After seeing Western’s undergraduate Science laboratories, the University of Nigeria (UNN) would like to take them home with them, or at least have the next best thing and build their own.
Four members of that institution – professor Chukwuemeka Okoye, Physical Sciences dean, Department of Physics and Astronomy; professor Pius Ukoha, Physical Sciences associate dean, Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry; Dr. Chukwudi Anyanwu, senior lecturer, Department of Microbiology; and Philip Ayogu, technologist, Department of Chemistry – visited Western’s first-year undergraduate labs in physics, chemistry and biology to take more than notes on teaching methods and lab apparatus.
The delegation took away presentations, instructional videos and even floor plans to emulate Western’s best student experience more than 9,200 km away.
The idea started more than a year ago when Western Physics & Astronomy professor Giovanni Franchini collaborated with the UNN Physics Department on a project. Soon, a group including B.N. OKolo, UNN vice-chancellor, visited Western. Physics & Astronomy professor Kanthi Kaluarachchi arranged the tours within her department.
To fill a short gap in the schedule, Kaluarachchi showed the delegation Western’s Physics undergraduate laboratory. OKolo was so impressed he asked Kaluarachchi to help with renovating the labs at UNN.
“At that time I said ‘OK,’” Kaluarachchi said. “He later said, ‘I’m going to hold you to that one.’”
Although UNN is a large university, it is in need of facilities. At times, 10 students may be sharing one apparatus within a lab.
Since that initial visit, Kaluarachchi and OKolo have been exchanging emails discussing the scale and requirements of the project.
“What they are trying to do is replicate our labs and we had sessions with a couple of companies,” Kaluarachchi said. “They gave presentations to show what is available in the market.”
UNN officials plan to erect buildings to house the new labs for biology, chemistry and physics based on floor plans thanks to Western’s recent renovations those areas. They will also benefit from the expertise of people like Phin Perquin, Physics & Astronomy stores and second-year lab technician, and Vicky Lightfoot, Biology operations manager, who were instrumental in managing the projects in their departments.
Kaluarachchi organized this week’s visit with assistance from Fanchini, lab supervisor Shailesh Nene and head technician Peter Frank. Jan Mathers, first-year Chemistry lab supervisor, and Winona Gadapati, first-year Biology lab supervisor, helped organize tours in their departments.
– Mitch Zimmer
News and notes
- Kailyn Gadsby, a Brantford native, is one of five recipients of the 2012 InterMune IPF Legacy Scholarship Program, awarded to family members of individuals living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). She is pursuing a master’s degree in communication disorders (speech pathology) at Western, and works as an intern at the same agency where her mother worked.
- Western has been selected as a finalist for the Ontario Business Achievement Award (OBAA) in the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (ICAO) Corporate Governance Award category by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. The award honours a business that demonstrates excellence in raising the standard as an exemplary corporate citizen and makes a commitment in areas such as corporate governance or environmental stewardship. Western exemplifies these qualities maintaining a sustainable campus.
- Western recently published its first online newsletter, Purple & Green Newsletter, to reflect both the spirit of Western and the environment. The newsletter will be published on a quarterly basis, informing members of the Western community about initiatives on campus and in the city.
The newsletter will serve as an umbrella for sustainability, covering news from diverse groups of students, staff and faculty. Everyone is encouraged to submit articles related to sustainability for the next edition by emailing Beverley Ayeni at sustainability@uwo.ca.
Make sure to visit sustainability.uwo.ca and click on ‘Purple & Green Newsletter’ to view the first edition.