The Department of Conservation Biology and Entomology (CBE) of the School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast (UCC), has opened its Summer Research Programme for 2024.

The research programme which focuses on “Odonata morphological adaptations to environmental gradients: integrating student research in the field, museum, and laboratory” aims to provide valuable insights into the fascinating world of dragonflies while fostering international collaborations and hands-on learning experiences for students.

During his welcome address, on behalf of the Provost for the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences (CANS), the Dean of the Office of International Relations (OIR), Prof. Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi, expressed his deep appreciation to the Head of the Department of Conservation Biology and Entomology, Prof. Rofela Combey, for her pivotal role in establishing international collaborations within the department.

Dean of the Office of International Relations, Prof. Samuel Bert Boadi-Kusi speaking at the opening of the Summer Research Programme

He noted that while UCC had over 250 partnerships, only 146 were actively engaged. He was hopeful the summer research programme would be a model for sustained collaboration across the University.

Prof. Rofela Combey explained that the initiative which originated in 2021 as a Fulbright research topic focused on studying dragonflies blossomed into collaboration with Prof. Kofi Adu and Lara Ladage from Penn State University, USA. In addition to Penn State University, the American Museum of Natural History was also a key collaborator in this programme.

As part of the summer programme, the students would spend five weeks conducting fieldwork in Ghana, followed by two weeks in Washington, USA, for additional laboratory work.

Head of the Department of Conservation Biology and Entomology, Prof. Rofela Combey

Prof. Combey said the primary goal of this programme was to provide students with comprehensive exposure to fieldwork, laboratory research, and museum studies.

“During the fieldwork phase in Ghana, the students would have the opportunity to observe and collect data on dragonfly populations across different habitats. This hands-on experience will expose them to the intricacies of field research, including data collection techniques, ecological surveying, and specimen preservation,” Prof. Combey noted.

The opening session featured presentations by the Principal Investigators from Penn State University - Prof. Kofi Adu, a Professor of Physics; Associate Professor of Biology, Lara Ladage, and Associate Curator of Invertebrate Zoology, Jessica Ware. These esteemed researchers shared their expertise and insights with participants including Penn State University students, students of the Department of Conservation Biology and Etymology-UCC as well as some faculty members of UCC during the opening session. 

Head of the Department of Forensic Sciences, Prof. Christian Adokoh (standing)

The Head of the Department of Forensic Sciences, Prof. Christian Adokoh, who chaired the function on behalf of the Dean of the School of Biological Sciences, Prof. Aaron Asare, expressed his gratitude to Prof. Rofela Combey for her tireless efforts in cultivating international collaborations. Prof. Adokoh conveyed his best wishes for a fruitful visit and successful research. He also expressed optimism that the summer research programme would catalyze future collaborative endeavours.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC