Prof. Samuel Kofi Sefa-Dedeh, Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences and KEYS delegates in a group photograph after the opening ceremony
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering of the University of Ghana in collaboration with the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung [BAM]) of Berlin-Germany, have held the 2nd Knowledge Exchange for Young Scientists symposium (KEYS) at the University of Ghana. The symposium which was held with funding support from the Volkswagen Foundation of Berlin, Germany, was under the theme “Sustainable Cement and Concrete Construction – Improvement of Solid Waste Management.”
A snap shot of the delegates from 13 countries
More than 60 people from Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Mauritius, Algeria, Cameroon, France, Canada, Brazil, USA, and Germany participated in the Symposium.
The Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences, Professor Samuel Sefa-Dedeh, who delivered welcome remarks, lauded the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und –prüfung for creating such an international collaboration platform. He expressed the hope that the symposium would create emerging partnerships between BAM and the University of Ghana.
The representatives from BAM, Dr. Wolfram Schmidt and Ms. Susan Nsesheye Msinjili earlier paid a courtesy call on the Provost of CBAS, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu and the Vice Chancellor, Professor Ernest Aryeetey.
The symposium consisted of presentation sessions for keynotes and technical papers as well as of interactive group workshops on different relevant topics.
The aim of the symposia series include facilitating knowledge exchange between young scientists and engineering experts; providing an opportunity for young scientists to interact with other young scientists from Africa, Europe, Americas and Germany in particular (a positive influence for enhancing research between Germany and Africa); promoting awareness in researching new, innovative and sustainable construction technologies suitable for the African market; providing young scientists with a positive input and feedback on aspects of their African-based research; to create and foster a network of top young scientists in this vast region; and finally, developing cooperation among researchers in Africa and Germany that is beneficial for future related projects, as well as to demonstrate that institutions in Germany have strong international skills in research.
The 3rd symposium is scheduled to be hosted by the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa in 2017.
Dr. Wolfram Schmidt (BAM), Susan Nsesheye Msinjili (BAM), Dr. Charles Nmai (BASF-USA) and Dr. David Dodoo-Arhin (Head, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, UG
Participants in intensive and constructive discussions
