iGEM stands for “Internationally Genetically Engineered Machine,” a competition where teams from schools and universities around the world compete to design and then create projects utilising cutting-edge technology to change the DNA in living things from bacteria to dandelions.
Project KN2OCKOUT, this year’s CLS team, focused on designing a system to break down nitrous oxide – a potent greenhouse gas which often flies under the radar. It’s used as an anaesthetic in hospitals across the UK, and forms a significant part of all NHS greenhouse gas emissions, whilst also harming staff health.
After hundreds of hours in meetings, thousands of pages of work, and four days at the Paris Expo, their hard work was rewarded with a gold medal, and a prestigious nomination for the Best Model award.
CLS has been competing since 2017, and are still the only high school team in the UK to compete, this year against 22 other teams across the Americas and Europe including University students.
Take a look at the CLS and CLSG team’s Wiki page here, to find out all about their project.
