creativity

7 Habits of Highly Innovative People

Have you ever looked at super creative or innovative people, and felt they are special beings blessed with gifts? Have you felt that you are not as fortunate? I used to feel this way. I have since learned that creativity is more about psychology than intellect, and there are no secrets to being creative. Actually, there is no such thing as “being more creative”, you are already a creative being.
I’m sure we can all relate to moments when we felt stuck trying to tap into our own creativity. Did you know that this block is merely your mind at work? Your mind is creating all sorts of assumptions, self-imposed constraints and self-limiting inhibitions. I have found that we can remove these assumptions just by being in the moment; start doing, and stop thinking.
Here are seven habits found in highly innovative and creative people that I’ve organized and summarized from Scott Berkun‘s “the myths of innovation“.
1. Persistence – Innovation involves more than just great ideas. We need faith, hard work and a laser sharp focus for the end result to keep persisting for our vision in the face of roadblocks. We tend to see the end result of a creative idea in awe, but what we don’t see are the actions, hard work and persistence behind the scene to make the vision a reality.

“Invention is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration“,

–Thomas A. Edison

2. Remove Self-Limiting Inhibitions – Under the spell of inhibition, we feel limited and stuck. We need to free ourselves from these mind-created constraints by removing assumptions and restrictions. This is what we refer to when we say “think outside the box”. Encourage ourselves to be open to new ideas and solutions without setting limiting beliefs. Remember, innovation is more about psychology than intellect.
3. Take Risks, Make Mistakes – I believe that part of the reason why we create self-imposed inhibition is due to our fear of failure. Expect that some ideas will fail in the process of learning. Build prototypes often, test them out on people, gather feedback, and make incremental changes. Rather than treating the mistakes as failures, think of them as experiments. “Experiment is the expected failure to deliberately learn something.” (Scott Berkun). Instead of punishing yourself for the failures, accept them, then take your newfound knowledge and put it towards finding the best solution. Live up to your goal of producing the best result, but understand you might hit roadblocks along the way.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.“

–Thomas A. Edison
4. Escape – Our environment can and does effect how we feel. The more relaxed and calm we are internally, the more receptive we are to tap into our flowing creativity. This is why ideas sometimes come to us in the shower or while we’re alone. Each of us have different triggers to access our creative energy. I get into the ‘creative zone’ from sitting at my dining table, with a warm cup of chai, and my noise-canceling headphones. Many great thinkers go on long walks to help them solve problems. Experiment and find what works for you.
5. Writing Things Down – Many innovators and creative people keep a journal to jot down ideas and thoughts. Some keep a sketch book, scrap book, post-it notes, loose paper. They all have a method to capture their thoughts, to think on paper, to drop their inhibitions and start the creative process. Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous notebook was purchased by Bill Gates for $30.8 Million dollars.

Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

6. Find Patterns & Create Combinations – Ideas come from other ideas. Did you know that Edison wasn’t the first one who came up with the invention of the light bulb? He was the first to build a workable carbon filament inside a glass bulb, that made light bulbs last longer. You can increase your exposure to new ideas, look for patterns and see how you can combine ideas to improve upon existing solutions.
7. Curiosity – Many innovators are just curious people who are inquisitive, and like to solve problems. Practice seeing things differently. For example, When seeing the solution to a problem, ask yourself, “What are some alternative ways to doing this?”. Ask a lot of questions and challenge the norms or existing methods.

Here are some techniques you can apply to cultivate creativity:

• Keep a Journal – Practice writing every thought, idea, and inspiration down. Practice, brainstorming and thinking on paper.
• Solve the Opposite Problem – Scott talked about this technique. The idea is to invent and brainstorm by solving the opposite problem that you are trying to solve. So, for example, if you are trying to create “The best laptop design”, then start with ideas to create “The worst laptop design”. For each idea you come up with, flip it. For example, if “heavy and clunky” is one idea for “The worst laptop design”, then flipping that might give me “light and sleek” which can be used in “The best laptop design”. This technique works especially well when brainstorming in a group.The technique sounds so silly that people will become playful when answering. Humor brings down inhibition and encourages people to say things out aloud. People feel less insecure and more open.
  
