International genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) is the largest international competition in synthetic biology. Students are given the opportunity to come up with innovative, SynBio based solutions to current problems and present these at the giant jamboree in Boston. Unfortunately, this year is different due to COVID-19. This year’s iGEM competition will not be held in person, rather, online. Considering the gravity of the pandemic, many teams around the world have not had access to lab facilities. This has lead the iGEM requirements and judging criteria to change, with a focus on dry-lab components as well as Human Practices and Education, to give all teams a fair chance to compete.
For us, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have lead us to work from home since March. Yet as the current pandemic continues, so does our iGEM experience. Having chosen our project in the beginning of March, we have put all our effort into giving our iGEM year the best shape possible.