Building with Biology Kit

Engaging activities and professional development resources to create conversations about the emerging field of synthetic biology and societal implications.

Featured Activities

Browse all activities in this kit

Building with Biology: Bio Bistro

In this activity, learners decide what current and future synthetic biology-based food products they would, would not, or might eat.

Facilitators and learners building a VirEx delivery container with crafting supplies

Building with Biology: VirEx Delivery

In this activity, learners explore the potential for engineered viruses to deliver beneficial, targeted genetic information to sites throughout the body.

Facilitator and learners discuss their drawn super organism

Building with Biology: Super Organisms

In this activity focused on synthetic biology, learners use the engineering design process to design a single-celled organism to clean up an oil spill to learn more about synthetic biology.

Two learners place tokens on what technology card they value more

Building with Biology: Tech Tokens

In this activity, learners consider the potential advantages and disadvantages of various areas of synthetic biology research, before investing in them with "tech tokens."

learners and facilitator extract sample with pipette

Building with Biology: See DNA

In this activity focused on synthetic biology, learners extract visible DNA from wheat germ and create necklaces to display their own sample of wheat germ DNA.

Image of a Synthetic Biology handout with illustrations of how DNA can be edited

Building with Biology reference packet graphics

Building with Biology packet of printable reference sheets on the basics of synthetic biology and related fields of study.

Discusion Forums

Should We Engineer the Mosquito? Forum

Building with Biology public forum where participants discuss whether the mosquito should be genetically engineered.

Should We Edit the Genome? forum

Building with Biology public forum where participants discuss CRISPR technology used to precisely edit DNA, and if we should.

Editing Our Evolution: Rewriting the Human Genome Forum

Building with Biology public forum where participants discuss the future of human genome editing and its societal implications.

forums manual cover featuring a man with a microphone in an audience asking a question

Public Forums Manual

Training guide for planning and holding public forum events.

View Kit Contents List

Building with Biology Kit - Contents List

List of kit contents for Building with Biology kit of ngaging activities and professional development resources to create conversations about the emerging field of synthetic biology and societal implications.

Download the Digital Kit

Two children extracting visible DNA from wheat germ in Building with Biology kit

Building with Biology Digital Kit

Digital download of all public engagement and professional development files in the Building with Biology kit designed to engage public in synthetic biology.

Event Planning and Promotion Guide

family and educator using a biology activity with squeeze bottles

Building with Biology Event Planning and Marketing Guide

Detailed guide for planning and promoting your Building with Biology event providing an information on event preparation, volunteer recruitment and training, facilitating conversations.

Learn More About the Project

Building with Biology

The Building with Biology project created conversations in museums among scientists and public audiences about the emerging field of synthetic biology and societal implications. Synthetic biology uses new techniques combining biology and engineering to make new or modified living things and materials.

Evaluation Reports and Publications

Group of forum participants on cover of Building with Biology Public Engagement with Science guide

Public Engagement with Science: A guide to creating conversations among publics and scientists for mutual learning and societal decision-making

Professional development guide to help staff develop activities and implement multi-directional conversations with visitors at Building with Biology events.

Building with Biology Participant Impact Evaluation Report cove showing visitors using an activity

Building with Biology Summative Evaluation Reports (2018)

Summative Evaluation Report for Building with Biology project examining outcomes for: 1) public audiences and 2) scientists and informal science educators participating in the project.

Online Workshop Recording: Findings from Data Collection about Building with Biology Events

Online professional development workshop recording (2017).

Todd et al 2018 Fostering Conversations Journal of microbiology biology education Cover Page

Fostering Conversation about Synthetic Biology Between Publics and Scientists: A Comparison of Approaches and Outcomes Journal Article

Publication focused on two-way conversations and mutual learning between scientists and public audiences about synthetic biology in the Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education.

Additional Publications

Braha, J. (2015). Public engagement with science and informal science education. The Informal Learning Review, 135.

Palmer, M., Kuldell, N., & Sittenfeld, D. (2016). Building with Biology: Public engagement with synthetic biology. BioCoder, 10, 41-50.
https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/biocoder-10/9781492042501/ch07.html