• Find A Creative Environment – Find a relaxing or inspiring environment that triggers your creativity. Try different spots until you find some that really bring out the best in you. I alternate between my living room (which I have carefully decorated) and a couple of local coffee shops.
• Do something fun – If you’re stuck on something, shift your thoughts by going to do something fun and completely different. Come back to it with a fresh mind.
• Partnering - Find creative partnerships with another. New ideas can surface as a result of two forces that would not have been arrived by a single person. Brainstorm together.
• ‘Commit to Failure’ - “Commit yourself to taking enough risks that you will fail some of the time. If you’re not failing, we’re not doing something sufficiently difficult or creative.” -Scott Berkun
• Talk to Someone About It - I have found that when I try to articulate a particular problem to someone, that I’ll somehow articulate my solution, as well. When explaining my situation, I’m not expecting them to solve my problem, but rather act as a ‘bouncing board’ for ideas.
• **Plan for Roadblocks -Commit to efforts to overcome potential setbacks. It’s worthwhile to identify and have a plan for non-creative items that may inhibit creative thinking. Scott talked about the most common roadblocks people face: Loss of motivation, ran out of money, unable to convince key person.

What do you think are some common trait of innovative people? Share your thoughts in the comments below. See you there!

How to write course work clearly

• Start work on assignments early - preferably as soon as you get them.

• Spend time understanding what is required before beginning to research and write. Underline or highlight key words in the topic to help you focus on what is required.

• To reduce the possibility of straying from the topic, write it out in large letters and place it above your computer or work desk so that you can easily refer to it.

• Planning is the most important step in organizing your writing. Few people can 'start at the beginning and write to the end' without planning their route.

• Learn how to develop concept maps. As you research and read, you can alter the concept map.

• Once you have a concept map you can convert the parts of it to sections, paragraphs and even sentences in your essay.

• Use a computer with software that assists reading and writing.

• Do not write long, complex sentences. It is easier to write grammatically and convey meaning clearly if your sentences are simpler.

• If you have difficulty thinking, writing, spelling and remembering all at once, try tape recording a sentence or paragraph and then writing/typing it out.

• If you have difficulty detecting errors in your work, reading aloud may help you find them.

• If you read aloud what you think you have written, rather than what you actually wrote, trying using read-aloud screen reader software and listening to it instead.

• Ask the learning skills staff at your university, a family member or a friend to read through what you have written and explain your frequent errors to you. For example, you may have problems with punctuation, capitalisation, word usage, spelling, grammar or sentence structure.

• Buy a basic grammar book from the university bookshop and revise the relevant rules. Look for a book which is not too complex, which explains rules clearly and which gives helpful examples.

• If your writing difficulties are significant but your oral language is good, consider using voice dictation software. Although this is easier for many students, it is still necessary to plan carefully, use formal academic language and adhere to word limits.

• Try not to use time extensions for assignments. If you are late with one assignment the next one (and later ones) will almost inevitably be late too, and then you will be left with less time than others for examination preparation.

Nosocomial pneumonia

Nosocomial refers to a disease coming from a hospital. Pneumonia refers to an infection in one or both lungs. Bacteria, viruses, and fungi cause it. The infection causes inflammation in the air sacs in your lungs, which are called alveoli. The alveoli fill with fluid or pus, making it difficult to breathe. Therefore, nosocomial pneumonia refers to Hospital- acquired pneumonia that has been contracted by a patient in at least 48-72 hours after being admitted in a hospital.

