African Students Excel in Science

The first BTWSC Professor Allotey Science Prize ceremony recently recognised seven finalists in the Council Chamber at Harrow Civic Centre in north London.Nominations for the Prize were based on the Year 9 SAT exam results and teacher assessments, and were open to Harrow secondary school students of African descent. The nominees were required to deliver a three minute presentation on global warming. The standard of the presentations were so high that instead of offering one laptop computer to the overall winner as originally planned, the organisers decided to offer two laptops.“We were so impressed by the standard of the presentations that we decided to offer the top girl and the top boy a laptop computer,” said Ms Serwah, Ghanaian-born barrister and co-ordinator of BTWSC, a pan-London voluntary organisation. “We were bowled over by the level of commitment and the fact that the nominees took the task of making their presentation very seriously.”The Prize is named after distinguished Ghanaian mathematician and scientist Professor Allotey, who was awarded the BTWSC Black S/Heroes Award in 2006 for his contribution to the sciences. The scientific technique known as the Allotey Formalism is named after this internationally esteemed African scientist. The purpose of the award is to motivate students of African descent to take up the sciences.“BTWSC is of the view that young people of African descent have greater barriers to overcome when it comes to the sciences,” noted Ms Serwah. “The recent irresponsible comments of Professor Watson, who said that Africans were less intelligent than Westerners, are just one example of the negativity they need to rise above.” BTWSC was a member of Harrow Council’s Promoting Achievement Group, which was focused on tackling under-achievement by Africans and African-Caribbeans, and instituted the Prize as a practical step towards promoting achievement.The finalists were Emmanuel Obeng (Hatch End School), Rosebud Ruskie (Bentley Wood School), Elisabeth Fapuro (Rooks Heath School), Rebecca Gayle (Harrow High School), Nkenna Ibeakanma (Park High School), Kareem Alexander-Allen (Canons High School), and Louise Tyson (Whitmore High School). All the finalists received a certificate, a book on Professor Allotey written by his wife Mrs Asie Allotey, a retired Ghanaian chief state attorney, and books on black scientists and inventors sponsored by BIS Publications.The winners were Louise Tyson (best girl), who thanked “all the teachers and my little sister Ashlee” for their help, and Kareem (best boy), who said “I didn’t think I was going to win,” and whose mother Dionne, overcome with emotion, added: “I am very, very proud of my son at this moment.” Nkenna Ibeakanma, the runner-up, received a DVD player. Two of the finalists received a merit - Rebecca Gayle for presenting the best arguments regarding measures to combat global warming, and Rosebud Ruskie for her good knowledge of Professor Allotey and for giving a very confident presentation.Although the Professor could not attend, he sent a congratulatory message to the finalists. He said: “I thank BTWSC for the honour done to me for naming this Prize after me. I am very grateful and it is my hope and desire that this award will motivate many black youth to take science as a career. The talent which many black youth use in achieving great heights in music, sports and the entertainment fields, can also be re-directed successfully to the study of science.”[Source: BlackBritain.co.uk]