BANGALORE: The arts-science team from Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore has for the second time won the best human practice award at the International Genetically Engineered Machines (IGEM) competition at MIT, Boston. The school had earlier registered an international regional win in Hong Kong.
At IGEM, undergraduate teams from across the world compete to build innovative genetic devices in living cells, applying synthetic biology to solve problems in areas such as environment, energy, health and foundational research. India was represented by teams from Bangalore, Chennai and Vellore. Over 46 teams from the Asia-Pacific region participated in the Asian regional competition organized at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong. Eighteen teams, including IIT Madras and the team from Srishti, advanced to the World Championship held at MIT between November 5 and 7.
The team from Srishti looked at the environmental consequences of genetic engineering and also the ways in which local communities can engage in the practice of science. A team of 12 art and design students -- Sohil Bhatia, Pranav C Raman, Sidharta Guha Thakurta, Biswajith Manimaran, Damyanti Choudhary, Prakrithy Pradeep, Madhul Singh, Achala Athreya, Akshaya Maria Thomas, Manasa Thimmiya, Anvita Alok Goenka and Aaron Joseph -- worked with scientists from National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) through the summer of 2011. They worked at the NCBS labs and also built their own community lab which will enable citizens to engage with life sciences.