This disease is the most common cause of death among nosocomial infections and is the primary cause of death in intensive care units.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) represents a significant sub-set of HAP occurring in intensive care units (ICUs) and is defined as pneumonia that occurs more than 48 to 72 hours after tracheal intubation and is thought to affect 10% to 20% patients receiving mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours

The incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is not well studied outside the intensive care unit, but estimates range from 

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Common pathogens of HAP

 These include; aerobic gram-negative bacilli (e.g. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp,  Acinetobacter spp) and gram-positive cocci (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus, which includes methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Streptococcus spp).

Symptoms may include

cough, expectoration, a rise in body temperature, chest pain or dyspnea. Signs include fever, tachypnea, consolidations or crackles.

According to Eman Shebl; Peter G. Gulick, Bacteriologic Evaluation of this disease can be done by; Blind tracheobronchial aspiration (TBAS), Bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and Protected specimen brush (PSB). All respiratory tract samples should be sent for microscopic analysis and culture.

Microscopic Analysis

The microscopic analysis includes the analysis of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and a gram stain. The microscopy can be helpful in determining a possible pathogen and the antibiotic selection until the results of the culture are available. The presence of abundant neutrophils and the bacterial morphology may suggest a likely pathogen.

Quantitative Cultures

Diagnostic thresholds include:

• Endotracheal aspirates 1,000,000 colony forming units (CFU)/mL
• Bronchoscopic- or mini-BAL 10,000 CFU/mL
• PSB 1000 CFU/mL

New Molecular Diagnostic Tests

New molecular diagnostic tests like multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay, which detects an array of respiratory bacterial pathogens and many antibiotic resistance genes, offer the advantage of rapid identification of pathogens and resistance patterns for rapid choosing the antibiotic regimens.

Treatment

Treatment of this disease is highly dependent on the study of drug resistance and sustability and it’s only done by specialists in the hospitals

The Top Biotech and Medicine Advances to Expect in 2019

2018 was bonkers for science.
From a woman who gave birth using a transplanted uterus, to the infamous CRISPR baby scandal, to forensics adopting consumer-based genealogy test kits to track down criminals, last year was a factory churning out scientific “whoa” stories with consequences for years to come.
With CRISPR still in the headlines, Britain ready to bid Europe au revoir, and multiple scientific endeavors taking off, 2019 is shaping up to be just as tumultuous.
Here are the science and health stories that may blow up in the new year. But first, a note of caveat: predicting the future is tough. Forecasting is the lovechild between statistics and (a good deal of) intuition, and entire disciplines have been dedicated to the endeavor. But January is the perfect time to gaze into the crystal ball for wisps of insight into the year to come. Last year we predicted the widespread approval of gene therapy products—on the most part, we nailed it. This year we’re hedging our bets with multiple predictions.

Gene Drives Used in the Wild

The concept of gene drives scares many, for good reason. Gene drives are a step up in severity (and consequences) from CRISPR and other gene-editing tools. Even with germline editing, in which the sperm, egg, or embryos are altered, gene editing affects just one genetic line—one family—at least at the beginning, before they reproduce with the general population.
Gene drives, on the other hand, have the power to wipe out entire species.
In a nutshell, they’re little bits of DNA code that help a gene transfer from parent to child with almost 100 percent perfect probability. The “half of your DNA comes from dad, the other comes from mom” dogma? Gene drives smash that to bits.
In other words, the only time one would consider using a gene drive is to change the genetic makeup of an entire population. It sounds like the plot of a supervillain movie, but scientists have been toying around with the idea of deploying the technology—first in mosquitoes, then (potentially) in rodents.
By releasing just a handful of mutant mosquitoes that carry gene drives for infertility, for example, scientists could potentially wipe out entire populations that carry infectious scourges like malaria, dengue, or Zika. The technology is so potent—and dangerous—the US Defense Advances Research Projects Agency is shelling out $65 million to suss out how to deploy, control, counter, or even reverse the effects of tampering with ecology.
Last year, the U.N. gave a cautious go-ahead for the technology to be deployed in the wild in limited terms. Now, the first release of a genetically modified mosquito is set for testing in Burkina Faso in Africa—the first-ever field experiment involving gene drives.
The experiment will only release mosquitoes in the Anopheles genus, which are the main culprits transferring disease. As a first step, over 10,000 male mosquitoes are set for release into the wild. These dudes are genetically sterile but do not cause infertility, and will help scientists examine how they survive and disperse as a preparation for deploying gene-drive-carrying mosquitoes.
Hot on the project’s heels, the nonprofit consortium Target Malaria, backed by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, is engineering a gene drive called Mosq that will spread infertility across the population or kill out all female insects. Their attempt to hack the rules of inheritance—and save millions in the process—is slated for 2024.

