Ghana Reaps the Fruits of Science Investment

strophysicist Emmanuel Proven Adzri knows better than most what goes into building a national research program from scratch-and the wide-reaching benefits that can come from doing so.In addition to his research at the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute on methanol masers, astrophysical objects that produce and amplify microwaves from methanol molecules, and on pulsars, rapidly rotating neutron stars that emit beams of radiation, Proven Adzri manages the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory (GRAO).He's been involved with the 32-m telescope since its earliest days, and he continues to spearhead efforts to turn it into a hub for astronomy research, education, and-his favorite part-science outreach.In addition, he makes time to direct a foundation that helps disadvantaged kids develop math and science skills through astronomy."In my free time I do outreach, at work I do outreach, and at home I try to teach my kids about robotics and programming," he says. Credit: E. Proven Adzri/GSSTIPhysics Magazine caught up with Proven Adzri to learn how he built his astrophysics career while he participated in the development of Africa's largest radio telescope and in Ghana's push to develop a comprehensive space and astronomy program.