Jamboree

Recently updated:
The 2009 Jamboree is currently being planned, so please check back regularly for more information!

Pre-Jamboree

Jamboree Registration

Registration for the iGEM 2009 Jamboree is due on September 18th. A Jamboree attendance fee of $175.00 USD is required for each undergraduate or high school student and $375.00 USD for all instructors, grad students, advisors, and other attendees. Registration after September 18th will increase $50.00 and all payments must be received by October 2, 2009. Head to the attendance fee page to find out more details on how to register.

Project Abstract

In order to provide others with a summary of what your project is about, we will be asking each iGEM team to submit an abstract of 100-150 words by September 18th. Your abstract will be used in the Jamboree program that will provide a guide to the different topics that iGEM teams will be presenting. Please see the project abstract page for more details.

Team Roster

In order to get a final list of team members, each team must finalize their team roster by September 18th. For your roster to be finalized, each team member must have a user account and be listed on the Team Information page. Note that all members must be confirmed and NOT listed as "pending" (i.e. they should be in the Team Roster section of the Team Information page. See this example. Be sure to include all members who participated over the summer, not only those who will be attending the Jamboree, as this list will be used to create participation certificates (so check for spelling mistakes too!).

For more information on how to add members/edit your Team Information page see the iGEM team Registration Handbook.

Requests for Variance

One of the requirements for iGEM is that teams are required to provide their parts to the Registry as standard biological parts in standard BioBrick plasmids. If a team wishes to use a different plasmid or different assembly method, they must document the new standard, explain their decision, and receive approval from iGEM Headquarters before September 18th. Parts in standards that are not approved by the judging committee will be judged as if no parts were submitted. See the Judging page for more details and examples. Please send your requests to judging AT igem DOT org.

Tracks

Track selection helps group similar projects together so that they may be judged fairly, share presentation time, and poster location. It is important that you submit your track selection on time, by September 18th. You can find a list of the tracks on the tracks selection page and see judging criteria for each track. Email your top 3 track selections, in order of preference, to hq AT igem DOT org.

Visa Letters

In iGEM 2008 there were several teams that were not able to attend the Jamboree due to visa problems. In order to avoid a similar problem this year, we asked that all teams apply for visas by June 1 at the latest. If you need to apply for a visa to come to the Jamboree, you can use our online form and print out an official invitation letter.

iGEM Headquarters does not have any authority over consulate offices or the visa application process. The only way to have the highest chance of obtaining a visa is to apply early. If you do not yet know who will be attending the Jamboree in November, err on the side of caution and have all members apply for a visa.

Documentation

Project: According to the iGEM requirements, each iGEM team's project should be documented on the iGEM 2009 wiki site with detail enough to replicate it independently. Additional presentational information about the team - their story, the rationale for the project, failures, successes, future work, etc. - is highly encouraged. Remember that these wiki pages will be the main source of inspiration for future teams, and having good documentation on them and in the part description in the registry increases the likelihood of more teams building on your project and your parts. What is considered proper documentation is decided by the judging committee and you can find details about proper documentation at the Judging page.

Parts: iGEM requirements also state that all teams must properly document their parts on the [http://partsregistry.org Registry]. The judging committee also decides what is considered proper part documentation. See the Judging page for details. Remember, the success of not just iGEM, but all of synthetic biology, depends on the development of well-characterized, reliable, standardized biological parts that have been designed to be simple to use and understand.

DNA Submissions

iGEM teams are expected to submit their parts to the [http://partsregistry.org Registry of Standard Biological Parts]. In addition to submitting your parts, you must also declare which of you parts are you "favorites." Judges will only be looking at favorite parts so make sure to promote them before the October 21st deadline.

See the DNA submission requirements for more information about the DNA submission process.

Poster Requirements

There will be two poster sessions at the iGEM 2009 Jamboree. Each team will be assigned to ONE of the two poster sessions. Locations will be assigned prior to your arrival at the Jamboree. You will be required to put up your poster by 9am on the day of your session. Posters shall be NO LARGER than 48 inches by 48 inches (1.22m x 1.22m).