A Universal Flu Vaccine

People often brush off flu as a mere annoyance, but the infection kills hundreds of thousands each year based on the CDC’s statistical estimates.
The flu virus is actually as difficult of a nemesis as HIV—it mutates at an extremely rapid rate, making effective vaccines almost impossible to engineer on time. Scientists currently use data to forecast the strains that will likely explode into an epidemic and urge the public to vaccinate against those predictions. That’s partly why, on average, flu vaccines only have a success rate of roughly 50 percent—not much better than a coin toss.
Tired of relying on educated guesses, scientists have been chipping away at a universal flu vaccine that targets all strains—perhaps even those we haven’t yet identified. Often referred to as the “holy grail” in epidemiology, these vaccines try to alert our immune systems to parts of a flu virus that are least variable from strain to strain.
Last November, a first universal flu vaccine developed by BiondVax entered Phase 3 clinical trials, which means it’s already been proven safe and effective in a small numbers and is now being tested in a broader population. The vaccine doesn’t rely on dead viruses, which is a common technique. Rather, it uses a small chain of amino acids—the chemical components that make up proteins—to stimulate the immune system into high alert.
With the government pouring $160 million into the research and several other universal candidates entering clinical trials, universal flu vaccines may finally experience a breakthrough this year.

In-Body Gene Editing Shows Further Promise

CRISPR and other gene editing tools headed the news last year, including both downers suggesting we already have immunity to the technology and hopeful news of it getting ready for treating inherited muscle-wasting diseases.
But what wasn’t widely broadcasted was the in-body gene editing experiments that have been rolling out with gusto. Last September, Sangamo Therapeutics in Richmond, California revealed that they had injected gene-editing enzymes into a patient in an effort to correct a genetic deficit that prevents him from breaking down complex sugars.
The effort is markedly different than the better-known CAR-T therapy, which extracts cells from the body for genetic engineering before returning them to the hosts. Rather, Sangamo’s treatment directly injects viruses carrying the edited genes into the body. So far, the procedure looks to be safe, though at the time of reporting it was too early to determine effectiveness.
This year the company hopes to finally answer whether it really worked.
If successful, it means that devastating genetic disorders could potentially be treated with just a few injections. With a gamut of new and more precise CRISPR and other gene-editing tools in the works, the list of treatable inherited diseases is likely to grow. And with the CRISPR baby scandal potentially dampening efforts at germline editing via regulations, in-body gene editing will likely receive more attention if Sangamo’s results return positive.

Neuralink and Other Brain-Machine Interfaces

Neuralink is the stuff of sci fi: tiny implanted particles into the brain could link up your biological wetware with silicon hardware and the internet.
But that’s exactly what Elon Musk’s company, founded in 2016, seeks to develop: brain-machine interfaces that could tinker with your neural circuits in an effort to treat diseases or even enhance your abilities.
Last November, Musk broke his silence on the secretive company, suggesting that he may announce something “interesting” in a few months, that’s “better than anyone thinks is possible.”
Musk’s aspiration for achieving symbiosis with artificial intelligence isn’t the driving force for all brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). In the clinics, the main push is to rehabilitate patients—those who suffer from paralysis, memory loss, or other nerve damage.
2019 may be the year that BMIs and neuromodulators cut the cord in the clinics. These devices may finally work autonomously within a malfunctioning brain, applying electrical stimulation only when necessary to reduce side effects without requiring external monitoring. Or they could allow scientists to control brains with light without needing bulky optical fibers.
Cutting the cord is just the first step to fine-tuning neurological treatments—or enhancements—to the tune of your own brain, and 2019 will keep on bringing the music.
Image Credit: angellodeco / Shutterstock.comhttps://singularityhub.com/2019/01/22/the-top-biotech-and-medicine-advances-to-expect-in-2019/

