Support the East Coast Biocrew's Trip to Paris!

The East Coast Biocrew iGEM team represents middle and high school students from 4 states -- Maryland, New Jersey, New York & Virginia --who are all passionate about using synthetic biology to create a better world. iGEM stands for International Genetically Engineered Machine, and it's a competition that brings high school, college, and graduate teams together to showcase our talents and present projects that will hopefully change the world. We as the East Coast Biocrew believe that by combining human intelligence with the ingenuity of nature, we can create the future we want not just for ourselves, but for generations to come.

Our project this year is to genetically modify a form of the soil bacteria Rhizobium called Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899. We will attempt to increase mineral phosphate by over-expressing a transporter pathway and solubilizing mineral phosphate with gluconic acid. We hope to increase Rhizobium's production of gluconic acid by modifying its genes. By doing these two things, we hope to reduce the harmful effects of excess phosphate on our soil, water, and wildlife. Our team is directly impacted by pollution in our waterways, especially the Hudson River in New York and the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia, which is why this project means so much to us.

We started working on this project back in March, and we're really proud of the work we've done and continue to do as we prepare to present at iGEM's Grand Jamboree in Paris, France. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to showcase our work, learn from other teams, and network with experts in the field. Having the chance to go would be a dream come true for us.

But we need your help to make it happen. The cost of travel, accommodation, and registration is too high for us to afford on our own. That's why we are asking for your support to fund our trip to the Grand Jamboree in Paris. Although the Jamboree is in November, we need fundraising now so that we can book our flights to Paris along with lodging while we're there at the conference. Your donation today will support young scientists of all backgrounds and will allow us to make a real difference in the world and in our direct communities.

Please consider donating any amount you can to help us reach our goal. Every dollar counts on this journey. You can also help the team immensely by sharing this page with your family and friends or following us on our social media pages linked below. Your contribution is critical as we prepare for this trip.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support and generosity. You are helping us make our dream come true as we strive to make the world a better place.

-The East Coast Biocrew

Find us on Instagram @eastcoastbiocrew_igem

https://www.instagram.com/eastcoastbiocrew_igem

Or visit our Twitter @ECBiocrew

https://twitter.com/ECBiocrew