\The Ghana Photonics and Optics Laboratory (GPOL), led by Dr. Akyana Britwum, Dr. Michael Kweku Edem Donkor and Mr. Martin Kusi of the Department of Physics at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has embarked on a photonics outreach initiative across Accra.
The programme, organised in partnership with the Ghana Christian International High School (GCIHS), targeted underserved schools in Dodowa and surrounding communities, many of which lack basic science laboratories.
In collaboration with the KNUST Photonics Student Chapter (KPSC), the GPOL team engaged more than 500 students through demonstrations, interactive learning sessions, and teacher support. The outreach aimed to introduce students to the fields of optics and photonics, spark early interest in science, and encourage future careers in STEM.
The Principal Investigator, Dr. Akyana Briritwum explained that the outreach is a deliberate effort to bridge the awareness gap around photonics in Ghana.
“We are intentional about this outreach because many people have never even heard of photonics. When we visit schools, our goal is to create awareness. These outreaches are very hands-on; we let students perform the experiments themselves. We want to empower the next generation of photonics and optics scientists in Ghana,” he said.
Terrance Kessler, Senior Research Engineer and Diversity Manager at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at the University of Rochester, facilitated the hands-on practical sessions. He emphasised that exposing young minds to optics and laser science can help shape their academic aspirations.
