Department Of Materials Engineering, KNUST

Professor Emmanuel Gikunoo Newly Appointed Head of Department of Materials Engineering KNUST, Bringing Visionary Leadership and Strategic Growth Plans

The Department of Materials Engineering at KNUST warmly welcomes Professor Emmanuel Gikunoo as the new Head of Department, marking his second tenure in this role.

Professor Emmanuel Gikunoo is a Mechanical Engineer and a lecturer at the Department of Materials Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) He obtained an M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada in 2005 and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana State University, USA in 2014. His PhD dissertation was on the ‘Utilization of carbon nanofibers grown on glass microballoons (NMBs) in point-of-care diagnostic devices.

He started his career as a lecturer at the Department of Materials Engineering, KNUST in April 2006 and was later promoted to Senior lecturer in August 2016. He then rose to the rank of Associate Professor in August 2022. Prof. Gikunoo has vast expertise in composite and biomaterials, mineral processing, soil remediation, and solid waste management. His research work has been widely published in reputable peer-reviewed journals that have been widely cited. Prof. Gikunoo is a member of the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) and Ghana Institute of Safety and Environmental Professionals (GhISEP).

As Head of the Materials Engineering Department at KNUST, Professor Emmanuel Gikunoo has the vision of improving the Materials Engineering Laboratory by expanding its physical space and seeking for funding to acquire advanced equipment to accommodate the growing number of undergraduate and postgraduate students. He also plans to support the department by fostering robust department-industry collaborations and elevating the department’s visibility through improved website management and social media presence. Professor Gikunoo is committed to creating a supportive and psychologically safe environment for academic work and to strengthening alumni relations. To promote consistency in teaching and learning, he plans setting up a 5–10-year strategic plan for the Department of Materials Engineering.
Department of Materials Engineering KNUST KNUST College of Engineering Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!
The Department Of Materials Engineering, KNUST is happy to welcome all freshers to the department. An orientation session will be held to introduce students to this great department. You wouldn't want to miss this. Kindly find more details in the attached flyer.

Dear Esteemed Freshmen,
I warmly welcome you to the Materials Engineering family at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

As the Head of the Materials Engineering Department, I would like to extend my congratulations on your admission into the programme offered by one of the best departments on KNUST campus.

KNUST is a highly regarded university that has been ranked as the best university in the world for its contribution to the provision of quality education in line with Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG 4).

I want you to know that your admission into the programme is a result of your hard work, resilience, and determination, and not just a matter of chance.

The journey that lies ahead is challenging but it is also an opportunity for personal growth and academic achievements.

I encourage you to embrace this adventure with an open mind and a genuine thirst for knowledge. Our department is a vibrant hub of learning and research, where you will find support, inspiration, and opportunities to explore the fascinating world of materials and metallurgical engineering.

Our experienced and dedicated faculty and non-teaching staff will provide you with top-notch education to bring out your potentials.

As a student of our department, you are an essential part of our academic community that values your uniqueness. The department is committed to nurturing your potential. During your stay in the university community, engage with your peers, seek guidance from our dedicated faculty, and take advantage of the resources available to you.

I look forward to witnessing your journey unfold and the impact you will undoubtedly make in our Materials and Metallurgical Engineering family.

Welcome to KNUST, where your aspirations meet endless possibilities.

Best wishes.

Ing. Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Arthur
Head, Materials Engineering Department

The Department Of Materials Engineering, KNUST wishes everyone a Happy New Year!

The Office of Grants and Research (OGR) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has visited the Department of Materials Engineering to conduct an intellectual property seminar on the topic "Introduction to Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer."
This is a university wide exercise and it will excite you to know that the Department of Materials Engineering is the first department to have gone through this wonderful seminar.
The lesson learnt from the seminar is that Intellectual Property is time-bound, territorial, and legally bound.

Checkout some of the photos of the event.

