Elsie Effah Kaufmann

Elsie Effah Kaufmann is a Ghanaian biomedical engineer, academic and one of the most beloved public figures in Ghanaian education, known nationwide as the Quiz Mistress of the National Science and Maths Quiz. Born on 7 September 1969 in Accra, with roots in Assin in the Central Region, she has spent her career advancing engineering education while inspiring generations of students through television.

Her early schooling took her through ATTC Demonstration School in Winneba, Nana Kwaku Boateng Experimental School in Koforidua and Aburi Girls' Secondary School before she pursued higher education abroad. She earned her Bachelor, Master and doctoral degrees in bioengineering from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States, and completed postdoctoral training at Rutgers University. In 2001 she returned home to join the University of Ghana, bringing world-class expertise to a field then in its infancy in the country.

At the University of Ghana she became the founding head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and later Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences, positions from which she helped establish biomedical engineering as an academic discipline in Ghana. Her teaching and research focus on tissue engineering, biomaterials and the application of engineering concepts to health challenges relevant to the Ghanaian context. Her dedication to teaching was recognised with the University of Ghana's Best Teacher Award for the Sciences in 2009.

It is as host of the National Science and Maths Quiz, a role she has held since 2006, that Effah Kaufmann became a household name. Her calm authority, evident love of the subject matter and warm rapport with contestants transformed the annual competition into a cultural event followed by millions, elevating the profile of science education across the country. Generations of students have grown up watching her preside over the contest, and she is widely credited with making science aspirational for young Ghanaians.

Her achievements have earned international acclaim. In 2025 she was inducted as the first Ghanaian International Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a landmark recognition of her contributions to engineering and education. Combining scholarship, mentorship and broadcasting, Effah Kaufmann continues to champion STEM education and to stand as a role model for women in science. Her enduring public presence has made her one of Ghana's most respected academics and a symbol of the value of learning.