An emeritus professor of Physics at the St Francis University, Nova Scotia, Canada, Michael Steinitz has advised scientists to be mindful of the consequences of their research works.

Though the son of a holocaust survivor acknowledged the essence of many scientific breakthroughs, he believes the same can be geared towards nefarious activities.

“The fact that any discovery may turn out to have both wonderful and disastrous consequences has been discussed many times before. The discovery of nuclear fission brought us both the atomic bomb and nuclear power generation. Scientists should be mindful of the consequences of their works,” he noted.

He spoke at the 12^th GSA Research Seminar and Poster Presentations and the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development (IYBSSD-2023) in Kumasi on Monday.

The conference was under the theme: The role of basic sciences for sustainable development. It was supported by the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP).

The president of the Ghana Science Association, Kumasi branch, Prof. Jacob Agbenorhevi stressed the crucial role basic sciences play in the achievement of the SDGs.

“The conference presents another opportunity to showcase and educate on how basic Sciences have contributed to and continue to make tremendous impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through scientific research works, technology, innovations and partnerships,” he said.

This year’s conference was both in-person and online.

The 2-day event was organised in collaboration with the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), KNUST College of Science and Young Researchers Forum of the Office of Grants and Research (OGR) KNUST.

Past president of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) Prof. Aba Bentil Andam was happy the Academy is championing the studying of basic sciences.

“The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, Ghana’s premier learned Society is happy to lead the celebration of IYBSSD, 2022/2023,” she stated.

Dr. Mrs. Augustina Angelina Sylverken of Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Ghana, WiSTEMGh urged scientists to leave a legacy.

“Let us all keep up the momentum and the spirit and show that we can use basic sciences to make a lot of things happen to generations unborn,” she said.

The event featured some students from selected Senior High Schools in Ashanti Region, and over 100 poster presentations.

Awards were given to winners of the 2022 Young Scientist Challenge and other deserving personalities and institutions.