By Moiya Sullivan
Beijing, July 5, 2026 — The North China iGEM Meetup (NCIM) 2026 officially launched today at the Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT). As a flagship regional exchange platform under the Biosyn Bridge system, NCIM 2026 is dedicated to building a vibrant synthetic biology community, connecting regional resources with global networks.
A cornerstone of this year’s event is the strategic partnership between the Biosyn Bridge global education project and the Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology (ARCST). Together, they are working to bridge the educational divide, focusing on establishing practical education cooperation networks between China and overseas regions, particularly Latin America. This collaboration was highlighted during the morning session of NCIM 2026 with an online keynote presentation by Prof. Dr. Marco A. Cabero Z., representing ARCST. His talk, titled “Science Culture Construction: Building the Foundations for Sustainable Development,” showcased how cross-regional collaborations, such as the localization of educational activities, are vital for democratizing science education.
Bridging Continents: The ARCST and Biosyn Bridge Partnership
Biosyn Bridge operates on the core principles of “globalization, equality, and open resources.” By collaborating closely with ARCST, the project leverages ARCST’s extensive local cooperation networks. The ARCST and Biosyn Bridge partnership has been instrumental in translating advanced synthetic biology concepts into accessible, inspiring content for youth across the Global South. This work directly supports the Science Culture Construction paradigm, a framework that embeds scientific culture as a foundational pillar of sustainable development by integrating science, education, and civic engagement.
The Crucial Role of Youth Leadership: Linwei Yu and Rodrigo Ventura
Driving this ambitious global agenda is dedicated youth leadership. A central figure in this endeavor is Linwei Yu, who serves as the President of the Biosyn Bridge Education Project and the iGEM Ambassador for Asia and Oceania. Furthermore, he holds the critical role of Andean Road Countries for Science and Technology Synthetic Biology Youth Ambassador – Biopochito AI Initiative.
Linwei Yu’s leadership is instrumental in making this global educational bridge possible. He oversees the organic integration of educational content development, local activity implementation, and cross-regional collaboration. Through his efforts, advanced synthetic biology concepts, like those championed by the Biopochito AI Initiative—are translated into accessible, inspiring content for youth across the Global South. His work perfectly embodies the core goal of Biosyn Bridge: to promote synthetic biology education and cultivate young scientific and technological talents.
Rodrigo Ventura, an undergraduate student from El Salvador studying at BUCT, has also played a pivotal role in this collaboration. A member of the Liasson office of ARCST in El Salvador and a participant in the iGEM competition in France, Ventura brings invaluable experience from the frontlines of synthetic biology research. In 2024 and 2025, he was part of the BUCT team that won for two consecutive years the prestigious Gold Medal at the iGEM competition in Paris. His project, “Broccoli Master,” focused on synthesizing the anti-cancer molecule sulforaphane in E. coli, offering a more accessible chemotherapy alternative.
Beyond his research achievements, Ventura has been a dedicated science communicator, delivering talks and workshops to students in El Salvador, including at the Universidad Gerardo Barrios and the Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado, bridging the gap between Chinese and Salvadoran scientific communities. His commitment to sharing knowledge and inspiring the next generation of scientists reflects the core mission of ARCST and Biosyn Bridge.
Proposed Role within JLASC
To further amplify this impact and align ARCST responsibilities with academic publishing, the Journal of Latin American Sciences and Culture (JLASC) has proposed the appointment of Linwei Yu as the “Global Outreach Editor for Science Culture & Synthetic Biology,” and Rodrigo Ventura as the Associate Editor for Science Culture & Synthetic Biology.
In this proposed role, Linwei and Rodrigo will bridge the gap between rigorous scientific research published in JLASC and the educational materials developed for global outreach through Biopochito AI, ensuring that the innovative stories from iGEM teams and the Biosyn Bridge project are shared and celebrated worldwide.
The collaboration at NCIM 2026 marks a significant milestone. By uniting the passion of North China’s iGEMers with the global reach of ARCST and Biosyn Bridge, the event sets a new standard for sustainable, inclusive science education.
Acknowledgments
We extend our sincere gratitude to Rodrigo Ventura for his outstanding contributions to the Biopochito AI Initiative and his role as a bridge between Latin America and China in the field of synthetic biology. We also thank Linwei Yu for his leadership in driving the Biosyn Bridge global education project and his continued dedication to advancing Science Culture Construction worldwide.
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