Just to say that in about two weeks, I'll be heading off to Ibadan in Nigeria to hold a genetics laboratory workshop. I've done this sort of thing before, and have been involved in some form or manner with the program for the last couple years. It's a good way to shake the psyche up a bit. Certainly makes me stop whining about things here in the "luxurious" parts of the world.
Anyway, if posting is spotty over the next four weeks, this is why. Setting this kind of thing up is problematic at the best of times, so things are always a little antsy leading to the workshop. I will be bringing an old laptop (new enough to do simple email, and old enough that it's no worries if it gets "lost" or "detained"), so there may be a chance I can blog from the workshop as well (fingers crossed, but the reality is that this may not be doable under prevailing circumstances). If so, I'll do my best to illustrate how freaking lucky we "scientists in the developed world" really are.
If you crave detail right now, and want an inside look at what goes on at one of these workshops, let me refer you to this piece, which I wrote for Maisonneuve a couple years back. It's old, but sadly, the current conditions for the workshop are only a small step up from what's presented in this particular essay.
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David, I hope that we'll hear more about your experiences of science done in a different cultural context -- it sounds fascinating. Hope that you have a great time there!
What you are doing is vital on so many levels. I don't know if it will make a bigger difference that you actually go teach those students, or if through writing and blogging about the experience, you get Westerners to understand how completely deprived of scientific and educational infrastructure millions of the world's people are. Many, many kudos to you and your collaborators, and best of luck.
Nigerians Great People! Great Nation