University of Energy and Natural Resources host chemistry festival

The University of Power and Natural Resources (UENR) is hosting a chemistry festival at the most important campus of the university in Sunyani in the Bono Region.

The 4-working day festival, the 1st of its sort in Ghana, on the theme, Chemistry recreates mother nature, is in collaboration with the American Chemical Culture (ACS).

The festival, which also kinds part of the university’s 10-calendar year celebration, will provide jointly chemistry groups from nations which include the United states, Nigeria, Tanzania, Cameroon, and Botswana.

Some senior and junior large college college students will also be participating in the Chemistry exhibitions and competition teaching institute to support raise desire in science schooling and in direction of governments’ push to enhance STEM schooling.

At the inauguration and launch of the ACS chemistry festival in Ghana, the Vice-chancellor of UENR, Prof Elvis Asare-Bediako, explained chemistry has been at the forefront of revolutionizing the world financial state, as chemists are required in quite a few sectors.

“Advances in chemistry in medications and new solutions growth, for instance, have saved billions of human life, amplified productivity, and considerably adjusted the way men and women live”, he explained, including that all these developments in sciences have enabled individuals to deal with their troubles and improve their residing standards.

The improve in globalization and urbanization has also led to numerous problems, including foods and strength insecurities, weather improve, and pandemics that demand innovations in the chemical sciences to deliver timely responses and answers.

Because of that, the VC expressed UENR’s delight in being section of the functions of the ACS –one of the world’s biggest scientific societies, as they can assist the environment come across remedies to concerns that influence livelihood.

Prof Asare-Bediako stated, an establishment that supplies leadership in science, technological know-how, and administration of power and normal sources, and aspires to be a heart of excellence in these locations, the chemical science department of the university is to foster, and character frontiers in chemical sciences, strive to address significant strength and pure source difficulties that confront the globe.

He, on the other hand, appealed to the ACS to increase their study into environmentally friendly chemistry to make certain sustainable advancement amidst the have to have to make progressive materials to strengthen human livelihood.

The college advisor, ACS-UENR Intercontinental Pupil chapter, Dr. Ismaila Emahi reported there are lots of advantages from the ACS to learners, the college, and Ghana, including science management plans, aid in e-guides, and investigation functions. He also said each and every Ghanaian college college student who wishes to be part of the ACS-UENR chapter enjoys a sponsored price with full rewards.

The founder of the ACS chemistry festival, Prof Ingrid Montes, spelled out that there is a have to have for a chemistry outreach since of the worldwide needs that need that options are found for the lots of difficulties.

Having said that, there are some issues to the sciences. Prof Montes stated 80% of nations around the world in the globe devote a paltry 1% of their GDP to exploration, a scenario she stressed desires to improve with extra governmental funding for analysis and schooling since “that is the only way we can get a superior world’ from the several difficulties like the covid-19 pandemic.

She also bemoaned the absence of fairness in the research of sciences. “33% of scientists, and 28% of engineers, throughout the world are women”, she said and urged for more ladies to be encouraged to do science.

Other stakeholders, such as countrywide and some regional STEM coordinators will choose section in the pageant, which climaxes on Thursday, June 30, 2022.

ACS has an African membership of about 800. The ACS promotes the well being of the chemistry business by supporting investments in training, education, entrepreneurship, investigation, advocacy, outreach, and innovation.