The scheme is to stimulate students to take up programmes in the field of Math and Science and make Science and technology the critical drivers for the country’s socio-economic development.

The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Ms. Sherry Ayittey, announced this at a national forum on Ghana’s Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policy in Accra yesterday.

The forum was on the theme, “Achieving a middle-income status through science, technology and innovation”, and it was meant to discuss the STI policy before it gets to the higher realms of the Executive arm of the government.

The goal of the STI policy is to harness the nation’s total science and technology capacity to achieve national objectives for poverty reduction, competitiveness of enterprises, sustainable environmental management and industrial growth.

Specific objectives are among other things, facilitating the mastering of scientific and technological capabilities and providing the framework for inter-institutional efforts in developing STI programmes in all sectors of the economy to provide the basic needs of society.

It is also to create the conditions for the improvement of scientific and technological infrastructure for research and development and innovation.

The STI policy was adopted as a national document in 2000. It was, however, not implemented.

The two consultants who worked on the draft policy are Prof. Jerome Siaw Djangmah and Dr. Goerge Owusu Essegbey, both Ghanaian intellectuals and scientists.

Ms. Sherry Ayittey said to extend the country’s laboratories to the marketplace; Cabinet had approved a policy which stipulates the use of local raw materials such as Pozolana cement in the building and construction industry, cassava flour in the joinery industry, bio-char organic fertilizer for farmers and paper from wood.

She admitted that the government could not do it alone and called for partnerships among the private sector, the development partners, the United National, academia and the government in that area.

Ms. Ayittey said Ghana’s vision of attaining a middle-income status is dependent on the extent to which the country mobilised its scientific and technological capacity to address specific challenges.

The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Mr. P.V. Obeng, who chaired the function, said science and technology are “value items” in the world environment which Ghana is not exploiting to develop.

He noted that science will enable the nation to move away from the old ways of doing things and accelerate economic development.

He said as chairman of the NDPC, no project will earn his support if it is not done differently from what was done in the past with scientific innovations.
Prof. Djangmah, for his part, said the nation needs to set aside at least one per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for research into science and technology, as directed by the African Union (AU).

He said Ghanaian students are not doing well in science and mathematics at the secondary level, noting that attention needed to be paid to that area.

However, such large scale traditional manufacturing is only one part of the story. London is also strong in high technology manufacturing like aerospace and computing, as well as precision engineering and pharmaceuticals. With its highly skilled workforce, much research and development is undertaken in London for products that are manufactured elsewhere, in other parts of the UK and overseas. While many large, global companies have a manufacturing presence in London, there are also smaller firms often producing high value, cutting edge products.

There are a wide range of different jobs available in manufacturing and engineering. With increased mechanisation and use of technology, the need for physical strength once required by heavy industry has been replaced in most cases with a need to understand IT, operate specialist machinery and understand the systems and processes involved in producing goods.

Because of the complex nature of many manufacturing processes, an attention to detail and the ability to work in a team are important to anyone hoping to work in this industry. Because every manufacturing process is different, many employers expect to train their workforce on the job. There are also government-backed training schemes like Apprenticeships which allow students to combine work with training. There are courses available that can train you in skills appropriate to many different types of manufacturing, like warehouse management, logistics and health and safety.

If you are interested in working in more technical areas of the engineering process, you may wish to consider proceeding into higher education and studying a subject related to a specific field. There are also many courses available at college level that you may wish to consider.

Careers advice is, first and foremost, about you . It’s about what you want, and what you’re good at. It’s also very practical. You might cover some – or all – of the following areas with your Careers Advisor:

. Your strengths and weaknesses
. Opportunities suitable for you
. Planning how to get work in a particular industry
. CV writing
. Work placements
. Summer jobs
. How to make contacts – and make the most of them

Summer jobs

The summer holiday period is the perfect opportunity to gain paid work experience. Because you are free to work in the daytime, the quality of the jobs you can do will be much higher than what’s on offer for evening or weekend-only work. Whatever job you do in your summer break, even if it’s not connected to the industry you hope to work in, it will always benefit you: you’re putting your skills and knowledge to the test, learning about different ways of working, and gaining crucial experience: this makes all the difference to any CV.

Work experience placements

Work placements are an excellent way of getting valuable experience on your CV, as well as a very effective way of making contacts that could be very useful to you in your future career.

Placements can be paid or unpaid, and the opportunities vary. In one company, you may be learning how to do a very specific job; in another, you may be doing more general work that develops your understanding of how that company works as a whole. Both are incredibly valuable to anyone at the start – or re-start – of their career, especially because they give you a clearer understanding of what you want – and what you don’t.
Planning your placement

There can be a lot competition for placements, so it’s worth starting early by working out a plan with your Careers Advisor. Many different types of placements are available which are organised by the company themselves. For some ideas see the link below.

