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 Model
 Grassroots Science
 12 staff members, including academic doctors,
students, and other scientists
 Offers courses in biotechnology, intro to synth bio
 Projects in ecology, microbiology, forensics, synth bio
 Funding 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 Lab
 Funding
 Community Involvement
 Educated Personnel
 Community 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 Feasibility
 Commitment to:
 Researching regulations and protocols
 Interviewing and discussing with economic development
officers of townships and Indiana Cities
 Gathering 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 Feasibility
 Purdue Office of Entrepreneurship
 Genspace and collaborative partners (e.g. DIY biotech)
 Economic Development Offices of prospective sites
 Purdue/IU/ND synthetic biology/microbiology teams
(technical contacts)
Practical Limitations to a Community Lab
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Adequate Funding Sources (Corporate Sponsorship)
Target Audience
Too much Risk
Intellectual Property Rights
Sustainabiltity
BioMakers
Human Practices
The Project
- Focus on Educational Outreach
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o
o
Field Trips
Teacher Workshops
Open Space for High School iGEM Teams
-Collaboration with Children's Museum
Benefits of Focus on Educational
Outreach
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Long Term Funding:
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NSF Grants Available
Purdue Branding
Purdue Extension
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Curriculum with Education and Science Majors
Targeted Audience
Where We Are/The New Path
Develop 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
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How many kids decide to enter STEM Majors
How many kids come to Purdue
Test Scores
Teacher and Student Feedback
Traffic/Demand
Mobile
Lab
Static Lab
BioBuilder
 3-5 High School Students
 Campus Tours
 Wet Lab
 Personal Prospective
 Brainstroming