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Forging Dreams through Scientific Research— The 11th-Grade iGEM Sharing

December 8, 2025

On December 4, 2025, the venue of the 11th-grade assembly was filled with an enthusiastic atmosphere. Alvin from Grade 11, acting as the captain of Team Crouton, the iGEM team of SHSID, delivered an inspiring scientific research sharing session to all students. He systematically presented the team’s arduous journey and fruitful achievements in the 2025 International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM).



The International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM) is a highly influential international event in the global field of synthetic biology, with the core mission of encouraging young students to engage in scientific research and innovation and solve practical problems with cutting-edge technologies. Over the past year, Team Crouton focused on the pressing environmental issue of hexavalent chromium pollution control and dedicated themselves fully to scientific research efforts. As a highly toxic environmental pollutant, hexavalent chromium poses a severe threat to the balance of ecosystems and human health. How to achieve its efficient and eco-friendly detoxification has long been a crucial challenge that the academic and industrial sectors are eager to overcome. Faced with this hurdle, Team Crouton took an innovative approach and proposed a groundbreaking microbial reduction solution, successfully converting highly toxic hexavalent chromium into trivalent chromium, which has extremely low toxicity and can be easily adsorbed and immobilized by the environment. This achievement provides a novel approach with both scientific validity and practical application value for hexavalent chromium pollution control.



Behind this successful research endeavor lies the full demonstration of the team’s outstanding interdisciplinary capabilities. Ranging from the directional modification and functional optimization of bacterial strains in synthetic biology, to the market research and potential analysis of project value from a business perspective, and further to the design, construction, and debugging of experimental devices in mechanical engineering, the members of Team Crouton broke down disciplinary barriers. They tackled numerous scientific challenges through cross-disciplinary collaboration, fully embodying the innovative spirit and pragmatic attitude of students in the new era.



As the lab captain of the team, Alvin’s sharing not only clearly outlined the entire process of the project from its initiation to participation in the competition, but also vividly interpreted the creativity and sense of responsibility cultivated by the students of our school through practical scientific research. He admitted that the journey of pursuing dreams in iGEM was fraught with challenges, yet it was precisely these experiences of overcoming difficulties that enabled team members to achieve academic progress and temper their willpower.


This sharing session resonated strongly with all students. It not only ignited their passion for scientific innovation but also inspired the present students to bravely step out of their comfort zones, actively participate in various practical projects, broaden their horizons and hone their abilities in the face of challenges.


(Written by 11(10) Jasmine Cao  Pictures by members of iGEM group   Supervised by Dongsheng Zhang    Reviewed by Qian Zuo)