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| | Faculty of Science holds 17th Annual Colloquium |    | | | The Faculty of Science of the University has organized its bi-annual Faculty Colloquium under the theme “Reaching for Greater Heights in Science and Technology for National Development”.
This year’s Colloquium, which opened at the R.S. Amegashie Auditorium, marks the 17th successive year that the Faculty of Science is holding its annual Colloquium. Its purpose was to build strong linkages with various stakeholders in the public and private sector and industry players to scale up the development of science education in Ghana as well as to launch its planned Industrial Internship Programme. (IIP)
The Colloquium also sought to provide an avenue for the cross fertilization of ideas among stakeholders, networking among research scientists, technologists, policy makers and practitioners in various fields related to the emerging trends in the field of science; and help to create awareness and to sensitize policy makers and other stakeholders to made good commitments to a major improvement in funding for Science, Technology and Innovation activities as indicated in the current Science and Innovation Policy of Ghana.
Participants at this year’s Colloquium were Academics, Scientists and Technologists, Diplomatic Missions and Embassies, NGOs, Corporate Business Entrepreneurs, relevant Government Institutions, First and Second Cycle Institutions, University Students, the press and the general public.
The Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Daniel K. Asiedu, in his welcome address at the opening ceremony, paid tribute the Honourable Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms. Sherry Ayitey for accepting the invitation to be the Guest of Honour. He said her presence was a clear indication of the special value she attached to science and technology education. Prof. Asiedu noted that the theme for the 17th Colloquium “Reaching for greater heights in science and Technology for national development” was carefully crafted to reflect the fact that though a lot of scientific research has already been conducted or are being conducted in the University and there was therefore the need to foster good quality relationship with the private sector to ensure that products are well oriented and prepared to meet future challenges. He said the colloquium over the years has become a platform on the Faculty’s calendar to deliberate on topical issues of national interest, for useful interaction between stakeholders.
On research and extension activities, Professor Asiedu said the Faculty enjoys a long history of excellence in basic and applied research in areas ranging from traditional scientific disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and mathematics to modern, specialized disciplines such as molecular biology, microbiology, nutrition, food science and Nuclear Science and Technology. He added that over the past few years, there has been an increasing emphasis on applied and strategic research and that a key performance measure in the Faculty’s strategic plan therefore seeks to develop consumer focus and third party linkages through the dissemination of research results. He said to achieve this, the Faculty plans to transform the Faculty Colloquium into a public event; to improve the quality of the Faculty of Science Journal; and to institute Job Fairs and Internship Programmes for students.
He was hopeful that as participants deliberate on the issues that would arise out of the Colloquium, Faculty would be encouraged to be innovative and develop new employable courses and improve upon their expertise and specialization, industry players would be challenged to engage academia in the development of viable internship programmes and collaborative research.
In her address, the Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Ms. Sherry Ayitey noted that in the next two decades, Ghana is likely to become an economically prosperous nation and more significantly towards being far more an inclusive society, with the bulk of its population gaining access to facilities for education and healthcare and living a life of hope and security. She said to realize such a vision, it is essential that science, technology and innovation strategy was given priority at the next stage of national development agenda. Ghana, she noted, needs to become a knowledge-based society and to be Africa’s leader in science. She therefore argued for a redoubling of national efforts in order to promote the scientific tempo, strengthen Science and Technology infrastructure, expand the educational base, establish Centres of Excellence, foster a culture of innovation and channel greater investments into research and development (R&D). “We need to consciously create a robust enabling environment through science, technology and. innovation for harnessing the creative energies of our youth, which can make a visible impact in improving the quality of life of our people”, she added.
Hon. Sherry Ayitey delivering her address
In his remarks, the Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Samuel Kwame Offei (Academic and Student Affairs) who chaired the event, commended the Faculty for consistently organizing the Colloquium over the years. He said the University of Ghana considers the Colloquium as an opportunity to reach students and industry to deliberate on issues and also to forge ahead. He was happy that a number of stakeholders were participating in the Colloquium, and hoped they would be engaged to ensure that funding of development and Science was given an important consideration in the national budget.
The activities for the Colloquium included plenary sessions, oral and poster presentations, exhibitions by stakeholder Science Departments and Association Establishments, Organizations, Industrial Players, as well as a Job Fair held at the University’s Recreational Quadrangle was heavily patronized by industry.
Sponsors of the Colloquium included Newmont Ghana Limited, Ministry of Energy, French Embassy, Starlife Insurance Company Limited, Smice International, GHACEM, Special Ice Mineral Water and Coca Cola, Krypton Global Limited, Mr. Neil Armstrong, and the University of Ghana Basic School. Radio Univers was a major media partner.
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| | | | Date Published: 27/03/2012 | | | |   |
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