The CenGen/DIPLOMICS Training Laboratory was established in 2023. Since its inception, we have hosted more than 600 high school learners in our geneLearners workshop series, as well as teachers and fellow scientists. To set down laboratory infrastructure requires significant financial input, and we are thankful towards DIPLOMICS for enabling us to fulfil our dream of bringing “real world” plant genetics to science learners.
Recently, our training initiative was fortunate to receive a large donation of molecular laboratory equipment from Dr Antonel Olckers, CEO of DNAbiotec® in Tswane. As outlet for her strong drive to empower the next generation of local scientists and science leaders, Dr Olckers’ company has presented numerous training opportunities via the Essential Series of Short CoursesTM, one of which Elsabet Wessels has attended in 2013. The training she received at this course made an invaluable contribution to the establishment of real-time PCR as routine technique at CenGen.
This donation will without a doubt contribute greatly to the experience of our workshop attendees. South African learners and scientists are eager to learn and expand their skill sets, and it is by sharing resources that training initiatives are able to attend to this need. An enormous thank you to Dr Olckers for this gift!
