The University of Cape Coast (UCC) has hosted a nine-member delegation from Penn State University, United States of America, (USA).

The Team – made up of six students and three faculty – was in UCC for the Summer Research Programme organised by the Department of Conservation Biology and Entomology.

As part of the Programme, undergraduate researchers from UCC and Penn State University will study the response and adaptation of dragonflies in different climatic habitats, to broaden their understanding of the effects and regional and global environmental change on biodiversity.

The Leader of the Penn State University delegation, Prof. Lara Ladage, who is the Undergraduate Research Coordinator, Academic Affairs, said the programme was a three-year funded project which began in 2024 and would end in 2026.

Participants

She said the US students, whilst in Ghana, would collect dragonflies for 4-5 weeks and then return to New York City to process specimens at the American Museum of Natural History for an additional four weeks.

Prof. Lara Ladage indicated that funding would ensure the sustainability of the programme.

“If you have been following United States Politics lately, funding is dynamic right now, and we are planning to resubmit the grants. So, we have some intentions to secure funding from NGOs so we can continue this programme,” she added.

 Dr. Jessica Ware of the American Museum of Natural History

The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Denis Aheto, welcoming the delegation, said he was optimistic that the programme would not be a nine-day wonder; rather, it would further give access to UCC students to also travel to Penn State to learn from them.

He discussed with the delegation some other funding agencies and urged them to endeavour to sustain the programme.

After the meeting, Dr. Jessica Ware, the Co-PI at the American Natural History Museum, made a presentation on the topic: “Dragonflies and Damselflies”.

The project collaborators included Prof. Lara Ladage, Dr. Jessica Ware, Prof. Kofi W. Adu, all from Penn State University, and Prof. Rofela Combey, from UCC.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC