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Greater Accra Finalists of the GSTEP Challenge Participate in an Industrial Visit

As part of activities lined up for the Finalist Support Stage of the GSTEP Challenge, finalists of the Challenge in Greater Accra participated in industrial visits to the Museum of Science and Technology and Ashesi University. The industrial visits are aimed at providing the students with practical experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The industrial visits are to help the students see practical applications of STEM subjects, and also, inspire them to build interest in STEM. 

Twenty finalist teams visited the Museum of Science and Technology located in Accra on the 2nd and 3rd of November 2022. The Museum was established in 1963 and has served as a location for displaying developments in Science and Technology. The Museum is divided into five sections. They are the Human Anatomy, Automotive, Communications, Space Exploration, and Wildlife sections. The finalist teams were taken through all five sections where various machines, devices, mammals, and other items were on display. 

Key among the machines and artifacts on display included an armored vehicle and a bicycle developed by young Ghanaians. The bicycle on display was developed by a 10-year-old boy named Wisdom Torgah. The bicycle was made of bamboo, and he built it to assist him to go to school. The armored vehicle was also built by a young man named Boateng. The vehicle was brought on display during an annual science and technology fair in 1988 called Indetec. The vehicle was presented to the then president of Ghana, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings who later presented it to the Museum. These displays reinforced the abilities of the finalist teams to pursue Science and Technology and its applications.

The finalist teams also had the opportunity to visit Ashesi University on Berekuso Hills in the Eastern Region. The teams toured various unique areas within the university campus. The teams had the opportunity to see the biogas system being used by the university to generate compost. They also had the opportunity to see how water is filtered from waste, treated, and used for irrigation. The teams were also shown how the university collects, stores and reuses rain water through its underground storage system. 

The finalist teams also visited the Mechanical Engineering department of Ashesi University where they were shown some metal and plumbing works. They were sent to the  Engineering Department where they had a practical session on laser cutting and had the opportunity to see some prototypes developed by students of the university. Each team was guided through how they can apply the things they learned in development of their prototypes. The teams were also taught how the university sorts and recycles biodegradable materials and manages  non-biodegradable waste the school generates.

The visits to the Museum of Science and Technology and Ashesi University provided relevant practical experiences for the finalists of the Challenge. The participants received a practical application of STEM related ideas and were also challenged to give their best. Teachers were not left out as they also received important insights that will assist them in offering a better understanding to their students and ensure their teams are able to apply the knowledge acquired in the implementation of their projects.

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