Particularly, the about 800 scientists and engineering experts attending the conference have been tasked to find a reliable technology to decontaminate the country's rivers that have been heavily polluted by illegal mining activities, known locally as galamsey.

The Provost of the College of Basic and Applied Sciences at the University of Ghana, Prof. Mark Sandow Yidana, who made the call, stressed that the essence of scientific and engineering institutions was to find solutions to pressing societal challenges.

He stressed that, given how galamsey has become one of Ghana’s major development challenges, such an international gathering of scientists provided an appropriate platform to explore ways of finding a way out of the crisis.

"Science and engineering institutions have the primary role of finding solutions to societal challenges through impactful research. If we do not do this as scientists, then our institutions are not worth existing," he stressed.

Prof. Yidana added that in exploring solutions to the heavily contaminated water bodies, the experts should focus on using local materials.
Conference

The conference is a collaboration by the University of Ghana, the International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS), and the African Materials Research Society (AMRS).

The four-day conference is being held on the theme, "Advanced materials technology for holistic transformation of economies."

Africa must act

The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Development at the University of Ghana, Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante, described the conference as historic since that was the first time Africa was hosting the global material scientists.

He stressed that Africa must not only participate in the global transformation driven by science but also lead in areas where the continent’s resources, creativity, and scientific talent offer a competitive edge.

He added that hosting IUMRS-ICAM signalled Africa’s readiness to strengthen its position among the frontrunners of scientific innovation.

Prof. Asante said material science was the backbone of modern civilisation and needed to be prioritised by all countries.
He noted that in the era where climate change, resource scarcity, and economic inequalities were rife, there was a need to leverage science to overcome such challenges.

Prof. Asante also said leveraging material science for development required strategic collaborations and partnerships, and investment in research to make science work for society.
Capacity building

In a speech delivered on his behalf, the President of the IUMRS, Dr Samuel Chigome, said African countries needed to explore ways to leverage the potential of material science for development "because we have a lot of resources, particularly minerals."

He added that African leaders must prioritise policies that promote capacity-building in the area of science and technology to drive the continent's development agenda.

 Background

Materials science is the interdisciplinary study of the properties of materials and how a material's composition and structure determine its performance.

It combines physics, chemistry, and engineering to understand, design, and create new materials or improve existing ones for various applications, from everyday objects to high-tech innovations.

Common categories of materials studied include metals, polymers, ceramics and composites.