In September 2025, NetCDA members Dr. Michael Thiel and Dr. Insa Otte traveled to Kumasi, Ghana, to deliver the first test-run of the MSc module Remote Sensing for Biodiversity Conservation, developed under the EOcap4Africa project.
Hosted by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)—also a partner university in the NetCDA network—the training brought together more than 20 motivated students from different backgrounds. The program combined theory with hands-on sessions, introducing participants to freely available software to ensure sustainable application beyond the course. The opening was marked by speeches from Dr. Insa Otte (EOcap4Africa project lead and NetCDA member), representatives of the College of Engineering, and leadership from the WASCAL Graduate School Climate Change and Land Use.
As part of the program, students and trainers embarked on a field excursion to the Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary, where they could directly link remote sensing methods with biodiversity and conservation challenges on the ground.
The successful training and excursion were made possible through excellent cooperation with KNUST and strong support from local partners. The initiative also gained national attention, with Ghanaian media highlighting the project’s innovative approach to capacity building in remote sensing.