Professor Siaw and a cross section of faculty, staff and students of CBAS
The Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology has donated a Rainfall Simulator to the School of Engineering Sciences at a brief ceremony at the Agricultural Engineering Workshop.
In his opening remarks, the Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences, Professor Boateng Onwona-Agyeman stated that the Rainfall Simulator was bought from the research funds of Professor Onwona-Agyeman Siaw from the Tokyo University of Science and Technology as a donation to the School of Engineering Sciences.
Rainfall simulation, he said, is a technique which aids in characterizing rainfall. It can be simulated in a way that helps to understand the interaction between rainfall and soil such as erosion and flooding. The simulation requires that relevant characteristics of rainfall be reproduced. Professor Onwona-Agyeman noted that experiments are quite expensive and therefore the use of simulating tools to predict the outcome of experiments are very important.
Professor Onwona-Agyeman Siaw, from the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) in his statement, recalled his academic journey from the department of Agricultural Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology where he obtained a BSc to Japan for graduate studies, where he obtained a Masters and a PhD in Agriculture. He mentioned that many of challenges facing the world today could be addressed through academic research, thus his decision to acquire the Rainfall Simulator for the School of Engineering Sciences to aid in research. He estimated the cost and transportation of the Rainfall Simulator to be about $20,000. He hoped that the equipment would enable many students to come up with a wide range of research topics. In conclusion, Professor Siaw said he hoped to bring in more equipment in the next few years to enable more research to be done and strengthen the relationship between Ghana and Japan.
The acting Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, Professor Paa Kobina Turkson reiterated the University’s mission of teaching, research and learning, adding that very often, teaching is done without the hands-on experience on what is being taught. He thanked the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology for the donation on behalf of the College and received the equipment and manual which he handed over to the Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences.
Professor Siaw later demonstrated how the simulator works, explaining that there were 2 types of droplets, one to simulate light rainfall and the other to simulate high intensity rainfall.
Components of the Rainfall Simulator
Ms. Jennifer Amponsah, Assistant Registrar and Administrator of the School of Engineering Sciences, while expressing gratitude to Professor Siaw and the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology for the kind gesture, said she was hopeful the donation will go a long way to aid in teaching and research in the field.
She thanked all who were present to witness the presentation. The brief ceremony was attended by faculty and students from the College of Basic and Applied Sciences.
Professor Siaw and a cross section of faculty, staff and students of CBAS
