The Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, through the Public Lectures Committee invites the academic community and the general public to a Professorial Inaugural Lecture to be delivered by: Professor Nathaniel Owusu Boadi as scheduled below:

Abstract of the Lecture

Topic: Toward Accessible Green Energy for All: Harnessing the Power of the Invisible Giants

Access to affordable and sustainable green energy remains one of the most pressing challenges of our time. As the world seeks innovative solutions to address energy poverty and climate change, nanomaterials are emerging as powerful enablers of clean energy technologies. Their unique physical, chemical, and electronic properties offer groundbreaking potentials in renewable energy generation, storage, and environmental sustainability. This inaugural lecture, titled "Toward Accessible Green Energy for All: Harnessing the Power of the Invisible Giants," explores the critical role of nanomaterials in shaping the future of energy and environmental solutions.

The lecture traces the historical development of nanomaterials, from their early applications in medieval artefacts to their transformative role in modern energy technologies. Key discoveries, including fullerenes, graphene, and molecular machines, have paved the way for innovations in solar cells, batteries, fuel cells, and pollution control. A critical discussion follows on the exceptional properties of nanomaterials, which make them indispensable in improving the efficiency and affordability of solar energy, advanced batteries, and sustainable fuel technologies. Their applications in medicine, environment, electronics, textiles, automotive, construction, food and agriculture are also explored.

The lecture highlights Professor Boadi's research contributions, particularly in the synthesis and characterization of semiconductor nanomaterials such as nickel sulfide, zinc sulfide, lead sulfide, and lead selenide. His work on single-source precursor methods offers promising pathways for cost-effective and scalable green energy applications. His research also explores eco-friendly synthesis techniques that align with global sustainability goals.

Despite the immense potential of nanotechnology in the green energy sector, its large-scale implementation requires strategic investments, regulatory frameworks, and interdisciplinary collaboration. This lecture outlines key policy recommendations for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

Profile of Professor Nathaniel Owusu Boadi

BSc & MSc (Kumasi), PhD (Kumasi & Manchester)

Vice-Dean, Faculty of Physical & Computational Sciences, College of Science

Background

Professor Nathaniel Owusu Boadi is a Professor of Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Physical and Computational Sciences, College of Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. He was born on 4th August 1979 and has over eighteen years of experience in teaching, research, and mentorship at the tertiary level. He hails from Worakese, located in the Bosomtwi District of the Ashanti Region. He began his education at Adventist Preparatory School in Amakom, Kumasi, before continuing Labone SDA Preparatory School in Accra. He completed his Junior Secondary School education at Ridge Church School in 1993 and proceeded to St. Augustine’s College, Cape Coast, in 1994 for his Senior Secondary School education. He pursued his tertiary education at KNUST, earning a BSc in Chemistry in 2002, an MSc in Environmental Chemistry in 2006, and a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry in 2015. His doctoral research focused on the synthesis of lead chalcogenide nanoparticles and thin films using single-source precursors.

Academic and Administrative Experience

Professor Boadi began his academic career as a Teaching Assistant from 2002 to 2003 and later served as a Laboratory Demonstrator from 2003 to 2006 in the Department of Chemistry at KNUST. He was appointed as a Lecturer in 2007, promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2012, Associate Professor in 2018, and Full Professor in 2021. At KNUST, he teaches advanced inorganic chemistry courses, including Coordination Chemistry, Group Theory and Inorganic Spectroscopy, and Nanoscience and Technology. He also served as an academic visitor at the University of Manchester, UK, where he collaborated with Professor Paul O’Brien on synthesizing novel lead complexes for fabricating nanoparticles and thin films. Currently, Prof. Boadi serves as the Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Physical and Computational Sciences, having previously been Head of the Department of Chemistry. He chaired the 9th KNUST Summer School Organising Committee and currently serves as the Chairman of the Environmental and Biosafety Ethics Committee (EBEC). He has also served on several university committees, including the College of Science Appointments and Promotions Sub-Committee, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Appointments and Promotions Sub-Committee, the University Policy Champions, and the College of Science Excellence Awards Committee.

Membership of Professional Bodies

Professor Boadi is a distinguished member of several professional organizations, including the Ghana Science Association, where he served as President of the Kumasi Branch from 2015 to 2019 and as National Secretary from 2019 to 2021. He is a member of the Ghana Chemical Society (GCS), the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), UK, and the American Chemical Society (ACS). He also serves as the Administrator for the Ghana hub of the Pan Africa Chemistry Network (PACN), an initiative of the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK.

Research Outputs, Grants and Publications

Professor Boadi has led significant research in materials chemistry, environmental sustainability, and public health, focusing on nanomaterials and their applications in photovoltaics, water remediation and health-related studies. He has secured some research grants, including a $20,000 grant from the BSUII Pilot Project for research on the quality of the Owabi reservoir and its tributaries and a KNUST Research Fund (Kref) Multi-grant worth GHȻ 30,000 to support his research. He has also secured over £100,000 from the Royal Society of Chemistry to coordinate Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) training workshops, benefiting over 120 African scientists. His research has resulted in over seventy publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers, with a Google Scholar H-index of 21 and over 1,400 citations. He regularly presents his findings at international conferences, including the Pan Africa Chemistry Network Congress and the Royal Society-DFID Chemistry to Functional Materials Conference. As an external examiner, moderator, and assessor, he has contributed to the academic programs of the University of Ghana, University for Development Studies, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Kumasi Technical University, Koforidua Technical University, Garden City University College, C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, All Nations University College, the University of Zululand in South Africa, and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC). He also serves as a reviewer for leading scientific journals, such as Dalton Transactions, ACS Omega, Heliyon, Journal of Chemistry, and Scientific African.

Community Service, Engagements and Outreaches

Professor Boadi is committed to capacity building, mentorship, and scientific outreach. Together with Professor Johannes Awudza, he has led the organization of the Pan Africa Chemistry Network’s GC-MS and LC-MS workshops in Ghana, providing hands-on training in analytical chemistry for researchers, students, and industry professionals across Africa. His dedication to mentoring young scientists is evident in his continuous efforts to guide students and early-career researchers toward academic and professional success.

Family

Professor Boadi is a practising Catholic and worships at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, KNUST. He is married to Mrs. Mercy Boadi, a lecturer at Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED). They have three children: Amoanimaa, a third-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine student; Kwame, a first-year BSc. Business Administration (Accounting, Banking and Finance) student; and Kobby, a Basic 7 pupil at KNUST Basic School. He is born to Mr. Gilbert John Boadi, a retired civil servant, and Mrs. Margaret Owusu Boadi, a retired teacher.