Gloria Amo-Duodo (30) is still on cloud nine after she was recently announced as one of the youngest researchers and scientists who won the highly-rated ‘Young Talents from Africa Award’ of Eni Award 2023. This category is the latest addition to the award which are in their fifteenth year. The awards aim to “promote radical breakthroughs in energy efficiency, renewables, decarbonisation and safeguarding of the environment and stimulating the work of new generations of researchers”.
Requirements for entry
Entrants had to be 30 year-old or younger and had to meet a few requirements such as Master’s degree thesis, motivation from school heads (HoDs) or deans, recommendation from one’s supervisors, future research proposal, journal papers and outputs, among others. Although a Ghanaian by birth, Amo-Duodo, is currently based at Durban University of Technology (DUT). She, together with three other recipients, will receive a three-year PhD scholarship to continue their research at an Italian University as a prize.
Breakthrough energy source
“I felt so wonderful to know my effort during my master’s studies has been recognised to even stand a chance to win such a prestigious award from ENI,” she says about winning the award. “Recipients of this award get a plaque during the award ceremony and a three-year PhD scholarship in a university in Italy. My Master thesis was about the application of synthesised magnetic nanoparticle for biogas production using anaerobic. The proposed research is the feasibility and potential of harnessing biogas produced food waste as a breakthrough energy source in Ghana,” she said.
Admirable academic record
Amo-Duodu, is a qualified chemical engineer from Bunso in the Eastern region of Ghana and also holds a Master’s degree in chemical engineering (cum laude). In addition, she was a student researcher of the Green Engineering Research Group in the department of chemical engineering at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). Amo-Duodo boasts impressive academic accomplishments including winning several notable accolades. Some of these include:
- Taking part in the 2022 ERAMUS exchange programme at the University of Valladolid in Spain.
- being a recipient of the Master student of the year (Gold category) award at the DUT Research and Innovation Award 2021.
- she has 19 peer-reviewed journal papers (authored seven and co-authored 12) and one book chapter and
- has also presented in seven local and international conferences.
Grateful for support
Amo-Duodo says she is grateful for her supervisors for believing in her and encouraging her to apply for the awards. Amo-Duodo says her supervisors have been very helpful during her academic journey particularly in relation to her research output and thesis. She says funding provided by DUT sustained her studies and made it possible for her to attend writing retreats, workshops and conferences. But she reserves her gratitude to her mother who she says was her constant mainstay of support and a role model.
Her mother taught her basic principles such as patience, kindness and resilience which helped to ground her, she says. She also believes in hard work and determination, saying these contributed significantly to her academic success. Amo-Duodo says she also draws on the words of her high school teacher who used to say “where determination exists, failure can never dismantle the roots of success”. She says students who wants to succeed academically should, just like she did, heed these inspirational and uplifting words.
Accelerating shift to renewables
Amo-Duodo’s area of focus would certainly come in handy and add impetus to Africa’s drive to shift to renewable energy sources to fulfil its Agenda 2063, Paris Climate Agreement and UN’s sustainable development goals. Experts have warned that under-developed and developing nations would bear the brunt of the climate change-induced catastrophes. To avert these, they should ensure they embrace and expedite transition from the current fossil-powered energy generation to cleaner sources of energy. Nurturing and investing in a strong pipeline of early-career researchers such as Amo-Duodo would be a good beginning.
