iGEM Outaouais

Synthetic biology is a multidisciplinary field at the crossroads of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, engineering, and computer science. It aims to develop solutions to today’s challenges, by drawing inspiration from nature and the power of evolution.

The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation is a Non-Profit Organization dedicated to the advancement of synthetic biology.

The Grand Jamboree is an international synthetic biology competition organized by the iGEM Foundation. Every year, hundreds of teams from around the world come together to present their projects. In 2024, the Grand Jamboree will take place in November, most likely in Paris, and will bring together over 6,000 students.

This year, we are proud to bring together the very first iGEM team in the Outaouais region. Our objective is to provide the youth within our local community with the chance to actively contribute to the innovative efforts of the Outaouais region.

The team will be made up of students from a variety of backgrounds (science, social sciences, art, multimedia, etc.) enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary educational institution in the Outaouais. They will present their project at the 2024 iGEM Grand Jamboree. The institutions taking part in the project are currently the Centre de services scolaires des Portages-de-l’Outaouais (CSSPO), Cégep de l’Outaouais (CO), Cégep Heritage College (CHC) and the Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO).

If your school is not one of these partners, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!

The group will be accompanied by Stéphanie Pontier, PhD, professor of chemistry at the CO and Systems Biology Researcher at the Santé Environnementale et Biodiversité de l’Outaouais Research center. With 20 years of experience, Dr. Pontier will guide the team in its research, in collaboration with several of her teaching and/or research colleagues from the CSSPO, CO, CHC, UQO, as well as researchers from Université de Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke and University of Ottawa.

The team will develop an innovative project in the fields of the environment, medicine or space exploration, in response to a major current society challenge. Team members will defend their project at the iGEM Grand Jamboree, most likely in Paris, in November 2024, bringing together over 6,000 students from around the world.

The iGEM team operates much like a start-up. In addition to the laboratory development work carried out by some team members, others will be responsible for communications, website development and management, marketing and team finances. They will also be responsible for developing partnerships and fundraising. Hence, it takes ambitious, motivated, passionate people with a wide range of skills.

Any student enrolled in a high school, college, or university within the Outaouais region, regardless of their field of study or academic background, is welcome to become a part of the iGEM Outaouais team.

The first step is to attend an information meeting at Cégep de l’Outaouais. The project will be presented in detail, and interested parties will be able to confirm their membership of the team. Come one, come all!

To join our team, mark your calendar for September 20 and 27, 2023, and attend one of our information meetings at Cégep de l’Outaouais. During these sessions, the project will be presented in detail. If you are interested, you will be able to confirm your membership. Everyone is welcome!

To sponsor the iGEM Outaouais team, or to join the team of mentors, please contact Stéphanie Pontier, iGEM Outaouais team Coordinator and principal investigator.