For details on poster judging see the judging page. Keep in mind that the poster must be able to convey your team's project fully. It should be able to be judged without any external information or input from team members.

iGEM HQ will be asking for a copy of your poster in pdf format for our files. You will be required to provide the pdf version of your poster at the time of your presentation.

Presentation Requirements

Each registered iGEM team is to make a 20-minute presentation, followed by 5 minutes of questions/answer session. A laptop will NOT be provided to your team -- please make sure you bring your own laptop from which to display your presentation as well as any necessary accessories to connect the laptop to a projector cable.

iGEM HQ will also be asking for a copy of your presentation in pdf format for our files. You will be required to provide the pdf version of your presentation on Saturday, the day of Jamboree presentations. Please check back for more details on how to submit your presentation.

Software Tools Track

More details will be provided for the software tools track as the iGEM season progresses.

Experimental Track

The non-competition teams will be given the opportunity to present their work in a exposition part of the Jamboree. Teams will give 5-minute presentations, have poster space to present their posters, and compete for a special track specific award (they will not be eligible for the same awards as the traditional iGEM teams). Details about this track can be found on the Experimental track page.

Photo Release Form

Some of the products of the previous iGEM Jamborees are the iGEM from Above photographs. The use of these photographs, and all others from the Jamboree, was made possible due to the existence of a filled-out photo release form from every person attending the Jamboree. We must do the same for this year's Jamboree. In order to comply with the law, every person attending the Jamboree must fill out a photo release form. All participants attending the Jamboree must print, fill out, and bring a photo release form with you to the Jamboree.

Hotels

iGEM does not provide travel or housing for any iGEM members. Participants are required to make their own travel and lodging arrangements. However, we have arranged for iGEM room blocks with special pricing at nearby hotels. All iGEM Block rooms are available on a first-come, first-serve basis so it is recommended that you make your reservations early.

Guests

Guests, family, and friends are welcome to come to the Jamboree. Each must register and pay the Jamboree attendance fee. There will be registration on site for last minute attendees but note that there is a $50 fee increase after September 18.

As space is limited in presentation rooms and at the awards ceremony, preference will be given to iGEM team members. Extra seating will be available on a space available basis. Payment of the Jamboree attendance fee does not guarantee a seat in presentation rooms or at the awards ceremony.

Volunteer

There will be many opportunities to volunteer at the Jamboree. We would especially like to encourage past iGEM participants (iGEM alums) to volunteer to help during the Jamboree. Head to the Volunteer page to find out more information.

During the Jamboree

The 2009 Jamboree is still in its planning stages, so please check back regularly for more information!

Schedule

The detailed schedule for the iGEM 2009 Jamboree has not been finalized yet. You can take a look at the 2008 Jamboree schedule for a general idea of how the Jamboree will run.

A tentative general schedule is as follows:

Judging

For more details on judging protocols see the Judging and Judging Criteria pages.

Awards

For more details on awards see the Judging Criteria and Awards pages.

Team T-Shirts

We highly encourage all iGEM teams to design their own team t-shirts. When the iGEM from Above photo is taken, it is great to see all of the teams clumped together in groups by the color of their t-shirts.

iGEM Gear

We will once again be selling iGEM sweatshirts and iGEM patches at the Jamboree this year. If you are interested in ordering one, make sure to stop by the iGEM Store. We will be offering them at a new price of $30 for sweatshirts and $5 for patches.

Post-Jamboree

iGEM 2009 Results

iGEM 2009 results will be announced at the Jamboree awards ceremony on Monday November 2nd. Please check back for results then.

iGEM 2009 press & pictures

If you have any online articles about your team or iGEM that you would like to share, please post them on the Publicity page.

If you have pictures that you would like to share with us, post a link to them on the our Media page.

iGEM 2009: press kit

For the iGEM boilerplate, high-resolution logos, and more material for the press, please see the press kit page.

iGEM 2010

We will be posting information about iGEM 2010 soon after the Jamboree so make sure you check back if you are interested in participating!