Parliament approves GMO Bill

Posted on: 29 Nov 2018

Parliament has finally passed a Bill intended to provide a regulatory framework that facilitates the safe development and application of biotechnology in Uganda.
The Bill, formerly called the National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill, 2012 has now been renamed the Genetic Engineering Regulatory Bill 2018 following a recommendation by the President, who declined to assent to the proposed law raising 12 issues that required improvement. Parliament initially passed the Bill in 2017.
Among the concerns raised by the President included establishment of several gene banks and seed banks across the country to preserve the biodiversity, which Parliament consented to providing for the establishment of bank to preserve the uncontaminated indigenous plants and animal varieties.
The Vice Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Lawrence Akugizibwe said that it clearly stated in the Bill that genetic modification should be restricted to plants and animals.
“The President wanted it to be made clear that genetic modifications are restricted to plants and domestic animals so that scientists do not embark on modifying human beings,” he noted.
Akugizibwe also added that the Committee agreed with the President on the proposal to have a containment of Genetically Engineered Materials (GEMs) so that they do not mix with indigenous species by way of cross breeding and pollination.
“The President raised concern over the fact that the GEMs might be mixed with indigenous organisms and a problem arises when there is no fall back option,” he said.
Akugizibwe further noted that the committee agreed with the President that the developer of a GEM is fully liable for any negative repercussions that arise from a GEM.
“A person who owns a patent to GEM is strictly liable for any harm it may cause and must be tasked to explain whether the harm caused was intentional or not,” he said.
The MPs also ensured that provision of strict liability is inserted to cater for liability for body corporates.

Undergraduate Programmes at Kyambogo (where our club is based)

follow this link and see the programes that we have

About the Faculty of Science

This is where our club is basedhttps://kyu.ac.ug/about-fos/

Faculty of Science has seven departments offering science-based courses deeply rooted in the heritage of Uganda Polytechnic College with hands-on training to provide graduates with necessary knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of working in a modern workplace. The training provides graduates with the foundation to succeed academically and professionally in the field of study.

The faculty currently has seven (7) departments, with several courses being undertaken at each of the different departments. The different courses offered at the seven departments include; 

Department of Biological Sciences

• Doctor of Philosophy in Biological science
• Master of Science in Conservation and Natural Resource Management
• Master of Public Health
• Bachelor of Science Technology (Biology)
• Bachelor with Education (Biological Sciences)
• Diploma in Science Technology (Biology) 

Descriptive Words List of Adjectives for Movements ( Fast )

Descriptive Words List of Adjectives for Movements ( Fast )

scholarships for you today

Interview with AIG to join a world class engineering team

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Utrecht Excellence Scholarships for International Students

Utrecht UniversityBachelors/Masters Degree

Deadline: 1 April/1 Dec (annual)
Study in:  Netherlands
Course starts Sept 2016

Last updated: 08 Oct 2015 |

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University of Geneva Excellence Masters Fellowships

University of GenevaMasters (MS) Degree

Deadline: 15 March 2016 (annual)
Study in:  Switzerland
Course starts September 2016

Last updated: 08 Oct 2015 |

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Uppsala IPK Scholarships for International Students

