Ghanaian Science Journalists Embark on Transformative Training at Imperial College London
Ten outstanding Ghanaian journalists specialising in Science, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) reporting have embarked on a fully funded three-day training program at the Imperial College London, courtesy of the British High Commission Accra in collaboration with the Responsible AI Lab (RAIL) at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology (MEST).
The journalists, winners of the pitch competition during a week-long capacity-building workshop held in Accra early this month, each received a £1,000 award and further training at the Imperial College London.
The training officially commenced on Monday, 24th March 2025, with a warm welcome from Professor Majid Ezzati, Professor of Global Environmental Health and Academic Director at Imperial College London. He introduced the delegation to Imperial Global Ghana, a regional hub launched in November 2024 to strengthen research, education, and innovation collaborations across West Africa.
“Imperial Global Ghana serves as a platform to connect African partners in academia, industry, policy, and civil society. Our goal is to foster scientific collaborations that drive sustainable development,” Professor Ezzati explained.
Dr. Leon Barron, Head of the Emerging Chemical Contaminants Team at Imperial’s Environmental Research Group, provided an in-depth overview of the group’s work, highlighted ongoing research in clean air monitoring and sustainable solutions in Ghana, particularly at the Shai Hills Resource Reserve in Accra, emphasising the intersection of environmental science and public health.
The journalists later met with Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, who iterated the university’s commitment to real-world problem-solving through interdisciplinary collaboration.
“Imperial was founded to be useful to society; we are a community of innovators tackling global challenges, from AI in healthcare to environmental sustainability,” he said. Discussions also explored opportunities for science journalists to amplify research impact and the importance of community engagement in scientific storytelling.
A highlight of the day was a visit to the Polymateria Laboratory, home to the world’s first biodegradable technology capable of fully breaking down polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) materials. The tour showcased cutting-edge solutions to plastic pollution, aligning with global sustainability goals.
The delegation also had an engaging session with Ghanaian master’s and doctoral students at Imperial College London. Ideas on science communication and opportunities for collaboration were exchanged. The networking session opened doors for future partnerships, bridging the gap between research and public awareness.
The delegation then participated in an interactive workshop led by Dr. Stephen Webster, Senior Lecturer in Science Communication, and Ehsan Masood, Bureau Chief (Editorials, Africa and the Middle East) at Nature.
Discussions revolved around the role of Science Journalists in Ghana, cultural differences in science reporting, challenges in collaborating with universities and researchers, and best practices in science communication from the UK perspective.
The day concluded with a practical session facilitated by Stephen Johns, International Communications Manager at Imperial. The journalists were tasked with crafting compelling headlines and introductions based on research abstracts from Nature—one on AI in cancer screening and another on climate change’s impact on wildfires. The exercise honed their ability to translate complex research into accessible stories, with constructive feedback from each other.
With immersive learning and networking, the journalists have gained invaluable insights into global science communication trends, innovative research, and collaborative opportunities that will enhance ST&I reporting in Ghana.
