Growing up, Lois witnessed first-hand how vital accessibility to clean water is.<\/p>\n
Though current methods of water purification aim to make water safe to drink, dangerous inorganic compounds and bacteria can often remain, invisible to the human eye.<\/p>\n
\u201cAcross the globe, there is high diarrhoea and cholera cases that are caused due to water pollution,\u201d Lois explains. \u201cStatistics show that every minute, 5% of children who are future leaders die because of these water-borne diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n
Research that can change lives<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"OU](\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/PHOTO-2022-02-12-21-44-42-225x300.jpg\")
Lois in the OU lab<\/p><\/div>\n
In the lab, Lois is experimenting with a scientific technique called \u2018photocatalysis\u2019. This uses the power of the sun to kick-start a chemical reaction that removes as high a percentage of organic impurities from water as possible, in the shortest amount of time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking at a phenomenon where we would go away from using electricity and being able to use the natural sunlight that is readily available to us. And in Africa, it\u2019s sunlight all day long,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if we\u2019re able to tap this resource, then we will be using what is readily available to create something essential for life.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Life as an OU researcher<\/strong><\/h3>\nLois spends most of her time in the lab at The Open University\u2019s Milton Keynes campus, working alongside a team of fellow scientists.<\/p>\n
After moving across the world to continue her research, Lois says she was delighted to discover the University\u2019s supportive research community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is access to these world-class facilities all around us and everybody is ready to help,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have the facilities, you have the equipment, you have the professionals, and you have meetings, people checking in on you. We even have walks in the OU campus grounds just to discuss our research.<\/p>\n
\u201cI absolutely always recommend the OU. If you\u2019re thinking of studying with the OU, you\u2019re making the best decision. I would just say to try to maximise every opportunity that comes your way.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Looking to the future, Lois hopes her ongoing research will lead to a low-cost, sustainable purification system that could be scaled up to improve the health of communities in Ghana, across Africa and communities across the globe.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s this passion for making a difference to others, especially the next generation, that led Lois to found two non-profit organisations. Sankofa Mentorship Hub<\/a>\u00a0and Dear Young Graduate support rural schools with practical STEM education and encourage young people to discover their own love of science and engineering.<\/p>\n
Lois in the OU lab<\/p><\/div>\n
In the lab, Lois is experimenting with a scientific technique called \u2018photocatalysis\u2019. This uses the power of the sun to kick-start a chemical reaction that removes as high a percentage of organic impurities from water as possible, in the shortest amount of time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are looking at a phenomenon where we would go away from using electricity and being able to use the natural sunlight that is readily available to us. And in Africa, it\u2019s sunlight all day long,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if we\u2019re able to tap this resource, then we will be using what is readily available to create something essential for life.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Life as an OU researcher<\/strong><\/h3>\nLois spends most of her time in the lab at The Open University\u2019s Milton Keynes campus, working alongside a team of fellow scientists.<\/p>\n
After moving across the world to continue her research, Lois says she was delighted to discover the University\u2019s supportive research community.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is access to these world-class facilities all around us and everybody is ready to help,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou have the facilities, you have the equipment, you have the professionals, and you have meetings, people checking in on you. We even have walks in the OU campus grounds just to discuss our research.<\/p>\n
\u201cI absolutely always recommend the OU. If you\u2019re thinking of studying with the OU, you\u2019re making the best decision. I would just say to try to maximise every opportunity that comes your way.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Looking to the future, Lois hopes her ongoing research will lead to a low-cost, sustainable purification system that could be scaled up to improve the health of communities in Ghana, across Africa and communities across the globe.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s this passion for making a difference to others, especially the next generation, that led Lois to found two non-profit organisations. Sankofa Mentorship Hub<\/a>\u00a0and Dear Young Graduate support rural schools with practical STEM education and encourage young people to discover their own love of science and engineering.<\/p>\n
\u201cI absolutely always recommend the OU. If you\u2019re thinking of studying with the OU, you\u2019re making the best decision. I would just say to try to maximise every opportunity that comes your way.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Looking to the future, Lois hopes her ongoing research will lead to a low-cost, sustainable purification system that could be scaled up to improve the health of communities in Ghana, across Africa and communities across the globe.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s this passion for making a difference to others, especially the next generation, that led Lois to found two non-profit organisations. Sankofa Mentorship Hub<\/a>\u00a0and Dear Young Graduate support rural schools with practical STEM education and encourage young people to discover their own love of science and engineering.<\/p>\n