Uppsala UniversityMasters Degree

Deadline: 15 Jan 2016 (annual)
Study in: Sweden
Course starts August 2016

Last updated: 08 Oct 2015 | OPENS 1 DEC 2015

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The welcome tea party

The tea party took place in the evening on the peace park grounds of Kyambogo University. There was a cool breeze provided by the trees and the green colour on the ground where everyone sat comfortably.
This party’s objective was to initiate the fresh ladies and gentlemen to the club and also to bridge a gap between students of different years of study in the Biological Sciences Department.
The chief organizers where Kigambo Monica and Nakasujja Florence.
We had a few speeches from some of the executive leaders among which we had the president of the club 2013/2014 Sendege Andrew who welcomed everyone to the party and told everyone to feel at home. His speech was followed by serving of the eats and the drinks. Introduction of the fresher’s began where each of them stood to say his/her name, former school, expectations in the course as well as the club.
There was auctioning at the end of the entire activities on the agenda where the club managed to raise some money for the club projects that were to be done in the course of the semester.
The party ended late at 6:30pm and everyone went away happy after the closing prayer.

How Biosand Water Filtration Systems Work

How Water is Filtered

The concrete Biosand filter is an innovative version of the slow sand filter specifically designed for household use. These filters are built locally using available materials and labor. As with the other types of water projects we support, we are meeting the clean drinking water needs of the region and providing needed jobs. Each community is a full participant in the project.

The Biosand filter is comprised of a container - plastic or concrete - and is about the size of an office water cooler. It has an inset plastic pipe and is filled with layers of sand and gravel. Dirty water is poured into the top of the biosand filter, where a diffuser plate evenly distributes the water over the sand bed layer. The water travels down through the sand bed, passes through multiple layers of gravel, and collects in the plastic pipe at the bottom of the filter. The clean water then exits through the plastic piping for a family to collect in clean containers.

The removal of contaminants and disease causing agents is possible due to a combination of biological degradation and mechanical filtration processes. The organic material present in the dirty water is trapped at the surface of the sand bed, forming a biological layer, or �schmutzdecke�, which actively removes pathogens and contaminants. The drinking water produced with the Biosand process is tasteless, clear in color, odorless and safe for drinking.

Studies have shown the Biosand filter can remove more than 90% of bacteria and 100% of parasites, dramatically increasing the safety of the water.

Why Organic Farming?

Defining “Organic”

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more than choosing not to use pesticides, fertilizers, genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones.
Organic production is a holistic system designed to optimize the productivity and fitness of diverse communities within the agro-ecosystem, including soil organisms, plants, livestock and people. The principal goal of organic production is to develop enterprises that are sustainable and harmonious with the environment.
The general principles of organic production, from the Canadian Organic Standards (2006), include the following:

• protect the environment, minimize soil degradation and erosion, decrease pollution, optimize biological productivity and promote a sound state of health
• maintain long-term soil fertility by optimizing conditions for biological activity within the soil
• maintain biological diversity within the system
• recycle materials and resources to the greatest extent possible within the enterprise
• provide attentive care that promotes the health and meets the behavioural needs of livestock
• prepare organic products, emphasizing careful processing, and handling methods in order to maintain the organic integrity and vital qualities of the products at all stages of production
• rely on renewable resources in locally organized agricultural systems

Organic farming promotes the use of crop rotations and cover crops, and encourages balanced host/predator relationships. Organic residues and nutrients produced on the farm are recycled back to the soil. Cover crops and composted manure are used to maintain soil organic matter and fertility. Preventative insect and disease control methods are practiced, including crop rotation, improved genetics and resistant varieties. Integrated pest and weed management, and soil conservation systems are valuable tools on an organic farm. Organically approved pesticides include “natural” or other pest management products included in the Permitted Substances List (PSL) of the organic standards. The Permitted Substances List identifies substances permitted for use as a pesticides in organic agriculture. All grains, forages and protein supplements fed to livestock must be organically grown.
The organic standards generally prohibit products of genetic engineering and animal cloning, synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, synthetic drugs, synthetic food processing aids and ingredients, and ionizing radiation. Prohibited products and practices must not be used on certified organic farms for at least three years prior to harvest of the certified organic products. Livestock must be raised organically and fed 100 per cent organic feed ingredients.
Organic farming presents many challenges. Some crops are more challenging than others to grow organically; however, nearly every commodity can be produced organically.

