As part of the global qLAMP project (funded by the Collaborative Development Projects Round 2) we just come back from an exciting residency in the Mboalab (Yaoundé, Cameroon) where we had the chance to collaborate with the local researchers to generate field data with the Pocket qPCR and Open qLAMP devices. We were also privileged to enrol in the AfricaOSH event at the end of the residence and share the results with the African Open Source Hardware community and learn about the OS hardware movement going on in the region.
The documentation of the residency can be visited in this notion. It includes a journal of the residency, a link to the Hackteria wiki of the project, a photo album, experiment results and a “Collaboration Opportunities” report.
As we have used less than half of the planned grant amount for field trips, we are planning to organize a second experimental residency in Yogyakarta, where the @akbar1708 team are building a bioproduction centre where the equipment we’re developing can be useful to quantify the efficiency of the enzyme production. This will also facilitate a gathering for the global qLAMP community in Asia (e.g. @shingohisakawa and the Ninja qPCR, @JiLi from openFIESTA) to meet and share designs.
Last but not least, we also believe that is interesting to put in contact the Mboalab researchers with their Indonesian counterparts, to share experiences and protocols and establish new collaborations across bioproduction laboratories.
We are happy to announce the the third phase of collaborative in-person research visit is rolling now. We successfully receive the VISA for @Stephload , from Mboalab in Cameroon, to come to Yogyakarta and continue the research on qLAMP and reageant production together with @akbar1708 .
To prepare the visit, @dusjagr already stayed in Indonesia for a while, reaching out to various local partners and potential collaborators, aswell as doing workshop in DIY hardware, self-made PCB production and giving workshops in various environments. You can follow the activities on the hackteria wiki.
We also spontanously could host @briannaljohns for a short visit and meeting our long term collaborators from UGM, Pak Irfan Prijambada, where we have developed earliest prototype of DIY laboratory equipment, such as microscope, lab shakers, incubators and laminar flow hoods. Some of this research has been described in the paper by Hirosue, S., Kera, D., Huang, H. (2015). Promises and Perils of Open Source Technologies for Development: Can the “Subaltern” Research and Innovate?. Technologies for Development. Springer, for download here.
In the preparation phase we also developed new simple STEAM workshop modules on programming the ATTINY85 and controlling motors, and designing a series of creative PCBs for future workshops.
Updates on the research activities of the coming visit, planned 15 June- 10 July, will be posted here. Guests are always welcome to join! Besides this and this forum thread and the Round 2 of the Collaborative Development Program, the GLobalLAMP community is extensively using a telegram group to share ongoing research and have discussions.
We are thrilled to share more updates on the globalLAMP residency program and research visit currently taking place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Centred around the research activities on qLAMP hardwares and reagent production, the program fosters inspiring outcomes.
Upon arrival in Yogyakarta, Stephane Fadanka from Mboalab in Cameroon has been actively engaging with the local biotech ecosystem and science enthusiasts including scientists at the Biotechnology Department, UGM; Where a series of activities around entrepreneurship, enzyme manufacturing and communication on the global effort and collaboration on the topic, including the work done by organisations such as Beneficial Bio, Open Bioeconomy Lab, Mboalab Biotech and the Reagent Collaboration Network (Reclone) are planned next week.
A lot of activities are also going on at LifePatch hosting the residency program, we will keep sharing here updates on the various workshops and cultural exchange events happening this week.
Stay tuned for further updates and stories as the residency program in Indonesia continues to unfold.
Some weeks have passed and we are still energized by the nice residency research visit we could enable thanks to the project development grant from GOSH. It was quite challening to organize and schedule the visit, due to VISA issues, rescheduling of flights, overlapping projects around the globe… but we managed!
“In a world where creativity fuels innovation, opportunities to live a transformative journey that opens doors to a galaxy of possibilities, fostering creativity, innovation, and personal growth are more than necessary and welcome but yet very rare. Highlighting the increasingly recognized interplay between art and science, the third phase of the Global Lamp residency program in Yogyakarta in Indonesia, enabled more than just a convergence of two seemingly distinct disciplines, but a blending of collaborative creations, cultures and profound human experiences; “ - Stephane Fadanka