It is also worth considering contacting companies direct. A polite letter and a CV is always worth sending, particularly if you can find out as much information about the company before you send it.

Due to the sensitive nature of working with chemicals and organisms, you will absolutely need at least a bachelor’s degree to find a job in biotechnology. Biotechnology has created research opportunities in nearly every area of biology, so if you cannot find biotechnology as a major, considering a four-year degree program in biology. A master’s degree is preferable for high-level research and laboratory work, while a doctoral degree is even better.

What Are the Requirements for Acceptance Into a Biotechnology Degree Program?

Colleges and universities, online or otherwise, require a high school diploma or equivalent. If you are applying to a graduate degree program in biotechnology, you will need a high GPA, along with proof of previous experience working in labs and researching biotechnology subjects. Direct any questions or concerns about admissions to the school’s admissions office.

What Topics Are Covered in Biotechnology Degree Programs?

Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary subject that covers topics such as biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, embryology, chemical engineering and robotics. Most of the classes you will take as a biotechnology major will involve laboratory work, along with analyzing biological research.

What Kind of Careers Are Available in Biotechnology?

Since biotechnology affects so many aspects of biology, there are many career possibilities within this branch of study. Biological scientists, biochemist, biophysicist, microbiologist, biological engineer, pharmacologist, genetic engineer and food scientist are just some of the job titles you could have with a degree in biotechnology.

What Is Required of Someone Who Works in Biotechnology?

Biotechnology is mathematics and science driven, which means you need top marks and a genuine interest in these subjects to succeed. This kind of career also calls for someone who has superb research skills, as well as the ability to work alone or in a team and great attention to detail.

What Salary Can I Expect From a Career in Biotechnology?

Generally, the average salary for someone working in the biotechnology sector is likely to make between $75,000 and $100,000 annually.
General Information About Biotechnology Degree Programs

Those with biotechnology degrees command a great deal of scientific research funding, as the ability to create new and more productive food sources is always in demand. While biology degrees tend to be more theoretical, biotechnology degree programs teach the application of biological science to address some of the worldís biggest health and survival concerns. Biotechnology opens up a nearly limitless array of career paths for those who successfully complete the degree requirements.

Biotechnology Degree Study Options

Those wishing to get started down a biotechnology career path without any prior biology or biotechnology experience may want to consider pursuing a biotechnology certificate degree program. These certificates can be obtained through continuing education distance learning programs and can be achieved in a relatively short time. When earned through an accredited program, these certificates may be sufficient for the holder to earn a job as a laboratory or research technician. Those with higher aspirations in biotechnology may consider an associate’s degree that will provide additional research skills and technical knowledge.

Advanced Biotechnology Degrees

Those who want to explore the full range of biotechnology options will need to start by earning a bachelor’s degree in biotechnology. These programs offer courses in basic aspects of biotechnology such as general concepts in biotechnology, food biotechnology, basic manufacturing concepts and drug development.
Master of Science Degree In Biotechnology

Master of Science degrees in biotechnology will vary according to which area of biotechnology you wish to study. Some may choose a Master of Science in Biotechnology Studies, which focuses on the management and the practical functionality of specific technologies in the biotechnology industry. Others may pursue a Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics, which uses computational methods to solve biological problems.
Further Education In Biotechnology

There are many areas in biotechnology that require intensive study. Experts in these sub-disciplines of biotechnology are often in great demand in their specific fields. These disciplines include red biotechnology, the application of biotechnology techniques to medicine, green biotechnology, the application of these techniques to agriculture, white biotechnology, which applies biotechnology specifically to industrial processes and blue biotechnology, which brings biotechnology to the marine world.

Choosing a Degree In Biotechnology

Those who took to biology in high school may be particularly well suited for a degree in biotechnology. Students who are interested in applying the concepts and theories touched upon in biology to real world situations will often find what they are looking for in biotechnology. Biotechnology offers science students to ìget their hands dirty,î to really use biological knowledge to manipulate the environment for the better.

Career Opportunities In Biotechnology

People with degrees in biotechnology can find career opportunities in pharmaceutical formulation, as bioorganic chemists and as university professors. They can apply their skills in the agriculture industry, the military, in genetic laboratories and in hospitals. Opportunities for biotechnology experts are virtually limitless.

