FASEB HOLDS MAIDEN SCIENCE RESEACRH CONFERENCE IN ACCRA
The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, (FASEB) has converged on Accra for its maiden conference in Africa to interact and share latest research on cellular imaging and chromosome dynamics.
This FASEB Science Research Conference (SRC) is focused on the latest imaging techniques and delves into new tests and recent discoveries in the field.
Participants at the conference were selected from the academic and clinical partners from around the world who are focused on engaging researchers from the African continent to discuss emerging technologies on chromosome and cellular imaging.
As part of the conference, a high resolution microscope, which is the first in Ghana, was displayed to give Ghanaian scientists, a firsthand feel of how it works.
President and Founder of Sena Institute of Technology, who is also Chair of the FASEB conference Dr Akwesi Agbleke called on government to invest in such equipment to develop scientific research in Ghana.
“The Ministry of Science and Technology, should be able to support our investors, research institutions to have some of these capabilities to effectively organise a research that goes deeper and deeper to the molecular level and see what is happening in our cells.”
According to him the conference would cover six sessions with over 20 invited speakers, selected abstract presentations, and a “meet the expert” session, addressing how to start and maintain international collaborations, and Career Development Workshops
He said FASEB was committed to sustaining diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) in the biological and biomedical sciences.
“Our goal is to create and support a conference environment that is welcoming and safe for all. FASEB believes inclusion of diverse participants, including attendees and speakers, is critical to the scientific and educational integrity of conferences,” he said
Senior Programmes Officer with African Union Development Agency, Prof Olalekan Akinbo said the African Union was committed to achieving agenda 2063 goals on health by ensuring that Africa would not be a market for obsolete scientific technology.
He said the Union’s Science Technology and Innovation unit, has ensured the harmonization of regulation on pharmaceutical products, a major step to achieving the target.
Professor Tom Broker from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, was optimistic that the conference would enable researchers from abroad meet local scientists and students to encourage their work and develop networks for collaboration.
“There are incredible energy here and interesting projects that could be done. I do not think they can be done any other way than through equitable collaborations and part of it is to grow the local capabilities and interests,” he said.
Director of Research, Statistics and Information Management at the Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, Cephas Agyei Mensah said the Ministry had finalized a review of its science and technology policy to ensure that Ghana benefits from latest technologies in Science.
BY AGNES OPOKU SARPONG
