By Francis Kwabena Cofie
Accra, Sept 22, GNA – The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Ghana Section has held pre-conference workshop of the International Conference on Adaptive Science and Technology (ICAST) 2024 in Accra.
The workshop, which was the nineth edition was sponsored by IEEE Humanitarian Technology Board (HTB) and supported by the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority.
The event was a prelude to the main event in October, this year, and was on the theme: “The Impact of Humanitarian Technology in Africa: Focusing on IEEE HTB projects.”
It brought together diverse groups of individuals from academia, industry, and the humanitarian sectors each with a shared goal to explore and expand the impact of humanitarian technologies across the African continent.
About 700 registrants, including online and in-person attendees participated in the event.
The focus of the workshop was to sensitize volunteers on IEEE HTB funding sources for impactful humanitarian technology projects in Africa such as agriculture, Smart Village, and energy sustainability.
It also afforded students the opportunity to network with various experts in diverse fields of human endeavours to enable them receive coaching and mentoring in their chosen craft.
Prof. Issaka Yakubu, ICAST Workshop chair in an address said the workshop would inculcate in the students the idea of humanitarianism so that as they develop their minds technologically, they could also find ways to impact society by addressing issues in agriculture, sanitation, energy sustainability, waste management, among others.
He said the IEEE HTB has made tremendous strides with initiatives such as EPICS, SIGHT, Smart Village, Tech4Good among others which had touched countless lives.
These initiatives, he said, offer diverse opportunities for researchers, professionals, students, and communities.
“To our students and young researchers, this is your moment to absorb, contribute and envision how you can be part of the global effort to leverage technology for the betterment of humanity,” he stated.
Dr Joseph Essandoh-Yeddu, ICAST Workshop co-chair, speaking on benefits of participating in humanitarian technology initiatives and projects said without reference to one’s professional background, there were a lot of viable projects to undertake to benefit society for which one could access funding available under the HTB.
“No matter what you are taught in school, you can impact society in diverse ways,”he said.
He urged the students to embrace the opportunity to join the IEEE through which they could secure opportunities for internship overseas and other more opportunities.
According to him, technology plays a pivotal role in our lives and offers an opportunity for change, urging students to apply their acquired knowledge to solve problems of society which was what IEEE stood for.
Mr Maxwell Darko Addison, IEEE HTB Outreach Committee Chair and ICAST Workshop Coordinator said as long as a project application was aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), HTB would fund such project applications.
He said HTB funds volunteers for programmes and initiatives such as Tech4Good, Reach, Smart Village among others as long as they were impactful projects in harmony with the SDGs.
He said funding was open to the public of any desired number adding, however that, it was mandatory a member becomes an active member of the IEEE.
Mr. Addison disclosed that a funding window was opened at a specific period within the year during which proposals are requested from volunteers.
Mr Mensah Siti, IEEE Ghana Section chair admonished participants to get their acts together and source these available funds for causes that would address the challenges of humanity and society.
He urged participants, particularly students, to apply the knowledge acquired for societal good which was what IEEE stood for.
GNA