UEW Alumnus Participates in 2023 National Geographic Society Mentorship Programme

A 2021 graduate of the Department of Biology Education at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Mr. Fatawo Abdul Abubakar, has been selected as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Field Assistant for the 2023 National Geographic Society Mentorship Programme.

Among other things, Mr. Abubakar will work alongside the National Geographic Society Explorer in Ghana, participate in field sessions, and join an international group of STEM field assistants who will gain from workshops on grant writing and capacity-building as well as interactions with the National Geographic Society Explorer team and staff.

The National Geographic STEM Field Assistant Programme seeks highly motivated upper-level undergraduate students or recent graduates who are interested in a career in a STEM subject and who come from groups that have historically been underrepresented in or excluded from STEM disciplines.

The programme offers practical training to aid the student (the "Field Assistant") in developing a network of peers and senior scientists who can serve as mentors and provide advice and support as they grow in their chosen field. Field assistants will have an opportunity to be partnered with a principal investigator (project lead) from the National Geographic Explorer community who will serve as a mentor during eight to ten weeks of field research between May and August 2023.

Along with the field research, field assistants will attend monthly webinars hosted by the National Geographic Society and led by members of the National Geographic staff or Explorer community. The webinars will introduce some of the skills and competencies needed to succeed in STEM disciplines such as research design, grant application, science communication, and skills to navigate and celebrate intersectional identities such as Well-being in the Field, Culturally Conscious Interactions, and Navigating Imposter Phenomenon.