The Faculty of Biosciences during the just ended, that is 2009/2010 academic year, received several grants and scholarships for its research and training programmes. These grants were from individuals and institutions to help the faculty fulfill its mandate in order to help the development of the nation and Africa as a whole.
The National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) awarded an amount of US $ 4,912.76 and equipment worth 6,475 Canadian Dollars to two faculty members. The donation was to in collaboration with the University of Waterloo, investigate the limnology of Lake Bosumtwi in the Ashanti Region. Under this project, two students from the faculty have been registered for their Ph.D. This was made known by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. K. K. Adarkwa at the second session of the congregation ceremony held for graduands from the faculty of Biosciences and the Institute of Distance Learning, KNUST.
Prof. Adarkwa continued that the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) also awarded an amount of US $ 5,279.76 and equipment to Prof. Kwasi Obiri Danso, Dean of the Faculty of Biosciences to investigate pollution of Peri-Urban water supply from ground water sources in the Upper West Region.
He said the Faculty is also involved in the preparation of technical and organizational foundation for the implementation of sanitation facilities in West Africa. This project which is funded by the European Union through its network for the Development of Sustainable Approaches for Large Scale Implementation of Sanitation for Africa (NETSSAF) and it is being co-ordinated by Prof. R. C. Abaidoo and Prof. Obiri Danso.
The Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology as well as Food and Technology benefited from a donation of assorted modern laboratory and office equipment from the Plant Sciences Group of Wangeninngen University and Research Centre. The equipment which was valued at US $ 400,000 and was made possible through a memorandum of understanding that was signed between the College of Science and the Plant Sciences Group of Wageningen University and Research Centre in the Netherlands.
The Vice Chancellor continued that the Department of Environmental Sciences also received an amount of 10,000 Euros from the world University Service through its Workplace Educational Equipment subsidy for the purchase of office and laboratory equipment.
Institutions such as the Ramapo College of New Jersey- USA, the Alumni Association of Lancaster University of the United Kingdom, the Trade and Investment Programme for a Competitive Export Economy (TIPCEE) as well as individuals such as Dr. Gerald Nii Amissah, Prof. S. E. Adunyah, Professor and Mrs. Yaw Debrah also made several donations books, laboratory equipment and cash to the Faculty in the course of the year.
Mr. George Kojo Nenyi Andah, MTN Marketing Manager and an alumnus of the Faculty of Biosciences and his wife donated an amount of US$5,000 to the College for the institution of an Endowment Fund.
The Faculty of Biosciences presented 282 students for graduation. Out of this ,20 students which represents 7 percent obtained First class degrees,127students representing 45 percent obtained Second Class Upper Division degrees,69 students representing 25 percent obtained Second Class Lower Division degrees and the remaining 66 who represent 23 percent got Pass degrees.
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