Otago microscopes heading to Myanmar
A UNIVERSITY of Otago lecturer says it is no exaggeration to say working at a university in Myanmar has changed his life — and now he is giving something back to the academic community, shipping microscopes worth $10,000 to the University of Yangon.
Associate Prof Mark Lokman, of the Department of Zoology, managed to secure not only the donation of 21 Olympus microscopes from the university, but also free shipping, crates and packaging from businesses Bunnings Warehouse and DHL Express.
He said the microscopes, which were now ‘‘excess to requirement’’ at the University of Otago, had no book value but he estimated their worth at $10,000 if they were to be sold secondhand.
They were a ‘‘small contribution’’ to a new lab which was being built at the University of Yangon, Prof Lokman said.
The university has about 5000 students in total.
Prof Lokman said he had travelled there on ‘‘a number of occasions’’ to help local staff with professional development, including different ways of lecturing and help with administrative duties such as writing grants.
He ‘‘really valued’’ the way both staff and students took all the opportunities available to them, which was not always the case in New Zealand.
The research facilities and other resources available at Otago were ‘‘nothing to be taken for granted,’’ he said.
He was returning to Myanmar soon to help develop a new aquaculture and fisheries programme for the university.