Scientific Equipment from Seeding Labs
The University of Embu is one of the 16 universities selected to receive research and teaching equipment through Seeding Labs’ Instrumental Access programme.
On 8th December 2016, University of Embu (UoEm) received a shipment of lab equipment from Seeding Labs’ Instrumental Access programme. UoEm received a container with nearly 6 tons of lab equipment and supplies that will support teaching and research in the Department of Biological Sciences. Seeding Labs, a US-based NGO supported by USAID’s Global Development Lab, chose 16 outstanding university departments in 11 countries for the 2016 Instrumental Access programme after a rigorous application process. Universities then selected items from Seeding Labs’ inventory to meet their individual teaching and research needs. Instrumental Access equipment advances cutting-edge research, expands training opportunities for students, and enhances the infrastructure that is critical to a thriving scientific community. Each shipment contains equipment donated to Seeding Labs from US-based research institutes and corporations in the life sciences, biotechnology, higher education, and manufacturing sectors; 24 donors contributed equipment to UoEm’s shipment. The Department of Biological Sciences will use the donated equipment to establish on-site teaching labs for both undergraduate and graduate students. This will eventually benefit more than 700 undergraduate and postgraduate students per year. The University also plans to use the enhanced research capacity to build new collaborations in the region and eventually establish a Center of Excellence in natural product discovery from microorganisms. “The Equipment donation enormously enhances our capability to offer practical hands-on training in the life sciences, a capacity that lacks in most of the Kenyan Universities,” said Prof. Kiplagat Kotut, Ag. Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academics, Research Extension at the University of Embu. “Being a young institution, we have a golden chance to break new ground and introduce modernized courses that are responsive to the market needs. Access to adequate equipment will greatly help us in delivering quality education to our students as we prepare them for the job market or careers in academia,” said Dr. Romano Mwirichia, Director, Research and Extension at the University of Embu. “Despite the abundance of scientific talent around the world, lack of equipment is a simple but widespread barrier that can prevent talent from being expressed at its fullest. We are excited that our partnership with the University of Embu will allow students to receive hands-on scientific education and will give researchers additional capacity to pursue scientific solutions to issues facing Kenya and beyond,” said Nina Dudnik, PhD, Seeding Labs’ founder and CEO.