PROFESSOR MARIAN EWURAMA ADDY

Professor Marian Ewurama Addy is a Professor of Biochemistry of the University of Ghana. She was born on the 7th of February 1942 and is married with two daughters.  She started her secondary education at the Saint Monica's Secondary School in Mampong-Ashanti for her "O" Levels and continued at the Holy Child Secondary School in Cape Coast for her "A" Level.  She entered the University of Ghana immediately after her "A" Level and graduated in 1966 with a First Class Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Botany (Special, with Chemistry as ancillary).  Prof. Marian Addy proceeded to the Pennsylvania State University in the United States of America for further studies where she was decorated with her Masters and Doctorate degrees in Biochemistry in 1968 and 1971 respectively.  As the first female professor of science who is also advisor, resource person and role model for programs in science, education and females, she has helped to motivate female students to choose to study science and keep to it, a move that should improve the status of, not only females, but the entire membership of the society.  As the Quiz Mistress of a national weekly science and mathematics quiz program on television, she has contributed to science education by helping students at the secondary schools to learn and keep an interest in science as well as helping with the public understanding of science.  In 1995 she received the Marketing Woman of the Year Award, an award usually reserved for people in the marketing of goods and services other than education, in recognition of her efforts at creating public understanding of, and therefore marketing science.  Her research on local medicinal plants, involving scientific verification of the efficacies of these plants, and her training a number of students at the post-graduate levels in the art of scientific investigation, especially into the scientific basis of the cures provided through the use of local herbs are contributions to (a) investment in human capital through education at the tertiary level, (b) bridging the gap between tradition and science and (c) acceptance of our herbal medicines by all.  Prof. Ewurama Addy is scheduled to give an inaugural lecture on Thursday 25th February 1999, as part of the Faculty of Science's Faculty Week activities in connection with the University of Ghana's Golden Jubilee Celebrations. The inaugural lecture is entitled PUTTING SCIENCE INTO THE ART OF HEALING WITH HERBS.  For her future plans, Prof. Ewurama Addy intends to set up a clinical and analytical laboratory specifically as a designated reference laboratory, and a component of the process of standardization and certification of Ghanaian local medicinal plants.  Using the media for programs in science, technology and mathematics for the very young is another project in her future plans.