Letitia Obeng

Ghanaian zoologist (1925–2023)

Letitia Eva Takyibea Obeng FGA (dem born am 10 January 1925) for Anum for Eastern Region be de first Ghanaian woman wey get degree for zoology den de first wey dem award am doctorate.[1] She be known as "de grandmother of female scientists for Ghana".[2]

Letitia Obeng
human
Ein sex anaa genderfemale Edit
Country wey e be citizenGhana Edit
Name wey dem give amLetitia Edit
Family nameObeng Edit
Ein date of birth10 January 1925 Edit
Place dem born amAnum Edit
Date wey edie27 March 2023 Edit
Place wey edieAccra Edit
Place wey dem bury amOsu Edit
SiblingTheodosia Okoh Edit
KiddieEddie Obeng Edit
Native languageEnglish, Twi Edit
Languages edey speak, rep anaa signEnglish Edit
Ein occupationzoologist, botanist Edit
Field for workzoology Edit
EmployerKwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, United Nations Environment Programme, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Ghana Edit
Position eholdpresident, director Edit
Educate forAchimota School, University of Birmingham, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Edit
Member ofGhana Academy of Arts and Sciences Edit
Award e receiveFellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, honorary doctorate, Order of the Star of Ghana, honorary doctorate Edit

Ein early life den education

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Dem born Letitia Obeng for Anum for de Eastern Region insyd for 10 January 1925. She attend primary school for Abetifi, Kwahu insyd den middle school for Kyebi insyd. Between 1939 den 1946, she get ein secondary school education for Achimota College. While for school she take de London University International Examination make she continue ein education, courtesy of government scholarship for de University of Birmingham (1948–1952), wer na she be de African female student per for de Edgbaston campus.[3] She graduate from de university plus degree for Zoology insyd.[4] For ein autobiography insyd, she describe ein experience make she cam study for de United Kingdom insyd for de post-war years, wey dey include de prejudices she face.[3]

Author

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Obeng launch ein first book -Anthology of a Lifetime for July 2019 insyd.[5] Ebe selection from de distinguished scientist ein talks, speeches, writings den publications she produce during de last 60 years.[6]

Research den publications

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Letitia Obeng ein research den publication dey focus on de environment, health den science education particularly for Africa insyd. Ein doctoral research investigate de aquatic stages of de Simuliidae dem identify as major transmitter of de parasite for river blindness. Dey relate to dis research be ein articles title “Life-history and population studies on the Simuliidae of North Wales”[7] den “The identification of the aquatic stages of the British Simuliidae”.[8] For sam paper dem title "Environmental of Impacts of Four African Impoundments”,[9] Dr. Obeng dey consider de environmental effects of four African dams: Lake Volta, Lake Kariba, Lake Kainji den Lake Nasser. Sam of ein oda research den publications dey include:

  • The helminth fauna of rodents of the sub-family Murinae in Ghana. (1965)
  • Man-made lakes (1969).
  • Wildlife in the Volta Basin. Man-made Lakes (1969); co-authored with Asibey, E. O. A.
  • Volta Lake: Physical and biological aspects (1973)
  • Should dams be built? The Volta Lake example (1977)
  • Too Much or Too Little (1975)
  • Starvation or Bilharzia? a rural development dilemma (1978)
  • Man's impact on tropical rivers (1981)
  • Progress of Science in Africa—in Tradition, Culture and Religion (1986)
  • The right to health in tropical agriculture (1992)

Na Obeng sanso be de author of Obeng, Letitia E. (1997). Parasites, the Sly and Sneaky Enemies inside You. ISBN 978-9988010171., book dem write mainly give non-scientific audience. Besides ein science-related publications, Letitia Obeng sanso be be author of Obeng, Letitia Eva (2008). A Silent Heritage: an Autobiography. ISBN 9789988098834.

Ein life matter den death

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Na Obeng be de sisto of de late Madam Theodosia Okoh, de designer of de Ghana flag. Ein poppie, Very Reverend E.V. Asihene Anad, na he be de Moderator for de Presbyterian Church of Ghana wey ein mommie ein name be Dora Asihene. Na she marry George A. Obeng wey die for 1959 insyd. Dem get three kiddies (two boys den girlie).[2][3] De British Organizational theorists, professor den author Edward David Asihene "Eddie" Obeng (born 1959) be one of Letitia Obeng ein kiddie.

Obeng die for 23 March 2023, for de age of 98.[10]

Awards den honours

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From 1992 cam 1993, na Obeng be Distinguished International Visitor fellow for Radcliff College. For 1997 insyd, she receive de CSIR Award for Distinguished Career den Service to Science den Technology, de first female make she receive such award. Additionally, dem name de CSIR Laboratory (known as The Letitia Obeng Block) after am for 1997 insyd.[11] Letitia Obeng receive Ghana ein highest national award, Order of the Star of Ghana for 2006 insyd. For 2017 insyd, she receive honorary Doctor of Science degree from KNUST.[12]

References

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  1. "LSTM welcomes alumna Dr Letitia Obeng | LSTM". www.lstmed.ac.uk. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Meeting Ghana's First Female Scientist – Dr Letitia Obeng". www.ghanaweb.com. GhanaWeb. Retrieved 11 August 2015.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Obeng, Letitia E. (Letitia Eva) (2008). A silent heritage : an autobiography. Surrey, United Kingdom: Goldsear. ISBN 978-9988-0-9883-4. OCLC 472715031.
  4. "LSTM's inaugural graduation ceremony: Dr. Letitia Obeng honoured". BusinessGhana. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  5. "Ghana's first female scientist launches book". www.graphic.com.gh. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  6. "Anthology of a Life Time to be launched July 10". www.graphic.com.gh. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  7. Obeng, Letitia (2016) [1967]. "Life-history and population studies on the Simuliidae of North Wales". Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology. 61 (4): 472-487. doi:10.1080/00034983. 1967. 11686517. PMID 5634138
  8. Obeng, Letitia (1965). "The identification of the aquatic stages of the British Simuliidae". Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology. 59 (2): 240–254. doi:10.1080/00034983.1965.11686306. PMID 14345291.
  9. Obeng, Letitia (1977). "Environmental of Impacts of Four African Impoundments" (PDF). Environmental Impacts of International Civil Engineering Projects and Practices. American Society of Civil Engineers. p. 29.
  10. "Letitia Obeng, first Ghanaian woman scientist dies at 98". Asaase Radio. 27 March 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  11. "Meeting Ghana's First Female Scientist – Dr Letitia Obeng | Opinions 20 March 2008". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  12. Graphic, Daily (14 December 2017). "KNUST honours eight personalities for invaluable services". Graphic Online. Retrieved 19 December 2018.