Edem Mahu
Edem Mahu is a Ghanaian marine scientist who is a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana. Her research considers ocean health, oyster fisheries and climate change. She was awarded the 2022 American Geophysical Union Africa Award for Research Excellence in Ocean Sciences.
Quotes
[edit]- To become a successful marine scientist in Africa, you must be prepared to work harder than you would in other fields. Make no room for naysayers! Look beyond boundaries, oceanography is a global science! You may not be recognized or even relevant to people at the onset of your career in your country, but your work may attract international attention.
- International recognition will lead to national recognition. Giving up due to a lack of capacity and infrastructure should not be in your books. Study your system to understand the barriers to progress and work hard to develop skills that can help you break those barriers and achieve success.
- I have always loved nature, especially the marine world! However, I come from a region where marine science was not recognized as a career promising field. Therefore, to me, that passion for water could become a lifelong hobby while I pursue an academic programme that guarantees a job.
- My long-term goal is to build resilience in oyster fisheries in the sub-region to enhance the livelihoods of artisanal communities while enhancing other ecological benefits such as water quality and biodiversity.
- I promised myself to excel in my field and demonstrate to the several young students I teach and mentor that aside medicine, there are several STEM fields such as oceanography that are promising in Africa if one looks beyond boundaries
- As an early-career scientist, I faced significant challenges, particularly the lack of infrastructure for advanced research. Before ARISE, I often had to ship samples abroad for analysis, a process fraught with delays and high costs. This hampered my ability to conduct timely and impactful research.
- In 2020, my career took a transformative turn when I became one of the principal investigators supported by ARISE. The programme provided funding that allowed me to establish Ghana’s first isotope ratio mass spectrometer laboratory—a groundbreaking achievement for marine science in the region. This state-of-the-art facility has enabled me to conduct advanced research, such as reconstructing climate history and assessing human impacts on marine ecosystems.
- ARISE’s investment did not stop at infrastructure. It provided the resources and mentorship needed to scale my research and collaborate with peers across Africa. Today, my lab serves as a hub for researchers from Ghana and neighbouring countries like Nigeria, fostering regional collaboration and advancing marine science on the continent.
- With ARISE support, I have advanced research into the ecological and human health risks of heavy metal pollution in Ghana’s coastal waters. My work has informed policy discussions on environmental protection and sustainable development.
- My lab has become a regional resource, hosting researchers and fostering partnerships with institutions across Africa. This collaborative approach is key to addressing shared challenges such as marine pollution, food security, and climate adaptation.
