Thus a little intermission is in order.
A little back story (to set the mood): One lovely evening in Kampot town with some fellow PCVs, I got into a discussion about what was being missed most about America (read: we were complaining about missing America). When my turn came I relayed to my friends how I after studying science for years, and being in labs, classrooms, and my kitchen (which is where I "cook" *coughcough* aka "conduct experiments" as I like to say) being in Cambodia where science education is itty bitty if it exists at all, I missed my science textbooks, seminars, research, and reading journals easily accessed through university archives. I miss being able to utilize my higher education to figure out puzzles, and having debates with other like-minded individuals about brain function or physiology (remember, brain science is one of my passions). And though most PCVs do not identify with my nerd-like yearning of learning and STEM, they could identify with missing a part of myself I had to leave behind when I left America in favor of working on something else Cambodia needs.
THEN upon hearing me remark upon missing research, Emma and Evan (ETTT PCVs in Kampot) mentioned that their schools had tons of lab equipment donated from India and China that sat in rooms dusty and unused because though the equipment was donated, no one ever taught them how to use it.
*LIGHTBULB!* Thus the three of us came up with a project idea (which makes me crazy excited) that enabled me to bring my passion for science to Cambodia! We decided to talk to Evan's co-teacher and school director and see what they thought about a little extra science education at his school. With their help and input, our laboratory project idea was born.
The project consists of three main parts: a book, the lab, and training. Evan's school director and co-teachers cleaned up the lab that they have at their school and dusted off the equipment that has never been used. It was/is being refurbished and will be further refurbished as we move along in the project. I come in mostly with the book. I (with help from Evan and Khmer counterparts) put together a laboratory manual using the equipment Evan found in his lab, simple home experiments, and my love of science and science education. The manual has three sections: one section to explain what the lab equipment is and how to use it, one section with simple, fun, "at-home" experiments of three main areas of science (chemistry, physics, biology) ...the kind of stuff I bugged my mom to do when I was in the fifth grade...like combine vinegar and baking soda, and one section with lessons in it using equipment that cannot be specifically used in experiments - like a human body lesson with a human body model. (And because I wrote the lessons I added in a brain lesson...because I can). Our book is also being translated into Khmer in order to make it easier for our Khmer counterparts to use in addition to adding to their English education. The last part of the project, the training, comes together when the book has been translated and printed, and all of the refurbishment accomplished. I will travel to Evan's site and work with him and his teachers showing them how to use simple pieces like Bunsen burners and beakers in fun experiments for the kids to introduce them to and get excited about learning my favorite subjects.
Throughout the project we have been in constant communication with Khmer counterparts, learning about what Khmer kids would like to learn, where their science knowledge is at, how easy or hard some supplies might be to get at a local market that things of that nature. We wanted this to be a project that will be used, sustained, and carried on long after we leave. Though the kids might not grow up to work in a research lab, they are able to visit more options of hobbies or possible careers, and might just find that they have a passion for a subject they didn't know quite so much about before.
Right now we are working on raising money to fund our project which Evan wrote a great grant for - check out the site and please spread the word!
Meanwhile I am so excited that I'm telling just about everybody I meet about our lab project.
So that's me, Amanda Arand, woman of letters - bringing science everywhere I go. Is there anything better than spreading your passion?
XO-Amanda
