Biophys gets to the top of Kilimanjaro

http://kiliascent2011.blogspot.com/

A thought from Lisa de Speville on why people strive to do the impossible:

From Lisa de Speville's blog (posted 27 September) ....


In a final comment from the Richard Burton book that Lisa has been reading ... 

The guide is discussing the difficulty of the journeys (he went on four in total with Burton, Speke and other explorers including Stanley). He speaks of suffering and wonders how they all endured it. He also questions how the Englishmen endured the conditions when they came from a place where the heat, animals and sicknesses were so different (both Burton and Speke suffered terribly from malaria and other tropical fevers which nearly killed them). 

"It was only at the end of that first journey that I realised what I should have known from the beginning: without this suffering the wazungu do not feel alive. Just before we reached the coast [returning after finding the lakes], I understood that they depend on suffering the way others depend on alcohol or khat or ganja. So it was no surprise when I saw the wazungu again, less than two monsoons later."

He goes on to say:

"Even the others, Bwana Stanley and Bwana Cameron, kept coming back, drawn to their own suffering: all of them did, except the ones who did not survive. They only had to get back on their feet and they were already planning their next journey. It did not have to be easier or more comfortable, the next one. Eh, far from it. They sought out more pain next time, they sailed even closer to death, like a fisherman who is not satisfied with surviving the reef but is compelled to try ever more impossible channels, channels where is boat can only be dashed to pieces."

It's not so different where modern adventurers, mountaineers, climbers, kayakers and, indeed, adventure racers are concerned...

3 Types of Failure to Avoid

From the HBR Blog

Innovation experts have long argued that companies should be more tolerant of failure. But not all failure is created equally. Here are three types of failures that rarely contribute to learning and should be avoided whenever possible: Knowingly doing the wrong thing. When a project falls apart because someone hid information or misled others, any learning is moot. Failure is only acceptable when the project was done with good intentions. Failing to gather the right data. Often failure can be avoided by doing some simple research: asking target customers for input or testing an idea before launching it. Prioritizing research over experience. Some things are unknowable without real-life experiments. Don't waste resources on researching a theory when you can create a prototype or conduct an experiment that will give you a more realistic answer.

Today's Management Tip was adapted from "When Failure Is Intolerable" by Scott Anthony.

IUFoST 2010

In the latter stages of August we are attending the IUFoST conference in Cape Town, South Africa to present two papers. One on Kingklip freshness and the other on Carbon Footprints in the fishing industry.

Biophys Adds Biosafety and Biosecurity Consulting Service

The Biophys team supports organisations in identifying critical areas involving biological material and work together with clients to develop and implement biosafety and biosecurity (management) systems to meet their statutory obligations, ensure personnel safety and deliver product integrity and quality.

Biosafety and biosecurity are of ever-increasing importance in commerce, industry and academia in light of tightening regulatory control and the threat of bioterrorism.

Biophys offers the following services to organisations:

• Develop and implement a biorisk management system according to CWA 15793:2008;
• Competent advice on statutory notification requirements in handling biological material;
• Advise on the management, design and operation of microbiological containment laboratories;
• Training in Containment Level (BSL) 1-3 operations;
• Assistance in setting up an institutional Genetic Modification & Biosafety Committee as required by the UK Contained Use Rgeulations 2010;
• Retainer-based services of a Biological Safety Officer as required by the UK Contained Use Regulations 2010.

Biophys sponsors FEAT

FEAT, Fascinating Expedition & Adventure Talks, is an evening of time-limited presentations. Each presenter (12-14 of them) speaks for seven minutes; no more, no less. With images. Although the speakers are invited because of their achievements, presentation themes focus on an aspect of their expedition – not the entire extended expedition. With stories of adventures on land, water and in the air, you will be enthralled.

Created by adventure racer and writer Lisa de Speville, FEAT brings South Africa’s adventurers together. “Most people would love to embark on an expedition; but most are tied to ‘real life’ so they settle for feeding this desire with organised sporting events,” she says. “It takes a different, special kind of courage and drive to abandon socially accepted norms (day job, family, home) to set off – often solo – on self-motivated and self-organised expeditions. Whether the adventure involves oceans, countries, continents, rivers or mountains, these achievements are extraordinary. I’ve yet to meet a person who is not captivated by tales of adventure.”

Through these Talks, FEAT aims to publicise the achievements of South African adventurers. Be inspired by their feats.

The first FEAT will be held in Jo’burg on 7 October 2010, at Wits Theatre in Braamfontein. A FEAT evening is planned for Cape Town in early 2011.

Information can be found at:

www.ar.co.za	http://www.ar.co.za/2010/07/south-african-adventurers-celebrated-at-feat/
FEAT	http://www.featsa.co.za/2010/07/sa-adventurers-celebrated-at-feat/
FEAT Facebook	www.facebook.com/featsa
Go Multi	http://www.gomulti.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=380:south-african-adventurers-celebrated-in-live-presentations&catid=86:news-ar&Itemid=126
Publicity / Media Update	http://www.publicityupdate.co.za/?IDStory=27903
Sports Guide	http://www.sportsguide.co.za/?p=1526
The Adventure Blog	http://theadventureblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/south-african-adventurers-to-be.html
Gadling	http://www.gadling.com/2010/07/18/new-adventure-festival-celebrates-south-african-explorers/
www.climb.co.za	http://www.climb.co.za/2010/07/south-african-adventurers-are-accomplished-many-of-their-achievements-are-documented-as-world-firsts-and-records-our-adventurers-have-traversed-and-circumnavigated-countries-and-continents-they/
RunnersTalk	http://runnerstalk.myfreeforum.org/sutra60466.php#60466

Things we can do to reduce climate change

As adapted from Time (7 April 2007):

1. Turn waste food into fuel.
2. Build a greener house if new construction is necessary.
3. Change your lightbulbs.
4. Use LEDs for lights in municipal areas.
5. Reduce the size of your house (or “Ditch the McMansion”)
6. Use a clothesline and not a tumble dryer.
7. Recycle your old clothes 
8. Convert your old fleece into new fleece.
9. Where possible use geothermal heat.
10. Capture carbon.
11. Consider letting your employees work from home.
12. Use a bus/train.
13. Pay bills online - create a paperless environment.
14. Open your window instead of using an aircon.
15. Have your company, office or home audited for energy usage/carbon footprints.
16. Use green power.
17. Buy energy compliant appliances.
18. Wrap your water heater in a thermal blanket.
19. Reduce your meat intake.
20. Say “NO” to plastic bags.
21. Use live bamboo as a fence.
22. Unless you can use a fireplace to travel, fly direct.
23. Shut down your computer when not in use.
24. Turn off all of the appliances you are not using.
25. Reduce the use of packaging.
26. Don’t drive one person - one car.
27. SHARE.