Stephanie O'Donnell
- @StephODonnell
- | She / Her
WILDLABS
Hi wildlabbers!
A colleague is looking to crowdsource some advice: what would be on your wishlist for kitting out a field based space for research and tech development? What would you put in there or want to find if you were visiting, and why? Imagine you have a donor with deep pockets, so nothing is off the table.
I'll kick us off by not following the instructions - I would love to see spaces like this acting as a tech library, helping coordinating collective gear purchases and a borrowing system, particularly for expensive equipment. I've heard of CSIRO doing this in the marine space, and it's come up again as a wish during discussion at ICCB and today at the GWP conference.
Let us know your thoughts - what is on your wishlist and why?
Steph
28 November 2023 3:25am
Regine Weckauf over on linkedin:
'Little to do with research and tech development, but given how hard it is to attract and retain experienced staff to field based positions, I know it makes a difference how nice the space is. Just because it's the "field", shouldn't mean staff living in basic conditions, regardless of how many times we've been told to see it as a badge of honor. If you have the money, put in nice bathrooms, kitchen, living spaces, and private accommodation. Maybe even a nursery? It creates more local employment opportunities and people genuinely want to visit.'
28 November 2023 2:25pm
Love the idea for in-house gear/supplies! It can be SOO difficult to travel with batteries, electronics parts with airline regs, country policies, etc. and shipping recorders/trail cams/etc. gets VERY (prohibitively) pricey in some countries with customs and taxes. Would be great to have an in-country place to source that kind of equipment.
Housing educational resources related to that tech (in the form of people, print materials, computer tutorials) in-house would be similarly awesome. Particularly/especially in local languages.
Having in-country wet labs as well helps the eDNA/genetics folks, since sample import/export permitting can be (always seems to be?!) a nightmare, so if you can even just do PCR and/or extractions in-country that helps a ton.
In terms of overall field-station-wishlist - honestly, just the promise of continued funding and staff. Every field station I've been to or worked at is in a constant search for enough money to get through the next month/year, because the funding comes in the establish a station but then not to maintain it long-term. It's not sexy for a wishlist per se, but boy is it over-looked and much-needed.
@hikinghack from Dinalab would probably have lots of good insights on this!
29 November 2023 7:59pm
My suggestion would probably be a 3D printer and Solder Station with a stock of common components. With those two things you can solve most problems.
Stephanie O'Donnell
WILDLABS