Professor of Biology John Mecham has recently sent an update to the College community offering a glimpse into his experiences as a Fulbright Scholar in Kenya.

Mecham is working at Kenyatta University to review and develop curriculum in human physiology, parasitology and HIV/AIDS education. The curriculum development will benefit the new department of health sciences at Kenyatta. Mecham will also research how CD4 cell counts respond to HIV/AIDS treatment and the relationship of schistosomiasis infections to HIV/AIDS infections. Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that affects up to 80 percent of the populations in some areas of Kenya.

In addition to the Fulbright Lecture/Research Scholar award, Mecham is also the recipient of an award from the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF Grant is part of an effort that Mecham is leading with a consortium of other colleges. The one-year NSF award is $75,000 grant to support the development of a course module on HIV/AIDS for the course "Life Science in Context: Sub-Saharan Africa."

Prior to his departure, Mecham said he was looking forward to seeing how science is taught and learned differently in Kenya than in the U.S.

"When you study science globally it makes you more aware of your country, your state, your science," he said. "We have as much to learn from other modes of science as others do from us."

Visit www.meredith.edu/kenya/message_board.htm to read Mecham's recent message from Kenya.