The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has seen a significant improvement in female enrollment in the Physics Department since the introduction of an annual Physics awards for students.
Prior to the awards under the Dr. K.C Whittaker Endowment Fund, the department had few female students. However, over the past 28 years, the awards have motivated more females to study Physics at KNUST.
During the 2024/2025 edition of the awards, 23 female students received financial support to aid their education.
Provost of the College of Science and Atmospheric Physics, Professor Leonard Kofi Amekudzi, attributed the increase in female enrollment to the awards.
He noted that in the 1960s, under the deanship of Dr. K.C. Whittaker, there were no female students in the Physics department. The award scheme, established by K.C Whittaker Foundation, aims to encourage females to pursue Physics.
According to Prof. Amekudzi, the award initially benefited one student on inception 28 years ago, but now over 20 students receive the award annually