KNUST 2018 Calls For More Career Paths In Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics

KNUST 2018 Calls For More Career Paths In Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics

The College of Science of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has organized the first ever Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (WiSTEM) Cocktail which sought to bring together women in STEM within the university. WiSTEM focuses on achieving active involvement of female scientists in leadership and national development within the Ghana context.
Professor Ibok Oduro, the Provost of the College of Science and President of WiSTEM in a welcome address said that WiSTEM has been created to build a stronger unified bond to share ideas and knowledge, seek solutions to many developmental problems facing the country, and most importantly encourage more females to take career paths in STEM.
Professor Charles Ansah, the Pro Vice Chancellor in a short remark at the event applauded WiSTEM’s initiative to help mentor young females in STEM. He added that in order to achieve that, there is the need to start the mentoring of the females early enough to overcome any challenges.
Professor Rudith King, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Settlement Studies, stated that the formation of WiSTEM is a wakeup call to see how best WiSTEM would benefit the younger generation. She pointed out that WiSTEM has a role to play in achieving the sustainable goals and development in Ghana, since Science is a backbone to development.
The event also celebrated the efforts of some WiSTEM members who have achieved much in their fields. Among these notable women were Dr. Marian Nkansah, who received the cash prize for Women in Science in 2016, Dr. Augustina Angelina Sylverken, an affiliate member of Africa Academy of Science and Dr. Mercy Badu who won Laurel UNESCO, a fellowship for Women in Science in Sub-Saharan Africa.