Sub-Saharan African Genome Repository (SSAGR)
For many researchers in Sub-Saharan Africa, getting access to biomolecular materials is a big huddle. We receive donated strains and make them affordable in the sub-region. Our repository enable scientists to access a wide range of products from plasmids, viruses, bacterial strains, yeast strains and cell lines. Especially during this COVID-19 pandemic, scientists in the Sub-Saharan region need these resources to facilitate their research efforts.
E-Herbarium database
In this global era, many farmers are substituting local crops cultivation with foreign crops that have been well characterized. As a result local food crops are fast vanishing and food diversity is gradually shrinking. It is our goal to reverse the trend by creating an electronic database of local food as we strive to ensure food security and diversity. We will work with farmers through workshops and focus group discussions on sustainable farming practices as well as better characterization of local crops and plants. As a pilot project we have created a database like this one shown below. This is a joint effort of SIT staff and the community as a means of preserving local crops.
SIT Fab lab
TalkCoast
