The Ghana Science Association (GSA) Kumasi Branch, during its 12th Research Seminar and Poster Presentations (RSPP) and the Celebration of the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD-2023), presented an award to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The Special Recognition Award 2023 plaque was awarded in recognition of the efforts made by Office of the Vice-Chancellor in supporting the GSA’s activities as stakeholders in capacity building including community service and training programmes for science and technology teachers among others’.
The 2-day event was both in-person and online on 8th to 9th March, 2023. It was organised in collaboration with the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), College of Science and Young Researchers Forum (YRF) of the Office of Grants & Research (OGR), KNUST. The conference was under the theme: The Role of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development’. It was supported by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP).
Speaking at the conference, the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ellis Owusu-Dabo, who spoke in place of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. (Mrs.) Rita Akosua Dickson, expressed admiration for the Ghana Science Association and their relentless pursuit in the advancement of science and technology in the country.
Professor Owusu-Dabo acknowledged the significance of the theme by affirming that ‘The Basic Sciences are indeed the bedrock for development’. He highlighted hosting several national and international workshops and conferences as a few of the university’s efforts to support the Ghana Science Association.
‘It is refreshing to mention that the 9th KNUST SUMMER SCHOOL held in September 2021 was on the on the theme ‘SDGs and Universities: Actions towards KNUST’s mandate at 70 and beyond.’ It sought to foster partnership among the staff of the university, affiliate institutions and partners to enhance their knowledge in implementing the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) to improve the quality of work and promote higher quality education in Ghana’, he said.
He encouraged all persons interested in the pursuit of knowledge in science and technology especially ‘the teachers, students and researchers in the second cycle institutions and the females or women in STEM’ to make use of the ‘state-of-the-art facilities and conducive environment’ the university provides.
The Conference Chair, who is also the Provost of the College of Science, Prof. Leonard K. Amekudzi, stated the Ghana Science Association is instrumental in the teaching and learning of the basic sciences in different schools. He therefore acknowledges the contribution of the GSA to improving the basic sciences for sustainable development in Ghana. To this, the Colleges of Science-KNUST is a proud collaborator with GSA.
The Special Guest, who happened to be the Past President of the GAAS, GSA and a Member of IUPAP Commission on Physics & Development, Prof. Aba Bentil Andam stated that the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences is hopeful that the conference will positively impact the improvement of basic sciences. Delivering the solidarity message on behalf of IUPAP, she stated that IUPAP was proud to sponsor the 12th GSA RSSP/IYBSSD-2023 and that IUPAP C13 greatly congratulates the Ghana Science Association with best wishes for a successful conference.
There were presentations by six Keynote Speakers namely: Emeritus Professor Michael Steinitz – from St. Francis Xavier University, Canada, Prof. Marian A. Nkansah -YRF-KNUST, Very Rev. Prof. William Obeng-Denteh - Mathematics-KNUST, Prof. Nathaniel O. Boadi -Chemistry-KNUST, Dr. Linus Labik - Physics-KNUST and Dr. Joseph H.K. Bonney -NMIMR-Legon. The were also oral and poster presentations from 100 abstracts submitted to the conference Book of Abstracts. The departments and authors with the highest number of abstracts were awarded likewise the best oral and poster presenters.
The GSA also awarded special recognition plaques to other stakeholders including the College of Science-KNUST, Multimedia, TekTV, Pure FM, GSA patrons and Institutional Representatives who have made meritorious contributions to the growth of GSA.
The President of the GSA Kumasi Branch, Prof. Jacob K. Agbenorhevi, thanked all stakeholders, keynote speakers, patrons, representatives and members of the association for their commitment and urged all - ‘let’s keep up the collaboration as we strive to achieve the common vision towards sustainable development’.
