Baltimore Underground Science Space

IGEM: BUGSS mentored its ninth consecutive team competing in the International Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition. Our East Coast BioCrew team consisted of 29 high school students and 6 mentors, who met at BUGSS throughout the spring and summer to work on a project with significant environmental and cultural importance. The team's goal was to engineer Lactococcus bacteria to produce the main flavor-and-smell compounds in chocolate, thereby reducing the environmental degradation brought about by the modern chocolate-production industry and reducing the use of exploitative and child labor. Students consulted with experts in genetic engineering and chocolate production and used this information to refine their project. Additionally, they consulted the community to determine the interest and willingness to buy their ultimate product, and educated children and adults about synthetic biology and chocolate through a series of courses and seminars at the BUGSS lab. The team attended the 2024 iGEM Jamboree in Paris, France, where their work was awarded a bronze medal by a panel of expert judges.

YOUTH COURSES AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS: BUGSS engaged in a large and diverse number of classes, camps and workshops for students from kindergarten through high school. We served 115 students in 11 classes held at the BUGSS lab on topics including climate change, the human brain, genetic engineering, food science and chemistry. In addition, we hosted 12 events for homeschooled students and our nonprofit partners STEMcx and Latino Educational Advancement Fund. We further hosted a 4-week camp for elementary-age students, who were enrolled in the STEMcx program. Finally, we expanded our internship programs to include weeks-long programs for high school students, who were part of Merit Health Leadership Academy and Building STEPS, and two semester-long internship programs for college students, from schools across the Baltimore region.