Some New Perspectives

Today was quite the busy day for me! I was given a full tour of what seemed to be every part of icipe campus. I met so many people and they were all so nice to me. It is easy to see how much they care and are invested in their research. Icipe is trying so hard to make food sustainability easier for farmers and families. I again feel truly blessed to be here with so many people all with a common goal.

Here is a list of all the areas of study I visited today.

 The Director General Prof. Christian Borgemeister

 Directorate staff individually

 Finance and Administration Team

Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystem Services and Food Security in Eastern Africa (CHIESA) team

Biostatistics team

Capacity Building and Institutional Development

Visit of the Behavioral and Chemical Ecology Laboratory

Fruitfly Laboratory

MBBD Lab (it deals with DNA)

Bioprospecting Unit

Biosystematics Unit

Library Services

Insectary Unit

Emerging Infectious Diseases Martin Luscher Laboratory

They were all very proud and invested in the work that they do. I found it was hard to stay on schedule because they all wanted to share J

Today I learned why stingless bees and further research on them is so important. The stingless bees (from what I understand) are mainly in tropical areas. This bee produces a very sweet honey that is very high in healing and medicinal qualities. Their honey is showing to have very many redeeming qualities. What icipe is trying to do is to understand what they are attracted to and how productive they can be. This is why the push for stingless bee research is so high.

I spoke with a lady today about Africa and Kenya. I told her how welcome I felt and how I already feel like family. She was glad, saying that is just the culture. She then told me a story on when she went to meeting in a different country in the world. She was showing somebody a picture of her son, who was standing by a fridge. The person then asked why and how she could have a fridge. As I listened to this story, it really put into perspective about what the outside world thinks of Africa. Trust me, the elephants do not live in the backyard! I have yet to see one even! Media has made it seem that everywhere in Africa they are poor, shoe-less people. And yes, while this may be true in some areas, Africa is also full of people who want to learn and improve the lives of people around them and who live comfortable lives. While walking through a hallway, there was a poster. It was saying how the world thinks that Africa’s biggest contributions and exports are diamonds and ivory. This poster then said it is not that, but the knowledge these people have. I believe this. Put yourself in their shoes... It would be like people asking if I still have to ride a horse to school just because of where I live. Just some food for thought.

Later in the day I spoke with another man about insects. He told me that when I go back home, finish high school, and go to university to study insects, that it is a very big deal when a new insect is found. Most insect species in the USA have been discovered. Along with Europe and South Africa even. Here, he says it is very easy to come back from the field one day with 100 to 200 insects that nobody can yet describe here. He said how Kenya, in the world of insects, is still being discovered.

I also spoke with a man who is working with the indigenous people and rural areas to find plants that have beneficial effects. At one village, there were leaves that people would use to help cure congestion. When taken back to the lab they were able to study it and make it into a product that not only cures congestion, but also mosquito bites and sore muscles. It is all natural and not what we have at home. This particular medicine smells like mentholatum. I was given some for a bug bite on my cheek and it hasn’t itched since I have put it on. It is called Naturub. They also found a root that people said it helps them go wake up and feel happy and that it helps deal with stress. They made this into a powder form called Mondia Tonic. As the scientist find the benefits of these plants, they go back to the community and help them plant more to sell. Icipe then helps make it into the various forms it is sold in, and then sends it back to the community to help them make a profit and a better lifestyle.