Congratulations to Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Arthur on his appointment as the new Head of the Materials Engineering Department at the College of Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Arthur takes over from Dr. Kwadwo Mensah Darkwa, who was at the helm of affairs for the past two years. Prior to assuming the role of Head of Department (HOD),
Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Arthur served in various roles within the department. Some of these roles include the Departmental Vacation Training Officer, Departmental Field Trip Coordinator, Departmental Laboratory Manager, and Departmental Seminar and Undergraduate Project Coordinator. An exclusive interview was conducted with Dr. Kwesi Arthur, and here is how the conversation unfolded.

1. Can you please introduce yourself and tell us about your academic background and your area of expertise?

I am Ing. Dr. Emmanuel Kwesi Arthur, a senior lecturer and currently the Head of Department for Materials Engineering Department. I started lecturing in Ghana on November 2016 as a lecturer. I have vast experience and qualifications in Materials Science and Engineering. I obtained my master’s and a doctoral degree from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Technology, Abuja, Nigeria. Also, I had my PhD exchange programme at the School of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, USA. My BSc. degree was in Materials Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. I have been instructing and researching in the University environment since 2011. In addition to the academic degrees, I had my research experiences at Hysitron Inc. and Worchester Polytechnic Institute in the USA. My research interests span through mechanical metallurgy, novel surface hardening techniques and advanced characterization of metals, ceramics and composite materials. My current research activities focus primarily on the deformation of various metals and alloys, materials selection, earth-based reinforced composite, advanced nano-/micro-mechanical response of materials and environmental remediation.

2. Please, what inspired you to become an academic faculty? (Tell us about your journey so far)

To begin with, I was not initially driven by a desire to become a teacher. However, my perspective changed when I was in Junior Secondary School and a prophet revealed to me during one of our prayer meetings that I will be an ordained teacher. At first, I was not happy because my mind was on the poor conditions of teachers. It wasn’t until I entered the University in 2005 that I developed a passion for teaching. I realized that there are different levels of teachers, and that teaching can be combined with research and other services to society. During my undergraduate days, I started teaching my cohorts due to my passion for teaching and my interest in transferring knowledge. I love to teach, research, and help people in need.

3. As our new HoD, what is your vision for the department? (Where do you want to see the department in the next year?)

As the new Head of Department, my goal is to create an environment that fosters excellence and innovation through creativity, industrial collaboration, and visibility of the department. I envision the department educating a critical mass of engineers who will help drive the nation’s economy. Ghana is blessed with abundant natural resources, but the country exports these materials in their raw states without adding value. This is due to a lack of technology and a critical mass of personnel who understand how to transform these materials into useful products. The Materials Engineering Department aims to provide education in materials and metallurgical engineering to meet the numerous materials needs facing the nation. I see the department producing engineers or graduates who will be part of the creation of materials for tomorrow’s innovative technologies.

4. Which measures will you put in place to achieve this vision?

To realize this vision for the department, I would like to:
i. Provide our students with a more practical approach to solving engineering problems.
ii. Organize seminars for students to help them acquire the soft skills required by industries.
iii. Establish industrial collaborations that will bring problem-solving projects, internships/vacation training opportunities, graduate entry-level jobs, and research funding.
iv. Strengthen research groups in the department to attract research funds.
v. Develop a course structure that will equip our graduates with the expertise/skills required by the job market.

5. What will you do to enhance the department’s visibility?

The department is facing a major challenge in terms of visibility. In the past, the department has improved its visibility by organizing outreach programs in secondary schools in Kumasi and its environs. I believe that these outreach programs need to be intensified to cover all 16 regions in Ghana. Additionally, I will ensure that the department’s visibility is extended to industry players through collaborations to market our graduates. This will enable industries to be aware of what our graduates can offer.

6. Please, what improvement should we expect in the state of our department’s laboratory to become a state-of-the-art laboratory?

In addition to teaching, the department conducts multidisciplinary research. To perform cutting-edge research, the department requires a state-of-the-art laboratory. However, building such a laboratory requires significant capital that the department does not have. Nevertheless, the department can secure funding through proposal writing. There are numerous international calls for proposals that the department can apply to in order to seek funding that can support our laboratory facilities. I will strengthen the department’s research groups so that we can put together a winning proposal. If we win research grants, some of the components will be used to enhance the quality of our laboratory.