iGEM makes science cool for students

For nearly a decade, the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition has put the sharpest minds in high school and undergraduate institutions around the world into competitive and creative mode to find the next great mad scientist genius inventor. Students work during the summer in their own schools or (gulp) labs using biological parts to build systems that can operate on living cells.

Starting with 5 teams in 2004 and expanding to 160 team with over 2000 participants in 30 countries in 2011, the competition has yielded inventions that have included an arsenic biodetector, biosensor facilitators, and “BactoBlood“.

Below is a detailed look at the growth of the competition, followed by videos from past competitions. Click to enlarge.

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