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[U07-P03] Experience of a geologist in an African country associated with COVID-19
Coronavirus forced all of us to change our lifestyle including not only daily life but also academic research. The author, who has been staying in Botswana for more than 5 years, experienced both negative and positive impacts about lecturing and researching inside and outside campus. This report introduces a lecturer’s life in the country since COVID-19 started, which may be able to show some tips for the research outside Japan in the short or longer term.
After confirming the first case of COVID-19, the Botswana government announced the state of emergency, followed by about two month’s lockdown. Because of the lockdown, movement was highly restricted so that students and staff could not come to the university. It meant that all lectures were ceased and that it was impossible for us to progress our research in campus. Furthermore, because Botswana closed the border, analytical equipment basically fixed by technicians in South Africa could not be used once it was out of order. Moreover, it was very difficult to go to mining sites because they typically requested us to be isolated and/or to get PCR tested before we went to the sites.
My advice in terms of research outside Japan is classified into (1) before leaving and (2) after arriving. The advice about (1) is to check the website of the ministry of foreign affairs, to have an insurance policy and to learn the technical terms associated with COVID-19. My advice in terms of (2) is to check the local media and websites and to secure the money, food and essential stuff.
After confirming the first case of COVID-19, the Botswana government announced the state of emergency, followed by about two month’s lockdown. Because of the lockdown, movement was highly restricted so that students and staff could not come to the university. It meant that all lectures were ceased and that it was impossible for us to progress our research in campus. Furthermore, because Botswana closed the border, analytical equipment basically fixed by technicians in South Africa could not be used once it was out of order. Moreover, it was very difficult to go to mining sites because they typically requested us to be isolated and/or to get PCR tested before we went to the sites.
My advice in terms of research outside Japan is classified into (1) before leaving and (2) after arriving. The advice about (1) is to check the website of the ministry of foreign affairs, to have an insurance policy and to learn the technical terms associated with COVID-19. My advice in terms of (2) is to check the local media and websites and to secure the money, food and essential stuff.