Flying Missions in a remote desert: In search of our ancestral trails VII
During the past several days of our visit, the Autodesk Octo-copter not only survived the harsh environment of Northern Kenya, but also brought us fresh aerial photography experience, which has inspired the use of new technology in carrying out future field research. With all the missions accomplished at the end of our staying in the TBI Ileret Camp, there was still something in our minds.
We were told that as we carried out field missions, locals had been vigilantly watching the performance of our “flying spider”. For people who have minimum exposure to technology in that remote area, seeing such an eccentric (if not supernatural) object in the sky was certainly an astonishing or even terrifying experience. There were even rumors saying that the machine could cause earthquakes… To dispel doubts and fears as well as to bring the state-of-the-art knowledge to a broader audience, we decided to offer some free shows to the locals.
First we headed to the shore of Lake Turkana, where some locals gathered. For people who have done nothing more than herding their animals and fetching from waterholes, having a close look at this weird machine was full of surprises.
With the help of translators, our expedition leader Louise Leakey and a local who speaks Swahili, we managed to make our explanations from English to local Daasanach language and finally convinced the locals that our intelligent agent would not do any harm to our Mother Earth...
Certainly we didn’t miss the chance of taking aerial videos of a fantastic sunset over Lake Turkana. It was just fascinating!
Photo courtesy of Shaan Hurley, Autodesk
And nothing is comparable to having a dip in the lake and enjoying a cold drink on the beach at the end of a long hot day, with cool breezes coming from the Lake and waves gently flapping the shores.
The next morning, we visited a local school with the copter on board our vehicle. The school is situated almost right at the Kenya-Ethiopia border and it is no more than a couple of classrooms, offices and toilets plus a very simple canteen where there are roofs to shelter the kids from the hostile desert sun. There are only two teachers in the school and students of different grades have to share their desks, chairs and even textbooks. It is under these meager conditions that the students are educated, and all of them cherish their opportunities of schooling very much.
Our arrival certainly raised the anxiety among students. They all gathered in the school yard, listened carefully to us funny looking visitors. And of course, it took all the efforts to explain what the machine was with just simple words.
And they couldn't believe it until seeing it with their own eyes. Honestly say, I have never seen kids with such critical eyes!
After a brief introduction, there came our pilot Gonzalo Martinez! The big show was about to begin!
There it was in the air, in the background of huts, Lake Turkana and distant mountains! Unfortunately, the wind there was too strong for the copter, and Gonzalo could do nothing more than keeping it just above ground. But it was still a great performance for the students. After all, that was their first time to see and to touch such high-tech stuff.
After a group photo with the curious students, we decided to leave some peace to them for the rest of the day. We all hoped that this performance could inspire some of the hard-working students to continue their study and become scientists and engineers in the future, so that they can carry on missions like ours and further promote the understanding of Science and Technology in this and other corners of the world. (The End)
P.S. My special thanks to all the crew members: Louise Leakey, Gonzalo Martinez, Shaan Hurley and all staff from TBI Turkwel and Ileret, for your full support and care during the whole length of the visit. It was my greatest honor to work together with you, to enjoy the expeditions and teamwork!
View and download photos of this post: Flying missions
Aerial Video edited by Gonzalo Martinez, taken from the copter.
A Slideshow of "Flying Missions in a remote desert: In search of our ancestral trails"
Comments
In wrapping up your series about the use of the Octo-Copter at Lake Turkana, your words sketch out scientific research in a special cultural context seldom seen by outsiders.
The local inhabitants around Lake Turkana have survived under difficult conditions through careful adaptation to the environment, remaining aware of subtle changes in the local ecology. Through doing so, they continue a tradition began in the area millions of years ago.
The work of your team, using modern technology, merits the highest respect, as it is done on behalf of the entire human family. We who are your friends greatly appreciate your outstanding work, Deming, as a paleoanthropologist-in-training, as a journalist, and as a skilled photographer.
Like your cousin Daqi, serving as a video editor this summer in China's prestigious Xinhua News, you're directly involved in communication. Thank you SO MUCH, Deming, for the careful effort to write in English, to prepare well-chosen images, and for uploading them to your Zenfolio blog.
With Very Highest Appreciation for Deming's dedication to craftsmanship and integrity,
Tom K.