There has been a gradual decline in the study of science and related fields in schools, especially in African countries, due to the lack of demand for careers in the fields of science. With the advent of the Square Kilometer Array Project and Africa winning a major share of the project, it has become necessary to build human capacity in astronomy and astrophysics to be able to run the SKA project. This Project aims to address the human resource gap currently existing in West Africa and Africa in the field of Astronomy towards the establishment of the African VLBI Network (AVN) and the soon to be completed Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory.
The Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI); which is mandated by Ghana Government to develop space science and technology for socio-economic benefit, is building on the success of Nigeria to organize an introductory summer school in astronomy for teachers, undergraduates, and post-graduate students in West Africa. Planning is ongoing and is at its final stages. The summer school will be held in 23rd July-6th August 2017. The team is currently seeking for fund to help implement this dream.
As Ghana seeks to launch its first VLBI-capable radio telescope in the last quarter of 2016, the summer school comes at the right moment. During the school, there will be lectures and hands-on experience at the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory. Students will have the experience of using the radio telescope; and engage in interactive lectures series delivered by Astronomers from SKA–South Africa, DARA project team, Canada, University of Nigeria and University of Ghana.
The establishment of learning goals and assessment metrics will precede every lecture series. Before each session, students will be given opportunity to indicate their goals for participation to ensure that the expectations of students are met. This makes assessment a critical component of the school to ensure that our interventions work before, during, and after the school.