CSIR launches Golden Jubilee quiz

Saturday January 31 2009 page31
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has launched a Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) Competition to mark its Golden Jubilee Celebrations.
The competition which seeks to stimulate interest in and promote science, technology and innovation among the general public, has been designed for a fairly wide range of participants, including students and researchers and requires works to be made in Ghana.
Innovations may be submitted for agricultural machinery, engineering devices, electronic equipment, new crop varieties and ICT products.
At the launch, the Director-General of the CSIR, Dr A.B. Salifu, said it was unfortunate that services to science, technology and innovation as a national policy after the overthrow of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, had not been particularly significant.
That, he indicated, had resulted in the drift of many scientists into other areas of professional endeavour.
“Indeed, many promising and potential scientists among the youth and students have been dissuaded by the lack of recognition and very poor remuneration to pursue other careers”, he said.
According to Dr Salifu, during the December 2008 presidential elections, presidential candidates participated in what was dubbed the “CSIR Presidential Candidate Interaction Programme”, under which the candidates spelt out their respective visions for the promotion of science and technology for national development.
He said that was in tune with the institution’s theme for the Golden Jubilee Celebration which is “Championing Science and Technology for National Development”.
The Director-General expressed confidence in the administration of President J. E. A. Mills, following the reinstatement of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, which for unexplained reasons was abolished by the previous administration.
He said the institution was highly expectant that the government would prioritise science and technology and give it a place in its developmental agenda.
The Chairman of the competition committee, Dr G. O. Essegbey said the competition was not only to mark the anniversary of the institute, but also to begin the process of awakening the nation to the urgency of creating the innovative capacity to drive national development.
Dr Essegbey said he believed that that step was an important process in stimulating the vital innovative spirit in Ghanaians, which would go a long way to achieve the long term vision of developing Ghana on the basis of science, technology and innovation.
He was optimistic that the youth and students in particular, would take keen interest in participating in the competition and not just for the prizes, but also for the fact that they were seizing the opportunity to showcase their scientific abilities.
He called on entrepreneurs and the investing public to take their innovations to the next level and commercialise them.