Professor Dr. Rob Sewell, a staff Scientist and Head of Academic Affairs of ICFO, a CERCA centre and member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, paid a courtesy call on Prof. Daniel Duah, Dean of International Programmes Office, on 16th June, 2023.
Professor Dr. Sewell stated that ICFO is a research centre of excellence with research lines that encompass diverse areas in which photonics plays a decisive role. He stated that ICFO International Schools on the Frontiers of Light are organised by ICFO Barcelona in partnership with international universities, with the aim to inspire the next generation of researchers in light sciences and related technologies.
He added that the Centre intends to establish a School in KNUST dubbed ‘ICFO KNUST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL ON THE FRONTIERS OF LIGHT: PHOTONICS SCIENCES’ in partnership with the Department of Physics, KNUST. In preparation towards a 10-day School event scheduled to take place in October 2023 at KNUST, Prof. Sewell mentioned that he is on a 4-day visit to KNUST.
He highlighted that the event will feature local and international experts in an intensive one-week course directed at young students wishing to enter the vibrant field of Photonics. Additionally, the event will include lectures, discussion sessions, a professional development workshop to help students interested in opportunities to enter the field, student talks and posters and social activities to promote interaction between the students and lecturers. Topics to be covered include Clean Energy, Medical photonics, Ultrafast spectroscopy & Quantum Materials, among others. Participants are expected to gain a strong understanding of basic concepts, an introduction to the current state of the art in these topics and have the opportunity to mingle with top scientists from leading institutions.
On behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and Management of the University, Prof. Duah welcomed him to KNUST, a leading science and technology university in Africa. Prof. Duah shared a brief overview of KNUST and indicated that KNUST has been ranked the best in the world for SDG 4, Quality education by The Times Higher Education for 2023. He expressed his appreciation for ICFO’s support and commitment in this partnership. He stated that the International Programmes Office is excited to facilitate the partnership and the activities leading to the establishment of the International School.
Present at the meeting were Dr. Henry Martin, Dr. Michael Edem Kweku Donkor, Dr. Akyana Britwum, all Lecturers at the Department of Physics, KNUST and Scientific Organisers (among others) of the upcoming event and Mrs. Yvonne Baiden, Assistant Registrar of the International Programmes Office.
