Building Networks and Strengthening Capacities through ‘Community Calls’

‘Community Call’ is an interactive monthly online gathering of GLab community members to exchange ideas on relevant topics in order to improve their knowledge and skills in a STEM area. The calls started in response to the COVID19 pandemic in June 2020, when it became impossible to meet physically. Since then four Community Call sessions have been held, in which we discussed various topics ranging from open science and sustainable development, renewable energy, applying to postgraduate programmes and scholarships, and open community labs.

In our first Community Call for the year 2021, we discussed remote working and how it is done. We had the opportunity to talk to Ato Ulzen-Appiah, who is a (social) entrepreneur, consultant, social media influencer and blogger. Ato shared some insightful information on some recommended tools for remote working, how to optimise for productivity, accountability when remote working, and how to build one’s capacity to work remotely.

In this Community Call we will explore STEM at work, in business and society. We will discuss:

• • • Importance of STEM in the modern business setting
    • Volunteering on STEM programmes
    • Honing your skill set and anticipating new trends
    • Interesting career paths in STEM
    • Engaging the public with Science

Florence Toffa has over eight years of experience in the ICT4D sector. She is the director of Mobile Web Ghana, a technology hub that focuses on empowering communities, organisations and the youth to leverage on mobile, web and data to solve problems. She is an advocate for solving local problems through civic engagement, capacity building and new technology, and has led and founded projects such as Females in Mobile Entrepreneurship, visuals for gender, and Africa Digital Skills Conference .

Sarah is the General Secretary of the African Astronomical Society (AfAS), a National Astronomy Education Coordinator (NAEC) for Ghana for the Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE), and a member of the PRAGSAC project team (Promoting Radio Astronomy in Ghana through School Visits and Astronomy Clubs), which uses astronomy to promote STEM and hands-on science through school astronomy clubs.

This month’s community call promises to be exciting and informative. Join us at Global Lab Ghana Community to find out more and stay updated on future plans.