Huang Linbin, a researcher at the fisheries and life sciences school of Shanghai Ocean University, has lived on campus and attended to lab-managed aquatic creatures during the lockdown. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
While taking care of students who have been locked down on campus since April 10, Huang Linbin, a researcher at the fisheries and life sciences school of Shanghai Ocean University, has also been busy attending to lab-managed aquatic creatures.
The creatures stored across the university's 50 labs, including fish, shrimp, shellfish and algae, are fundamental to oceanographic research and student experiments, Huang says.
Huang is one of seven teachers who have been taking turns to feed the creatures, as well as deliver meals to the students on campus.
"Although we are equipped with knowledge of biology, it takes time to get familiar with the creatures. The creatures' 'owners', most of whom are students, gave us instructions on when and how much to feed through video chats," says Huang.
Huang Linbin, a researcher at the fisheries and life sciences school of Shanghai Ocean University, has lived on campus and attended to lab-managed aquatic creatures during the lockdown. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Among the tasks involved is brewing yeast to feed the chironomids, a kind of freshwater insect, every day.
"It's like feeding formula to a baby. It's fulfilling to witness the growth of these chironomids," Huang says.
Other important tasks include changing water and cleaning the feces, removing dead fish from incubators and hatching bait.
As many devices in the labs such as incubators are still operational during the lockdown, the teachers also have to assist their quarantined students to record experiment data daily.
"All teachers have actively responded to the school's call of support for the outbreak-related measures. No one has any complaints. I'm impressed by the solidarity and dedication of the faculty in these challenging times," he adds.