Earning Potential For Biotechnology Careers

There is a wide range of biotechnology related careers so it is hard to pin down a specific salary range for anyone with a biotechnology degree. However, a bioinformatician can make $60,000-$90,000 a year. An entry-level biostatistician with a master’s degree can make around $74,000 and a geneticist working for the U.S. Government can make $68,000 or more. In addition, biotechnologists working on private research may be able to obtain considerable funding grants if they can show the potential long-term benefits to society of their work.

Getting Your Biotechnology Degree Online

There are a number of accredited online universities that allow students to get a top biotechnology education online. Distance learning programs confer certificates, associate’s degrees and even bachelor’s and master’s degrees online. As long as these distance learning programs are properly accredited, the right degree or certificate can be sufficient for a basic career in biotechnology. For those who do not have the time or inclination to attend a brick-and-mortar university, an online biotechnology degree is idea. You can log on to classes from your home computer and attend in the time you have available. You can work at your own pace and in your own style. Professors are usually available to contact by instant message or email to help you with any problems you might have over your course of study.
Getting Your Biotechnology Degree Offline

You may decide that you prefer to get their biotechnology degree at a physical college or university. Make sure that the college or university you choose actually has a biotechnology program. Many schools offer biology degrees, but not biotechnology. The biology degree course of study may include biotechnology, but to have your best chance at getting the career in biotechnology you really want, you should specifically seek out a biotechnology degree. Studying biotechnology and a brick-and-mortar institution can be appealing due to the research-intensive nature of the discipline. Students at traditional universities may have fresh and exciting fieldwork opportunities in biotechnology, although this will be dependent on the particular institution where the degree or certificate candidate chooses to study.

Biotechnology is the science of modifying organisms in order to improve their functions for society, such as finding ways to increase the production of crops or livestock or making food more easily digestible or modifying it to increase health benefits. Bioengineers are involved the science of genetically modifying plants and animals for better human consumption.

Biotechnology Books

Biotechnology is a heavy research-intensive field, meaning much that the biotechnology student is learning will take place off the printed page. That being said, there should be a few biotechnology texts available through your universityís biotechnology program. Those looking to do complementary or independent study in biotechnology may wish to examine ìBiotechnology: An Introductionî by Susan R. Barnum, ìIntroduction to Biotechnologyî by William J. Thieman and Michael A. Palladino or ìBasic Biotechnologyî by Colin Ratledge and Bjorn Kristiansen. You can also find biotechnology books at the NBCI Bookshelf (Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=books).

Biotechnology Articles And Databases

Research is what biotechnology is all about, and new experiments and theories in biotechnology and bioengineering are appearing every day. You will not be able to do effective biotechnology research unless you are well grounded in the kind of studies that have come before. You can find many of the articles you may need online at the PubMed Central (PMC) database (PubMedCentral.nih.gov/).
Biotechnology Online Journals

Most of the top biotechnology articles will be found in leading biotechnology journals. Search for biotechnology journals using the NCBI Journals Database (Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=journals). Some key biotechnology journals include Biotechnology, Advances in Biotechnological Processes, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, American Biotechnology Laboratory and Animal Biotechnology.
Other Biotechnology Research Tools

The National Center of Biotechnology Information (NCBI) is an ideal source for biotechnology research. A division of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, the NCBI provides access to a variety of biological and biotechnological databases, journals and literature as well as an expansive list of additional resources.

Put together by smoking experts and smokers themselves, much of the new kit aims to combat stress and cravings, as well as giving tips on how to avoid the triggers that lead to sparking up a fag in the first place.

“We know that certain triggers and cravings can threaten a successful quit,” said Professor Robert West from the Health Behaviour Research Centre at University College London.

“People need to find their own personal combination of support and tools to help combat them.”

The kit contains two mp3 downloads that the government believes are scientifically proven to reduce cravings, as well as a stress-relieving toy which smokers can handle and even a toothbrush.

There is also an appeal to household budgets, with a health/wealth wheel to help smokers work out how much money they are saving by quitting, and a 28-day wall planner to help them focus.

If this is not enough, there will also be a tug at the heartstrings with a new advertising campaign concentrating on the effect smoking has on loved ones.

The children of smokers, rather than actors, are seen singing the famous tune “I’d Do Anything” from the musical Oliver – the message being that they would go to any lengths to help parents to stop smoking.

The Department of Health claims that 96% of children whose parents smoke want them to quit.

The kits also contain details of where people can access nicotine replacement therapy such as gum or patches and tailored support.

In 2008-09, 337,054 people successfully quit smoking using help from the NHS, and public health minister Gillian Merron said that around seven out of ten smokers want to give up at any one time.

“NHS stop smoking services are rated as the best in the world, and smokers who quit by using free NHS support are up to four times more likely to be successful,” she added.