Students Asked to Embrace the Study of Astronomy

A member of the Planning Committee for the Ghana Astronomy Radio Observatory, Dr. Bernard Duah Asabere, has urged students to embrace the study of Astronomy as it has a wide range of job prospects for them after school. According to him, Astronomy was a very important field of study because it had enormous benefits and also enabled students to explore other opportunities even if they would not remain in the field. “Astronomy is a wide field. There is a vast range of things you can do. we have all those interdisciplinary like physics, astroarchaeology, astrogeology, infra-reds astronomy, radio astronomy, among others”, Dr. Asabere made these remarks at a seminar organized by the School of Physical Sciences at the Main Auditorium. It was on the topic “Radio Astronomy in Ghana”. The seminar, which was jointly organised by both students and faculty of the School, was aimed at making students and other stakeholders of the School aware of the benefits of the study of Astronomy. He told the students that jobs abound for those who do not intend to remain in the field, saying “Job is not a problem for astronomist. you can work in the banks, insurance companies, even if you want to get out of the field". Dr. Asabere indicated that there were plans to run the programme on part time basis for a start in the University of Cape Coast. The Programme Manager of Physics with Astrophysics, Prof. Melvin Hoare, speaking on Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA), said the DARA project was aimed at developing high tech skills using radio astronomy in a number of African countries. He said the DARA project would afford students opportunity to be trained in the high tech skills of radio astronomy. A past student of the University of Cape Coast, Mrs. Naomi Asabere Frimpong, who touched on “My Journey in Astronomy”, shared her life experiences as a student of chemistry who later ventured into the field of Astronomy. She challenged the students to develop interest in astronomy because there were job opportunities for those who would studied the subject. For his part, the Dean of the School of Physical Sciences, Prof. David K. Essuman, thanked the resource persons for the insightful presentations to enlighten both students and faculty on the benefits of astronomy.