Growth of Organic Agriculture

The world market for organic food has grown for over 15 years. Growth of retail sales in North America is predicted to be 10 per cent to 20 per cent per year during the next few years. The retail organic food market in Canada is estimated at over $1.5 billion in 2008 and $22.9 billion in the U.S.A. in 2008. It is estimated that imported products make up over 70 per cent of the organic food consumed in Canada. Canada also exports many organic products, particularly soybeans and grains.
The Canadian Organic Farmers reported 669 certified organic farms in Ontario in 2007 with over 100,000 certified organic acres of crops and pasture land. This is an annual increase of approximately 10 per cent per year in recent years. About 48 per cent of the organic cropland is seeded to grains, 40 per cent produces hay and pasture and about five per cent for certified organic fruits and vegetables. Livestock production (meat, dairy and eggs) has also been steadily increasing in recent years.

Why Farm Organically?

The main reasons farmers state for wanting to farm organically are their concerns for the environment and about working with agricultural chemicals in conventional farming systems. There is also an issue with the amount of energy used in agriculture, since many farm chemicals require energy intensive manufacturing processes that rely heavily on fossil fuels. Organic farmers find their method of farming to be profitable and personally rewarding.

Why Buy Organic?

Consumers purchase organic foods for many different reasons. Many want to buy food products that are free of chemical pesticides or grown without conventional fertilizers. Some simply like to try new and different products. Product taste, concerns for the environment and the desire to avoid foods from genetically engineered organisms are among the many other reasons some consumers prefer to buy organic food products. In 2007 it was estimated that over 60 per cent of consumers bought some organic products. Approximately five per cent of consumers are considered to be core organic consumers who buy up to 50 per cent of all organic food.

What is "Certified Organic"?

“Certified organic” is a term given to products produced according to organic standards as certified by one of the certifying bodies. There are several certification bodies operating in Ontario. A grower wishing to be certified organic must apply to a certification body requesting an independent inspection of their farm to verify that the farm meets the organic standards. Farmers, processors and traders are each required to maintain the organic integrity of the product and to maintain a document trail for audit purposes. Products from certified organic farms are labelled and promoted as “certified organic.”
In June 2009, the Canadian government introduced regulations to regulate organic products. Under these regulations the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) oversees organic certification, including accreditation of Conformity Verification Bodies (CVBs) and Certification Bodies (CBs). This regulation also references the Canadian Organic Production Systems General Principles and Management Standards (CAN/CGSB-32.310) and the Organic Production Systems – Permitted Substances List that were revised in 2009.
The Canadian organic regulations require certification to these standards for agricultural products represented as organic in import, export and inter-provincial trade, or that bear the federal organic agricultural product legend or logo. (Figure 1) Products that are both produced and sold within a province are regulated by provincial organic regulations where they exist (Quebec, British Columbia and Manitoba).

When eating mangoes becomes the cause of malaria!

