|
 |
|
Maasai Mara |
Widening horizons
For Chinese scientists, conducting joint research with their Kenyan counterparts is also a fruitful experience. It helps broaden their fields of research and widens their horizons.
Research materials and techniques are important aspects of scientific research, according to Wang. One of his research areas is plant evolution, and he believes that Kenya 's enviroment has evolved many unique species. "Using our techniques, we can do better scientific research based on the materials collected during field work," he said.
"China can learn from Kenya's experience with nature reserves and resource conservation," observed Wang Xiaoming, Director of CAS' Fairylake Botanical Garden of Shenzhen (SZBG), while doing field research. "Further cooperation should take place in the areas of environmental awareness and education," he added.
For young Chinese researchers, participating in field work was a valuable learning experience. Dr. Liao Kuo, a 36-year-old research associate at WBG, has been to Kenya four times since early 2012 to conduct field research.
"It's important to come to Kenya during different seasons for field research, because some plants only appear during the rainy season, so if you go in the dry season, you can never collect them," he said, adding that this field research helped him better understand alpine plants that grow during the rainy season.
Dr. Wan Tao, a 30-year-old assistant professor at SZBG, joined this field research team for the first time. "It's an exciting experience. This trip has aroused my interest in this research area." he said, adding that he looks forward to the next joint research endeavor.
Building capacity
Gituru stresses that capacity building is critical. "In Africa, many projects collapse after foreign supporters withdraw, because there is no manpower to carry on. It's a terrible waste of resources," he lamented.
"So that's why from the beginning, the Chinese researchers from CAS have insisted on training both old and young African researchers, so that there will be continuity and the project won't die," he said.
Field research, in his opinion, is a good teaching opportunity, as it allows more experienced researchers to share knowledge with their younger colleagues. But laboratory techniques also play big role in botanical studies. In 2011, a group of 22 researchers from six African countries traveled to China to learn about laboratory methods used in the Asian nation. "This cooperative project has been very helpful for African researchers who want to learn the latest laboratory techniques." said Gituru.
"In the past we only learned those techniques from books, but in the training program, we actually did them ourselves in the lab for the first time," recalled Muchuku. "Using advanced technology, like molecular marker techniques and genetic diversity analysis, we can identify plants more accurately," he added.
"Now some of us are trying to make use of the knowledge we learned in China," said Gituru, adding that many researchers have asked when the next training program will start.
"This joint research project helps increase the research capabilities of our staff, and so is helping build JKUAT into a research and entrepreneur university," commented Professor Mabel Imbuga, Vice Chancellor of JKUAT.
Wang Qingfeng said joint research conducted by Chinese and African scientists will be expanded to the fields of agriculture, life sciences and environmental science. Desertification control, water pollution prevention and control are some of the research areas of common interest that will be explored in the future.
Training young scientists
According to a new agreement between CAS and TWAS, the academy of sciences for the developing world, each year up to 140 students or scholars from the developing world will be sponsored to travel to China for four years of Ph.D study and research. (Learn more about the CAS-TWAS President's Fellowship Program at www.chinafrica.cn)
"We hope this program will provide African students with more opportunities to further their studies in China. With the skills and knowledge they learn, they will better contribute to their nations after graduation," said Professor Zhu Xiangbin, Assistant President for International Affairs at the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) during his April 11 presentation at JKUAT.
Brain drain is a big problem in Africa. "After training African researchers, the Western system encourages the best African brains to stay there forever," said Gituru, who studied in China for four years. "But I know from my own experience that the Chinese system encourages them to return to their countries so that they can help their people," he said.
Imbuga appreciates this program and said it is important to increase the knowledge and the skills of young African scientists, because "for Kenya to achieve its development blueprint as laid out in Vision 2030, we need most young people to be educated to a level where they can take over the drive to achieve the goals of our nation," she said.
"For any country to develop, it must make research a central priority. Training young scientists is the way to begin, because young people not only constitute the majority of our population, but are also the future of our country," Dr. Salome Gichura Ogw, Director of the Directorate of Higher Education under Kenya's Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, told ChinAfrica.
| 
