Simon Kafui Yawo Gawu
**The Research Focus:** This researcher has made significant contributions across diverse domains at the intersection of geology, materials science, and environmental studies. Their work spans: 1. **Recycling and Industrial Waste Utilization:** Development of fireclay bricks, high alumina refractories, and lightweight aggregates for materials production. 2. **Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis:** Comprehensive geochemical studies of various geological formations in Ghana, focusing on mineral systems and petrography, supported by extensive field research at specific sites like the Volta Basin and Birimian Areas. 3. **Innovations in Concrete and Construction Materials:** Exploration of stone admixtures for masonry, their mechanical properties, and applications in asphaltic concrete to enhance construction performance. 4. **Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping:** Detailed geochemical studies including gold-related compositions, integration of geoscience data for resource exploration, and application of GIS tools for geological analysis in northeastern Ghana. 5. **Concrete and Cement Materials Research:** Focus on early strength characterization of Portland cement with kaolin clay, analysis of cementitious materials, and pozzolana properties from co-fired clay and rice husk. 6. **Landfill Environmental Impact Studies:** Engineering evaluations of specific clay deposits for waste liner application in municipal solid waste landfills. 7. **Geological and Geochemical Analysis:** Study of mineral systems and petrography across paleoproterozoic sediments, with a focus on Asankragwa gold belt and related areas. 8. **Mining and Resource Management:** Exploration of mining practices and sustainable resource management strategies in Ghana, including the development of artificial Pozzolana for masonry. 9. **Tailings Management and Properties:** Investigating the effect of Pozzolana-Cement-Composite on hydraulic backfill strength to improve infrastructure. 10. **Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Stabilization:** Development of methods for soil stabilization using lime and PET fiber, as well as waste crushed rock blends in construction projects. 11. **Bauxite Residue and Utilization:** Focus on aluminum industry strategies to mitigate pollution from mud systems, enhancing resource recovery. 12. **Arsenic Contamination and Mitigation:** Use of integrated methods for arsenic analysis and characterization to address pollution risks in Ghana. 13. **Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment:** Development of wetland solutions for water treatment applications in Ashanti Region, Ghana. 14. **Heavy Metals in Environment:** Assessment of trace metals in periworean drainage systems and crops to reduce environmental contamination. 15. **Mining Techniques and Economics:** Characterization of alluvial gold exploration data to optimize mining practices. 16. **Groundwater Flow and Contamination Studies:** Use of rock fracture characterization and modeling to manage groundwater resources effectively. The researcher integrates physical sciences methodologies with innovative engineering practices, focusing on sustainability through recycling technologies, waste management strategies, environmental mitigation, and sustainable resource use. Their work demonstrates a multidisciplinary approach across geology, materials science, and environmental studies.
Faculty Biography
Simon K. Y. GAWU is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Geological Engineering of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. He teaches courses in the Environmental Geology and Earth Resources section in the Department with specialty in the application of geological data and information of Earth and Earth systems for people’s needs and the improvement or remediation of the environment as well as the geological characterization of materials. Simon holds a BSc. (Hons) degree in Geology with Mathematics from the University of Ghana, Legon and an MPhil degree in Mineral Exploration from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. His PhD degree was obtained from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa with a specialization in thickened mine tailings characterization. The PhD topic was “Characterizing high-density thickened tailings for sound environmental surface placement”.His research interest is, primarily, in geo-material characterization and engineering. Characterization modes include geochemical, mineralogical, petrologic, rheological, unsaturated soil mechanics and basic geotechnical principles and/or techniques. Other interests include environmental geology and earth resources.He supervises undergraduate and post graduate students and also mentors newly appointed academic senior members.
Arsenic contamination and mitigation
Bauxite Residue and Utilization
Concrete and Cement Materials Research
Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
Construction Engineering and Safety
Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping
Geological and Geochemical Analysis
Geological formations and processes
Geotechnical and construction materials studies
Geotechnical and Geomechanical Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Stabilization
Groundwater flow and contamination studies
Heavy metals in environment
Innovations in Concrete and Construction Materials
Landfill Environmental Impact Studies
Mine drainage and remediation techniques
Mining and Resource Management
Mining Techniques and Economics
Occupational Health and Safety Research
Recycling and utilization of industrial and municipal waste in materials production
Tailings Management and Properties
Department of Geological Engineering
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology