DCE-UEW Hosts 'Kitchen Chemistry' Festival at Mando SHS
The Department of Chemistry Education (DCE) at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in collaboration with the UEW Chapter of the American Chemical Society (ACS-UEW) has organised a Chemistry Festival in the Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam District of the Central Region.
The event, held at Mando Senior High School (SHS) on Thursday, 23rd October, 2025, was themed “Kitchen Chemistry: Unveiling Science in Everyday Cooking.” It formed part of the Department’s outreach initiatives aimed at promoting practical science education and inspiring students to appreciate the scientific principles behind everyday household activities.
The festival brought together students, teachers, education officials and university representatives to explore the link between chemistry and daily cooking practices. Through demonstrations and interactive sessions, participants observed how common kitchen processes such as boiling, frying, mixing and fermentation involve chemical reactions and physical changes.
The festival featured practical sessions across five activity stands, where facilitators guided students through simple experiments using items commonly found in the kitchen. These demonstrations covered topics such as chemical reactions, heat transfer and the transformation of substances during cooking.
Dr. Ernest Koranteng, coordinator of the programme, highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between theoretical science and practical experience. The programme was designed to help students and teachers understand that the kitchen serves as a natural laboratory where fundamental scientific concepts can be applied and observed using ordinary materials.
Prof. Arkoful Sam, Dean of the Faculty of Science Education and chairman of the function, emphasised the significance of connecting science education to real-life situations and commended the Department for its efforts in making science more accessible to young learners.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor of UEW, Prof. Victor Antwi, immediate past Pro-Vice-Chancellor, reaffirmed the University’s commitment to supporting science education at the basic and secondary levels through such community-focused initiatives.
Also present at the event were Mrs. Gertrude Delali Abban, Deputy Director of Education for the Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam District and Mr. Mawuena Kofi Abotsi, Science Coordinator for the District. Both officials expressed appreciation to UEW for extending its educational outreach to local schools and urged participants to apply the knowledge gained in their studies.
The closing session highlighted the success of the event as students demonstrated improved understanding of scientific concepts introduced during the festival. The chairperson commended both students and teachers for their active participation and encouraged continued engagement in science-based learning.
The Chemistry Festival at Mando SHS marked the third in a series of similar science outreach activities organised by the Department of Chemistry Education aimed at nurturing scientific curiosity and practical understanding among young learners within the Ajumako enclave and beyond.
