“Remember the power of science as a force for social good” – Howard University President

The University of Guyana hosted its second in a series of virtual Convocation ceremonies on Saturday last which saw 207 students from the College of Medical Science and 336 from the Faculty of Natural Sciences being added to the local workforce.
This is in addition to the 556 students – 293 from the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, 51 from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry and 212 from the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation (SEBI) – who had graduated on Friday evening.
Close to 2500 students are set to graduate from the University’s Turkeyen and Berbice Campuses and the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education programmes. There will be two more graduation ceremonies this Friday and Saturday, March 26 and 27.
However, in a powerful and inspirational speech on Saturday evening, Howard University President Dr Wayne A I Frederick, a distinguished scholar, cancer surgeon and administrator, told the graduates that now that they have qualified themselves in the various fields of science, there is an ample opportunity for them to help shape the world as they see fit.
“As you move forward in your careers, may you remember the power of science as a force of social good and your ability to influence the world around you when you embrace your full potential as a scientist,” he said.
Frederick is the first Black and Caribbean President of the 228-year-old Howard University. Howard is the University which also recently fielded the first woman and woman of colour as US Vice President, Kamala Harris.
President Frederick reminded the graduates that they are patrons and torchbearers of science, and it is up to them to “banish the darkness with your light and lead us forward to days of greater, global health and prosperity.” He noted that part of the graduates’ responsibility would be to ensure that science continues to lead.
“Where there is myth you must counter it with fact. Where there is misinformation, you must counter it with fact. Where there is a culture of denialism, you must again counter it with fact. In some ways your role is simple, just tell the truth. Find the truth and promote it.”
The distinguished author observed that throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, people in all parts of the world allowed their actions to be governed by forces other than the truth, they acted based on emotion and fear, anger and in some cases, intolerance. He expressed that when COVID-19 is finally subdued, “it will be thanks to science that we prevailed”.
According to Dr Frederick, in a world that moves at the pace of ours and where questions demand answers before answers are ready to be given, setbacks are guaranteed to occur. But he insisted that adherence to science is a guarantor that the balance of our social progress will be forward rather than backward.
He reasoned that the graduates are the arbitrators of science, and as a result, they are the trusted messengers who can deliver the truth to the people. On this basis, he urged them to use that standing in society to do the best when they can in the way it is most natural to their character, and befitting of their passions.

Additionally, the accomplished academician reminded the graduates that their role as men and women will never be truly simple, adding that they will always have to look beyond the science and what purpose the science is directed towards.
“It is not enough to conduct a research or write a study and leave the impacts of that study to other people…It is good to be passionate about your work, vital even, but I want you to be equally passionate about its purpose. While you’re all students of the sciences, I hope you all become students of the world. Because within the power of science and having that at your disposal, you have the capacity to change the world around you,” he added.
He further pointed out that science can also generate new ways to provide healthcare. He explained that while the pandemic revealed how unequal the global healthcare infrastructure is, and has been, we can use this critical inflexion point to ensure that all people regardless of their race, or where they happen to live can access the care they need when they need it the most.
“Whether it’s through telemedicine, mobile healthcare providers, strategically rethinking and redeploying our existing healthcare system. Or some other innovation to be developed, science has a role to play in refashioning this critical part of our society,” he argued.
Dr Frederick was appointed the Seventeenth President of Howard University in 2014. He previously served as Provost and Chief Academic Officer. Most recently, the Howard University Board of Trustees selected him to serve as the distinguished Charles R Drew Professor of Surgery.
A distinguished scholar and administrator, Dr Frederick has advanced Howard University’s commitment to student opportunity, academic innovation, public service, and fiscal stability. Early in his tenure as President, Dr Frederick pursued initiatives to streamline and strengthen university operations. He has overseen a series of reform efforts, including the expansion of academic offerings, establishing innovative programmes to support student success and the modernisation of university facilities.