantage for some, a disadvantage for others. As iGEM grows, it needs more leadership in every part of the world. In addition to Regional Jamborees in 2011, the workshops are a way to encourage and promote organization and participation.

For iGEM 2011 iGEM HQ received one official proposal to hold a Teachers' Workshop (see above). HQ will hold the workshop there given the interest in hosting by the organizing group. All instructors from the Europe region teams are invited to attend the workshop in Spain. Instructors from other regions interested in attending the Europe workshop should contact iGEM HQ.