Prof. Amoako calls on government to establish Research Centres for Universities
Prof. George Amoako
A Professor of Physical and Materials Science, Prof. George Amoako, has appealed to government to set-up well-equipped research centres for universities in Ghana.
That, according to him, would go a long way to motivate young scientists to undertake cutting-edge research to provide solutions to homegrown problems facing the country.
He explained that the relentless efforts of government to encourage students to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related courses would become a mirage if the unavailability of advanced research laboratories at tertiary institutions was not addressed.
Prof. Amoako made the appeal during his inaugural lecture on the topic: “DNA Origami: Template for Patterning Nanostructures.”
He lamented that scientists conducting compelling research in the country were facing difficulties and those who defied the odds had to collaborate with international partners at their own expense to get practically accurate findings of their theoretical works.
“Locally, people doing advanced research in the sciences go through hell because the equipment are not there. The determined ones must collaborate with international partners at a lot of expense,” added Prof. Amoako.
He added that it was opportune time for the nation to invest into research centres to make Ghanaian students studying STEM education competitive on the global market.
Prof. Amoako stated that DNA Origami approach made use of a long scaffold strand as the input to self-assemble with a few hundred staple strands into desired shapes.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong, in his remarks, reechoed the sentiment that government should resource universities to embark on vigorous research for the forward match of the country
SOURCE: ucc.edu.gh