Despite enormous efforts by health professionals, educators and Government, malaria remains the single most significant health threat to Ugandans. Why is this the case? 
A team of medical students from Makerere University believe they have the answer: the professionals who are leading the fight against malaria aren’t listening to the voices of the people who are affected by the disease. As a result, programmes to educate people about malaria prevention don’t take account of what people know and they therefore fail to teach people what they need to know. 
“In Uganda, the main problem is not lack of information,” said Nixon Nyonzima, from Makerere University. The problem, he said, is that “we don’t package information so that the man on the street can understand it.” 
In June and July last year, the students spent six weeks in Mifumi Village, Tororo, eastern Uganda, listening carefully to what people told them about malaria. After learning what the people of the village knew, the students then designed an educational program designed to fill gaps in the people’s knowledge. The students, who presented their preliminary findings in a video conference with the U.S National Library of Medicine (NLM) and Fogarty International Centre, are currently studying the impact of their efforts. 
Meeting villagers in their homes and in public settings, the students learned that villagers’ ideas about malaria are neither correct nor incorrect. 
While listening to the people, a response like, “Mangoes cause malaria in this village. When I eat mangoes I get sick,” was common—an indicator that people had not received correct information on how malaria is got. 
But the researchers learnt that in their perceptions, the locals were not far from the truth, because during the rainy season when mangoes are plenty, malaria cases increase. “This is when mosquitoes breed around the bushes, broken bottles, containers and swamps. And when people exposed to these places get bitten by mosquitoes , they attribute malaria sickness to mangoes,” said William Lubega, one of the researchers. 
Another response from the locals was: “Malaria is caused by witchcraft or bad spirits. When I got malaria, I found out that my neighbour was responsible for it. And when he was sent away from the village, I got cured,” one local said. 
But the researchers found out that when malaria attacks villagers, they don’t seek medical advice due to ignorance. “The pain may go away after some time even when someone hasn’t visited a health centre. But the germ remains in the body and the person will succumb to the disease again,” said Lubega. “So when they have a quarrel with a neighbour they attribute it to them. Like in this case it was a coincidence that the pain reduced for a short time when the neighbour was sent away from the village, but the disease resurfaced later. When we treated him, he became okay, showing that he had shunned medical help. But the neighbour was innocent.” 
The researchers also discovered that there was a link between malaria and diarrhoea in this village. There was no protected water source in the area. The people shared wells with animals and lacked basic knowledge about personal hygiene. As a result, many had suffered from malaria and diarrhoea and yet attributed their illness to witchcraft. 
Another problem encountered was misuse of anti-malaria drugs. According to Brian Sseruyombya, a pharmacist with the project, the people had tried various drugs and had given up visiting health centres because it had made no difference. “The majority had not completed the doses,” he said. “And some used over the counter-drugs especially Panadol that merely reduced pain and people had also resorted to sharing the tablets with their immediate family members because everyone couldn’t afford his or her own.” 
The researchers attributed all these problems to lack of basic education, and cultural beliefs. “Looking at Mifumi village, people are so poor and ill educated. They sleep near swamps, broken bottles and their personal hygiene in homes was so appaling. So I looked at the best way of how we can send the message effectively to the people,” said Julia Royal, head of International Program, NLM, who led the team. 
The researchers created tutorials on malaria with the faculty of medicine and a team of Ugandan doctors, artists and translators. The faculty members worked with an artistic team to create locally meaningful text and illustrations for the tutorials. “We moved from one homestead to another both through group and individual approach, educating people about malaria,” said Nyonzima 
In order to make the people understand the messages, the community had to be a partner in all this. “They had to be included at all levels. Education was passed to them and the team had to stay with the community in their homes to address their concerns.” Lubega said. 
“We set up a community-based education service, which enabled us educate communities and allowed the communities to pose questions. It was done on both radio and through physical contact. The group targeted individuals in various villages in conjunction with local councils where education in local languages about malaria was imparted to them,” said group member Nelson Igaba. 
Another approach the researchers used was passing on messages on malaria through school children. “Children are the best mode through which health education can be passed. Most are able to read and write due to the Universal Primary Program. Therefore we taught children in homes and schools about the causes, signs, and symptoms of malaria,” said Deborah Kisige, another student. 
“After a few days we noticed a difference. People started making toilet covers from wood, slashed bushes around their compounds and separated human water sources from those of the animals,” said Igaba. 
“They abandoned their belief of malaria caused by mangoes and demons,” said Thomas Kiggundu. “They abandoned it and sought medical care from professionals.” 
The students’ work is very timely. Statistics show that in Uganda, malaria is a serious health problem and currently poses the most significant threat to the health of the population. Malaria accounts for 25-40% of all outpatients’ visits at health centres, 20% of hospital admissions, 9-14% of in-patient deaths, and kills 3-5% of the people who get it. Each year, malaria kills about 100,000 people in Uganda, nearly a quarter of whom are children aged five and below