The Office of the SCISA Women's Commissioner at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has taken a bold step in championing gender advocacy, hosting a departmental debate competition as part of activities marking International Women's Day.

The qualification round brought together students from across departments to deliberate on one of the most pressing issues facing women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) today.

At the heart of the debate was a motion that hit close to home for many participants, whether universities are doing enough to protect women in STEM from harassment and discrimination in laboratories, research environments and internships.

The Women's Commissioner, Akua Serwaa Bonsu said the initiative was driven by the purpose to create a platform where female students could find their voices and speak boldly on issues that directly shape their academic and professional journeys.

She noted that the debate went beyond the exchange of arguments, serving as a powerful avenue to surface concerns around safety, inclusion and equal opportunities for women in STEM concerns that, she emphasized, deserve urgent attention.

According to her, the choice of topic was deliberate, forming part of SCISA's broader commitment to spotlighting the challenges faced by women in academia and sparking conversations that can translate into meaningful, lasting change.

"This is more than a debate. It is about giving women in STEM a stage, a voice and the confidence to demand the environment they deserve," she said.

The competition is expected to build momentum for stronger gender advocacy within the KNUST community, while equipping students with confidence and conviction to actively drive conversations around safer, fairer and more inclusive learning and research environments.