The University of Ghana Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science in partnership with Oxford University and Keele University has , 24th February ,2023 ,inaugurated a world class insectary to further advance scientific studies in insect behavior and the impact on the environment.
The project is in partnership with Target Malaria , with special focus on building local Ghanaian expertise on how to study insect behavior particularly mosquitoes and how they react in the eco-system in their natural habitat.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Principal Investigator of the Project and Senior Lecturer at the Department, Dr. Fred Aboagye-Antwi indicated that the insectary is mainly purposed to train and enable Ghanaian scientists and their partners to understand the ecological role of mosquitoes and its benefits to the environment.
“The main aim of this facility is to enhance research collaborations between Ghanaian scientists and international partners on how to study the ecological behavior patterns of insects in the lab and properly evaluate their value to the natural environment.”
Also, Dr. Aboagye intimated that the second most important objective of the project and research team at the insectary is to investigate how the male mosquitoes in particular can relate to both harsh and mild conditions to help fish out how beneficial insects are to preserving stability in the environment with regards to the spread of diseases.
“In addition to further clinical and laboratory studies into insect behavior and how to use a scientific method to counteract their negative effects on the ecosystem particularly how to use controlled laboratory experiments to inform solutions geared to reduce disease infection and spread in the environment with insect induced activities to the barest minimum.”
The insectary ,built with funding from the Target Malaria Consortium , a not-for- profit organization , supported by Open Philanthropy is located adjacent to the Legon Botanical gardens . The research work is being done in collaboration with Oxford and Keele universities.
It has three world-class laboratories and clinical facilities with high-end equipment to promote quality teaching and research facilities for both students and faculty members.
