Team:Panama/how to become a sponsor

The first week of June we will be publicly announcing the first Panamanian team to participate in the annual iGEM Synthetic Biology contest held at MIT. This is an opportunity for Panama to create a center of excellence in the rapidly growing field of Synthetic Biology, and it will offer students the chance to build skills on an international level which will lead to valuable careers.

This is an opportunity for your company to gain visibility by supporting these Panamanian students!.

The Panamanian team will consist of students from the University of Panama, the Techonological University of Panama, and graduate students at INDICASAT and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI). SENACYT, Panama's National Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation, will match private sponsorship up to $15,000. The universities, INDICASAT, and STRI will be contributing both money and staff time, and INDICASAT will be donating the cost of all biological equipment and supplies.

How can your corporation help? We need to raise $20,000 to finance the team's efforts. The funds will be used for travel expenses for 10 students and 2 instructors to the final iGEM event at MIT in Boston, instructor travel to training events, publication preparation, students' local travel expenses, and other materials necessary to support the team.

In addition, sponsors will get similar acknowledgments in all press releases during the year as the contest progresses, and will be invited to certain future presentations of the team's work.

This is an opportunity for you to support the next generation of Panamanian scientists and engineers and to visibly support the development of Panama's industrial base in a way that is transparent and supported by the country's top scientific and educational institutions.

Please make out your check to INDICASAT/iGEM, Edificio 219, Ciudad del Saber, Clayton, Panama, Rep. of Panama including contact information so that we can coordinate publicity efforts.

For more information, please contact Dr. Pinzón at s.pinzon-navarro05@imperial.ac.uk or visit http://www.iGEM-Panama.com