UEW, ACS Promote Chemistry Education at Fettehman SHS Through Tree Planting
The University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in collaboration with the American Chemical Society (ACS) engaged more than 100 students from Fettehman Senior High School in an experiential chemistry outreach programme.
The programme, held on Thursday, 15th October, 2026, explored the chemistry behind trees and their contribution to environmental sustainability. This culminated in the planting of 200 tree seedlings on the school’s campus. It combined scientific learning with environmental conservation.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Emmanuel Sakyi Hagan, a member of the project team, said the initiative sought to move beyond conventional tree planting by helping students understand the scientific processes that make trees essential to sustaining life and protecting the environment.
He explained that tree planting offered a practical opportunity for students to apply chemistry to everyday life and deepen their understanding of environmental sustainability.
Under the theme “Living Chemical Laboratories (Trees): Growing Sustainable Future Through Chemistry,” the programme featured five learning stations through which students, divided into groups, explored the scientific functions of trees.
The stations demonstrated how photosynthesis converts light into energy for plant growth, how respiration supports trees’ energy needs, how trees contribute to the water cycle and cool their surroundings, how they help filter pollutants and how they sustain biodiversity and food webs by providing habitats and nutrients.
Dr. Charity Esenam Anor, a senior lecturer at UEW and a member of the project team, used practical illustrations to explain the relevance of chemistry to everyday life and the environmental consequences of human activities. She urged the students to adopt sustainable practices, including reducing waste, reusing materials and avoiding the indiscriminate burning of plastics and other waste.
She also encouraged them to consider careers in chemistry-related fields including environmental science, water quality analysis, chemical engineering, materials science and waste management, emphasising the role of chemistry in addressing environmental challenges.
As part of the practical component, the team and the students planted 200 seedlings comprising cassia, royal palm, umbrella tree, Polyalthia, teak and mahogany to promote a greener school environment and reinforce the lessons learnt during the outreach.
Mr. Michael Filson, Assistant Headmaster of Academics at Fettehman SHS, welcomed the team and expressed appreciation for the school’s continued engagement with the ACS group. He encouraged the students to make the most of the opportunity to deepen their scientific knowledge.
Mr. Sakyi Hagan urged the beneficiaries to share knowledge gained with their classmates. He noted that extending the lessons beyond the participating students would strengthen the programme’s impact across the school.
The initiative reflects UEW’s commitment to promoting practical science education and environmental awareness by connecting classroom learning with real-world challenges.
