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Young scientists to the fore at SLAYS Open Forum
An air of expectancy and excitement is pervading the science community as they await the winner of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Presentation Competition of the Sri Lankan Academy of Young Scientists (SLAYS) on Friday.
SLAYS Past President Dr. Tharanga Thoradeniya
SLAYS President Dr. Dilushan Jayasundara
Ten young scientists have been shortlisted for the finals of the 3MT Competition, while the winner of last year, the first time it was held, Shalini Thiruchittampalam of the Colombo University is currently in Brisbane, Australia, representing Sri Lanka at the Asia-Pacific 3MT Competition. Her presentation was on ‘A computational investigation of the metal binding ability of selected compounds from Sri Lankan flora’.
The SLAYS 3MT Presentation Competition is very much a part of the Open Forum, a first-of-its-kind introduced last year and will be held on the theme continuing from then, ‘Research for Impact: March of the Sri Lankan Young Scientists’ on October 4 and 5 (Thursday and Friday) at the Galle Face Hotel, Colombo.
SLAYS is organizing the Open Forum jointly with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and in collaboration with the Coordinating Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI).
“We want to get all young scientists involved, so that they are encouraged into a mindset that they can do more,” says SLAYS President Dr. Dilushan Jayasundara of the Physics Department of the Colombo University, explaining that the competition is open to early to mid-career scientists who are pursuing their MPhil (Master of Philosophy) or PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) studies or have completed their PhD in the last year. The scientists could be from state or private universities or industry.
Underscoring that more research needs to be done to take the country forward, Dr. Jayasundara says that to achieve excellence, the “march” of the scientists needs to continue. “As scientists, we need to conduct impactful research not only to guide government policy towards the development of the country on evidence-based study but also to take science itself forward.”
Even though young scientists may face many challenges, they can engage in impactful science if they have the passion to improve and widen the existing knowledge pool in both the applied and fundamental sciences, he says, citing examples of water purification or value addition for mineral resources.
He urged local graduates to move away from the tendency to stick to research areas they were familiar with. “Get out of your comfort zone and explore varied research options for your PhD.”
The vital message to young scientists through this competition is that we can do more, says Dr. Jayasundara, also talking of the importance of getting one’s research published as “publication is the marketing arena of any research” for high impact applications or knowledge.
Adding her voice, a Past President of SLAYS, Dr. Tharanga Thoradeniya says that SLAYS has shown “much promise and dynamism” since its inception in October 2012 under Founder-President Dr. Vinitha Thadani, under the umbrella of the National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka (NASSL).
“The goal is to give young scientists a voice and also link them with others, both national and international,” she says, adding that early and mid-career scientists need to do more for society and the systems that they work in, rather than simply advancing their individual research/career agendas. To do this, young scientists need more support and fewer burdens.
Explaining that the SLAYS 3MT Competition is a development of the University of Queensland, Australia, and was introduced to Sri Lanka with its permission, Dr. Thoradeniya says that the competition trains students to market their research with impact in a concise manner, which is an important attribute that should be developed by researchers.
With last year’s SLAYS Open Forum and SLAYS 3MT Competition making a mark, all 11 finalists had been linked to the ‘Programme to Develop Human Resources for Enhancing Collaborative Science & Technology Research with Japan’ through the Japan International Science and Technology Exchange Centre (JISTEC). This had given an opportunity to these young scientists to visit world-class research laboratories in Japan and form collaborations for further work, it is understood.
Meanwhile, the Open Forum on October 4 and 5 will have many interesting sessions. They include ‘The Young Scientist in Industry’ chaired by Dr. Dilushan Jayasundara; ‘Research for Impact’ chaired by Dr. Lasith Gunawardena; and ‘The Voice of the Young Scientists’ chaired by Dr. Tharanga Thoradeniya.
(For more information on the SLAYS Open Forum, please e-mail: slays.office@gmail.com)
| The top 10 contenders | |
| As the 3MT Presentation Competition gathered momentum, 78 joined the fray, according to Dr. Dilushan Jayasundara, from among whom 10 have been shortlisted by an independent panel of judges.The champion selected this week will win a cash prize donated by a well-wisher in connection with her mother’s birthday. The expectation of SLAYS is that the winner will use the prize for research activity or to expand his/her knowledge by attending conferences, as young scientists find it difficult to secure travel grants. “We are very happy that there were competitors from the Jaffna University,” says Dr. Jayasundara, adding that SLAYS wants people to enjoy science, do science, breathe science and live science. Science and Technology Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama will be the Chief Guest at the Awards Ceremony on Friday. Here are the topics and semi-finalists of the competition:
 Time for a photograph — The semi-finalists, judges and Organizing Committee of SLAYS captured at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Among those present were NSF Chairperson Prof. Sirimali Fernando; SLAYS President Dr. Dilushan Jayasundara (Colombo University); SLAYS General Secretary Dr. Lasith Gunawardena (Sri Jayewardenepura University); SLAYS Treasurer Dr. Pradeep Samarasekere (Kelaniya University); and SLAYS President-elect Dr. Chamindri Witharana (Colombo University). | |