Every November, the University of Calgary iGEM (international Genetically Engineered Machines) team presents their synthetic biology project to the world. Weekly team meetings are a microcosm of the iGEM experience of bringing ideas to fruition. The peer teaching, mentoring, and consultations that occur at these meetings are triggers for deeper conversations on teaching and learning. In the workshop described here, participants were invited to experience a simulated iGEM team meeting environment, where instead of synthetic biology, issues of teaching and learning were the subject of their conversations.