NEWS This past weekend, Lars Lundmark, research engineer at the Department of Chemistry, received a medal signed by Cambodian President Hun Sen for his major contributions to the country. The award was presented by a government official at a ceremony in Phnom Penh.
“It feels incredibly amazing,” says Lars Lundmark, research engineer at the Department of Chemistry at Umeå University
Photo Caption: "The Royal Order of Sahametrei Class Knight" medal was awarded to Lars Lundmark, research engineer at the Department of Chemistry. From left: Dim Theng, Director of Camcontrol, Lars Lundmark, Chhay Phalroth and laboratory manager Chea Eakkhim.
The Royal Order of Sahametrei is a medal presented by the government of the Kingdom of Cambodia by Royal Decree of the King of Cambodia. It is conferred primarily on foreigners who have rendered distinguished services to the King and to the people of Cambodia, particularly in the field of external relations and diplomatic services or, as a token of friendship.This year, Lars Lundmark was nominated as candidate by the Camcontrol (Cambodia Import-Export Inspection and Fraud Repression Directorate General) lab because he was a very important piece of the puzzle to getting this laboratory in operation.
Camcontrol is a testing laboratory for food which has been lacking in Cambodia. Lars Lundmark has sent leftover fume hoods from Umeå University and the former National Institute of Working Life with containers to the company where they come into use. Otherwise, these fume hoods would have ended up in an industrial landfill in Umeå as hazardous waste. Fume hoods are ventilation devices designed to limit exposure to hazardous or toxic fumes, vapors or dusts.
“I have introduced many personal initiatives for their business, including advising on the purchase of new instruments, and training on use of equipment through our Minor Field Study students, “says Lars Lundmark. “ I have also invited their laboratory manager to visit Umeå University for two weeks so that they could see how a modern laboratory operates.”
Fume hoods are now available in several places in Cambodia marked with labels featuring the Umeå University logotype and the text "Donated by Umeå University."
Lars Lundmark has worked in Cambodia for many years and visited the country for the first time in 1992. Having strong expertise in chemistry and electronics, he has been an instructor and repaired equipment. In late 2012, he visited for 40 days as a teacher to Phnom Penh via a Linnaeus-Palme international exchange programme.
The Department of Chemistry at Umeå University has had several Minor Field Study (MFS) students who have worked on various projects in analytical chemistry in Cambodia.
Editor: Ingrid Söderbergh