In February 2025, a team of six students from the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Composites Science, Engineering and Manufacturing (CoSEM CDT), together with Bristol Composites Institute (BCI) staff embarked on an international outreach initiative in Ghana.
During the week-long trip, the team engaged with over 1,000 students at Koforidua Senior High Technical School (KSTS) in Koforidua and built connections with researchers and final year students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.
A proud alumnus of both KSTS and KNUST, Mary Sintim Donkor (second year CoSEM CDT student), devised the idea for the outreach event back in June 2024. Her aim was to share her inspiring journey towards pursing a PhD with the CoSEM CDT and educate and motivate the next generation, sparking interest in the field of composite materials.
After securing EPSRC funding through the CDT, she recruited a dedicated team in the form of fellow CDT students Aya Abdo, Boss Budninpech, Robert Oxford Pope, Gökhan Sancak and Anna Williams, as well as BCI post-doctoral researcher Dr Ali Kandemir. Months of planning, hard work and collaboration then commenced behind the scenes to turn the dream into a reality!
At KSTS, the team spent a day delivering engaging presentations to over 1,000 students, offering valuable insights into composite materials and manufacturing. The presentations covered a wide range of topics, including the evolution of materials, the fundamentals of composite materials, composites in space applications, sustainability challenges and product development. However, it wasn’t all technical. Mary delivered an inspiring talk on the power of dreams and how to succeed in STEM, reminding students that the sky is the limit! The day concluded with a workshop session, where the team conducted a hands-on demonstration for 250 science students, highlighting the tailorable properties of CFRPs (Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Plastics).
Dr Kandemir said of the visit: “The enthusiasm, curiosity, and talent of these students was inspiring!”
On the next leg of the trip, the team spent several days collaborating with researchers at KNUST’s College of Engineering. They introduced the University students to their research, covering topics such as composite materials sustainability, hydrogen storage, thermal management in particle accelerator detectors, and space environment protection. Members of the team also took part in a panel discussion on navigating career choices and postgraduate studies.
The visit culminated with hands-on workshops on composite manufacturing and testing, as well as graphics and data visualisation. The team was pleased to donate the mini-injection moulding machine used in the workshops to the department, to support hands-on learning for years to come.
Reflecting on the whole experience, Mary said: “This has truly been a journey of endurance—but more importantly, one that has been worthy of the call. It’s moments like these that remind me of why we do what we do: to inspire, to teach, and to shape a future where innovation and possibility know no bounds.”
Gökhan added: “I wholeheartedly hope that this interaction continues and that we have many more opportunities like this in the future. My deepest gratitude to Miss Mary Sintim Donkor, who meticulously planned every detail of this program and made it a reality—proudly and sincerely. And to all my incredible travel companions, fellow researchers, and the brilliant young people who welcomed us with open hearts and minds, thank you! I look forward to more interactions that not only contribute meaningfully to our work but also strengthen our connection to it.”
You can read more about the team’s experience in this BCI blog post.
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