On the evening of October 31, Paris time, the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM) concluded at the Paris Convention Centre. Two teams from GDIC claimed gold, standing out among 421 entries worldwide.
The SCAU-China team, with their project “Surfing TentaRobot,” is composed of students from the programme of 2023 Bioscience (Sino-foreign Cooperative Education): Wu Haojun (team leader), Zhang Yanbing (deputy team leader), Zhang Yaqi, Chen Fangxi, Gong Yuxuan, and Zhou Haoren. The SCAU-Guangzhou team, featuring Chen Yanyan from the programme of 2024 Horticulture (Sino-foreign Cooperative Education), won with their project “High-folate Soybean.”
SCAU-China and SCAU-Guangzhou have been awarded 2025 global gold medals launched by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2003. iGEM has become a premier international event in the cutting-edge interdisciplinary field of synthetic biology. It serves as a platform for young scientists worldwide to engage in academic exchange and technological innovation. Participating teams are tasked with designing and reconstructing artificial biological components and systems to address real-world problems, with their solutions validated through mathematical modeling and human practices. Each year, the competition and its outcomes receive widespread attention, featuring reports in leading academic journals such as Science and Nature, as well as major media outlets like the BBC. This year’s competition attracted 421 participating institutions, including top universities such as the University of Cambridge, Cornell University, Yale University, Tsinghua University, and Peking University.
Group photo of participating team members
Guided by professors and instructors from the College of Life Sciences—Zhang Wenbin, Hu Zhe, Wen Jikai, Wang Yingxiang, Liu Yalin, and You Chenjiang—the two teams of seven students worked through every stage of the competition, from project selection and experiments, to building their Wiki pages and final presentations. With clearly defined roles and close collaboration, they achieved a result they could be proud of.
In post-competition interviews, the seven students expressed their gratitude to their advisors for the continuous guidance and encouragement throughout the preparation. They also shared that participating in this professional contest not only strengthened their research skills but also reinforced their belief in applying what they learn in the classroom to real-world challenges in basic science and society, starting with what’s around them and working to make a difference.
Cover of SCAU-China project
Link:https://2025.igem.wiki/scau-china/
Cover of SCAU-Guangzhou project
Link:https://2025.igem.wiki/scau-guangzhou/
In recent years, the college has actively encouraged students to participate in various academic competitions, research projects, and innovation initiatives. This year alone, the students have won a series of notable awards, including the First Prize in the SAS China Data Analytics Championship, the Outstanding Winner title in the Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM), and the Second Prize in the National Undergraduate Life Science Competition (Scientific Inquiry Category). Moving forward, the college will continue to prioritize talent development by refining its international education system and enhancing the overall quality of student cultivation. It aims to support more students in reaching new heights in their academic pursuits and achieving further success.
