Piecing Together the Future: Students Build More Than a Digestive System
The 2025 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Conference took a creative turn as students organised in groups in each school visited were challenged to assemble a paper human digestive system from a puzzle on the spot. This hands-on activity encouraged participants to think beyond theory, pushing them to imagine innovative solutions to real biomedical challenges.
The conferences reached over 2,000 students from seven senior high schools and served as their first personal introduction to Biomedical Engineering. They were mentored by none other than Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) Mistress and Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana. She guided them through career pathways, entry requirements, and the vital role of biomedical engineering in advancing healthcare innovation.
Prof. Kaufmann emphasized the importance of connecting science with real-life applications. “Students have been learning science all along, but the difference lies in making it relevant,” she said. “Science is not abstract; it’s a tool to solve society’s problems. When students work with their hands, the lessons stay with them.”
The students’ enthusiasm was palpable. Group 4 from St. Monica’s Girls’ SHS impressed the judges with their teamwork, scoring 9 out of 10 and earning a special photo opportunity with Prof. Kaufmann.
Practicing Biomedical Engineer, Josephine Owusu-Akyaw shared her inspiring journey and gave students a glimpse into the everyday life of a biomedical engineer. “Many students think STEM is too difficult,” she noted. “But today, I believe we’ve helped to change that perception.”
Insights on STEM Career Pathways
Students eagerly engaged with the speakers, seeking insights on career pathways, study requirements, job opportunities, and how to prepare for a future in biomedical engineering even if they were not currently pursuing science tracks.
For Elijah Atuobi Asante, a Form Two student at Konongo Odumase SHS, the session was a turning point. “If women like Prof. Kaufmann have excelled in biomedical engineering and become trailblazers, I have no excuse,” he said. “I am inspired to face my fears and pursue it.” His classmate Abena Kyerewaa Boateng shared a heartfelt motivation: “I want to help people with physical disabilities through technology. This session made me believe I can.”
Assistant Headmaster David Kwabena Asare of same school praised the initiative, saying, “This conference has opened our students’ minds and given them valuable mentorship to shape their tertiary education choices.”
The STEM Conference forms part of the ‘Upskilling Biomedical Engineers for Ghana’ project, funded through the develoPPP programme and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of BMZ. It is organized in partnership with medical technology manufacturers B. Braun SE, Sysmex Europe SE, Delft Imaging B.V., Draeger, Delft Imaging Ghana, and adaptive learning solutions provider Area9 Lyceum GmbH.
Access to participating schools: Ghana National, Juaben, Holy Child, Tepa, St. Monica’s Girls, and Konongo Odumase SHS was made possible through the Ghana Education Service.
The 2025 STEM Conferences left students not only informed but empowered, ready to see science as a living, creative force for solving real-world problems and transforming lives in Ghana and beyond.
