# Event Details - **Event Name**: The 2026 Great Canadian iGEM Meet-up - **Event Start and End Date**: Sat, 08 Aug, 2026 at 09:30 am – Sat, 08 Aug, 2026 at 04:30 pm - **Event Description**: Join your fellow CGem teams in our nation's capital to celebrate synthetic biology research & innovation in Canada! (Register by July 27!)About this EventHave you been wondering what your fellow CGEM members have been up to? iGEM uOttawa, McGill, Queen's, Waterloo, and McMaster SynBio are excited to be bringing back the Great Canadian Meet Up for another year after the success of the Great Canadian iGEM Incubator in July! The GCM aims to bring together Canadian iGEM teams, aspiring researchers, and esteemed academics from across the nation to connect and collaborate. This event aims to foster innovation, the exchange of knowledge, and promotion of entrepreneurial ventures within the scientific community! ? ?The 2026 GCM is set for August 8-9 at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON. More than just a conference, this event will feature competitive activities, panels and keynote speakers to provide plenty of networking and team-building opportunities. Our pitch competition will also return this year and will be held on the main stage, allowing teams to sit-in, hear the exciting CGem research, learn from our panel of judges, and provide their own feedback! ? ?Tickets are once again free of charge, food, drinks and snacks will be provided, and we are excited to announce that prize money is available! Ticket availability is limited & will be supplied on a first-come, first-serve, basis. ?️ ?Day 1?: 09:00 AM - 09:30 AMRegistration & Refreshments?: 09:30 AM - 09:45 AMOpening Remarks & Activity #1 - PCR-You-ReadyInfo: Build your DNA strand and find your complementary sequence with new friends at GCM!?: 09:45 AM - 11:05 AMPitch Competition - Session A?: 11:20 AM - 12:20 PMPitch Competition - Session B?: 12:30 PM - 01:15 PMLunch and Networking?: 01:30 PM - 02:30 PMPitch Competition - Session C?: 02:40 PM - 03:20 PMActivity #2 - Fighting for Gemmy's LoveInfo: Run, write, and pull your way towards victory of winning Gemmy's heart. This activity involves physical movement.?: 03:30 PM - 04:40 PMPanel #1 - Artificial Intelligence & BiotechnologyInfo: Artificial intelligence is transforming the biotechnology industry and opening the door to a new era of innovation. In this panel, we will explore these groundbreaking ideas and see how they're being applied today. Our speakers will discuss the future of artificial intelligence and biotechnology while giving valuable insight on the skills needed to succeed in this dynamic industry.?: 04:50 PM - 05:05 PMDay 1 Closing Remarks?: 06:00 PMSocialDay 2?: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AMRegistration and Refreshments?: 10:00 AM - 10:15 AMDay 2 Opening Remarks?: 10:15 AM - 11:00 AMKeynote Speaker - Charles BoulakiaInfo: Charles started as a biochemist, and struggled to find his path while in grad school. Now he is a patent agent and lawyer at Canada’s largest intellectual property boutique, Smart & Biggar, advising some of the largest chemical and pharmaceutical companies in the world. He has degrees in biochemistry, law, and business. Charles is the editor of the Canadian Patent Reporter, the Chair of the AIPPI Statutory Committee on Pharmaceutics, and is teaching the Intellectual Property course at Western Law in the fall. Charles will speak about the choices that led him to where he is, and what life is like as a patent agent.?: 11:10 AM - 11:40 AMActivity #3 - Protein Cards Against HumanitiesInfo: Your classic fill in the blank party game, with a protein twist!?: 11:50 AM - 12:30 PMLunch?: 12:40 PM - 01:40 PMPanel #2 - Sustainability in BioengineeringInfo: As the demand for novel healthcare and biotech solutions grows, the need to transition towards more sustainable practices is becoming unavoidable. This panel will explore how researchers and industry leaders are developing sustainable biological systems, engineering processes, and technologies that reduce environmental impact while addressing global challenges. Speakers will share their perspectives on emerging innovations, the opportunities and limitations of sustainable design, and the role bioengineers and synthetic biologists play in building a more environmentally responsible future.?: 01:50 PM - 02:20 PMActivity #4 - Logo MakingInfo: Showcase your artistic talents by making the best logos for wacky new iGEM projects.?: 02:30 PM - 02:45 PMAwards and Closing Remarks - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/hamilton/the-2026-great-canadian-igem-meet-up/100001994487530895 - **Event Categories**: contests, business, food-drinks, conferences - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 - **Event Highlights**: - Duration: 7 hours - Location: McMaster Univeristy - Languages: English ## Ticket Details - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 0, currency: CAD ## Event venue details - **city**: Hamilton - **state**: ON - **country**: Canada - **location**: McMaster Univeristy - **lat**: 43.2608059 - **long**: -79.920407 - **full address**: McMaster Univeristy, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, Canada ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: The 2026 Great Canadian iGEM Meet-up - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events3/banners/64655dbd614db1a5ad49cfc3aa5a7e57ea70fd0c475a2a80df1920d92f30b83c-rimg-w1200-h600-dcffffff-gmir.jpg?v=1784575927 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is The 2026 Great Canadian iGEM Meet-up being held? - **A:** The 2026 Great Canadian iGEM Meet-up takes place on Sat, 08 Aug, 2026 at 09:30 am to Sat, 08 Aug, 2026 at 04:30 pm at McMaster Univeristy, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, Canada. - **Q**: Who is organizing The 2026 Great Canadian iGEM Meet-up? - **A:** The 2026 Great Canadian iGEM Meet-up is organized by iGEM uOttawa. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** The 2026 Great Canadian iGEM Meet-up is ideal for professionals, entrepreneurs, startup founders, and networking enthusiasts eager to grow their connections. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Hamilton, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. 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