Alex Osei-Gyasi’s scientific contributions

Everything a person eats and buys has an impact on their carbon footprint because of the energy and resources required to produce and transport it thus contributing to climatic change. Reduction of carbon footprint is one means of sustainable development and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is known to contribute positively in this direction. It has been recognised that universities have a role to play in sustainable development of societies. The main aim of the study was to investigate the awareness of students of the University of Cape on how ICT could be used to reduce carbon footprint of the university. The questionnaire was the main instrument used to collect data from 427 Levels 100 to 600 students. The study showed that most of the students are not aware of carbon footprint, though they are of the view that ICT could be used to reduce the carbon footprint of the university’s operations. It also showed that students are concerned about protecting the environment and they would want the University to establish environmental-friendly policies to help reduce its carbon footprint and that of its stakeholders. They are of the view that ICT’s capability of dematerialisation should be deployed to minimize the university’s overdependence of paper and transportation for its activities thereby reducing carbon footprint. It recommended that Sustainable Office be established, annual environmental week awareness campaign be organized, and the full potential of the fibre optics backbone to all buildings on campus should be fully utilized.