Bindura University of Science Education was honored to be one of 18 awardees from across the globe chosen to receive scientific equipment through Seeding Labs’ 2020 Instrumental Access programme.
Instrumental Access makes high-quality laboratory equipment and supplies are available to outstanding university departments and research institutes in developing countries. It is the flagship programme of Seeding Labs, a US-based non-profit working to help build sustainable scientific infrastructure that increases research capacity and empowers every scientist to change the world.
The Bindura University of Science Education, Department of Science and Mathematics Education was one of 18 awardees selected to receive an Instrumental Access 2020 award from a pool of 58 applications received from 20 countries. During the rigorous selection process, each applicant outlined the ways that an infusion of scientific equipment would remove barriers to STEM education and research at their institution—adding crucial scientific capacity.
‘The 2020 Instrumental Access awardees were selected for their potential to solve problems and change lives through science,” said Christina Viola Srivastava, Director of Programs at Seeding Labs. “We welcome them all to our Instrumental Access network and look forward to working with each awardee to strengthen their scientific infrastructure.”
Equipment provides the necessary foundation for other critical resources that allow scientists to generate new knowledge, leverage sustainable funding, and better prepare university students for the scientific workforce.
“It’s critical that all scientists around the world have the tools they need to solve problems that impact us all,” said Melissa P. Wu, CEO of Seeding Labs.
The 2020 grantees have research interests across biology, chemistry, and engineering, including: drug development, reproductive health, plant science, veterinary physiology, STEM education, minerals engineering, and biomedical engineering. Ten countries are represented, one of which is new to Seeding Labs: Bangladesh.
Bindura University of Science Education is an institution in Zimbabwe mandated to train Science and Mathematics teachers. It is an internationally renowned university producing transformative and innovative graduates. The Science and Mathematics Education Department is one of the key units in the Faculty of Science Education. The department has the responsibility of training teachers in various science (which include Biology and Chemistry), technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses. “The donated equipment will enhance STEM education and research and create an environment for research informed teaching to develop in students innovative competences that will enable them to solve the key socio-economic challenges in Zimbabwe and Africa as a whole,” said Dr Vongai Mpofu, a lecturer and former Chairperson in the Department of Science and Mathematics Education.
Bindura University of Science Education seeks to produce responsible, knowledgeable, skilled, innovative and entrepreneurial graduates through teaching and research innovation; and develop products and services for industrialization and community transformation.
About Seeding Labs
Seeding Labs is a Boston-based nonprofit empowering every scientist to transform the world. Through a coalition of more than 140 public and private sector partners, Seeding Labs connects scientists in developing nations with lab equipment, training, and opportunities to collaborate with experts in their field—and to use these vital resources to improve education, research, and economic development.
To date, Seeding Labs’ Instrumental Access programme has shipped 255 tons of lab equipment to 80 institutions in 36 developing countries worldwide. Its TeleScience platform, viewed in more than 130 countries, offers a video library of video lab tips and tricks to share scientific expertise remotely.
Additional information about Seeding Labs is available at http://seedinglabs.org/; on Facebook at facebook.com/SeedingLabs; and on Twitter at @SeedingLabs.
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