Welcome to BioJam
A BioEngineering/BioMaterial Teen Camp
​BioJam 2020 summer camp July 13th- July 24th, 2020. 
Physical kits were sent out to campers and explorations were supported with online meetings. 

If you would like to support our program, we have a gofundme campaign.

What?

BioJam 2020 is a two week program. Physical kits will be sent out to campers and explorations will supported with online meetings. Grown biomaterials, biomaterial recipes, circuitry components and live mycelium will be included in these kits. 

2019 was a four day pilot program specifically designed for teen girls that introduced them to principles of bioengineering and biomaterial design, with a focus on how might we incorporate cultural context and design accessible projects for community engagement. The days were divided into halves, with the first half of the day focused on hands-on bioengineering science and the second half of the day focused on hands-on biomaterial design explorations.

Explored bio materials included mycelium (with a range of waste stream substrates), bacterial cellulose and bioplastics. Day four was devoted to student brainstorming on accessible community bioengineering/biomaterial activities. Teens focused on imagining community workshops that spark conversations with broader audiences about synthetic biology, biomaterials and circular design.
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Why?

  • Engage teens in explorative biodesign as a platform for them to share and connect to broader communities in biodesign conversations.
  • Create a model for university/high school mentorship that results in further collaborations with education departments of science museums.
  • Create a framework for how science can be shared with under resourced communities using a framing that is mindful of equity, access and anchoring to culture.
  • Put into action the goals and ideas generated at the Learn.Design.Compute symposium
  • Seed potential Biodesign Challenge teams.​
BioJam 2020 is a program of Xinampa.

MISSION

to engage teens through their own creativity and culture in bioengineering and biomaterial design as pathways for them to share their learning in their home communities.​

VISION

to nurture teen knowledge, confidence, and curiosity as they grow into science practitioners and educators, to provide a research and training opportunity for scientists, and to create accessible entry points for community engagement in biotech conversation.