The World Academy of Sciences Council has announced the winners of four of its prestigious awards (2023 TWAS-Abdool Karim Award, 2023 TWAS-Atta-ur-Rahman Award, 2023 TWAS-Fayzah M. Al-Kharafi Award, and 2024 TWAS-Siwei Cheng Award in Economic Sciences) for enterprising and accomplished scientists living and working in the global South.
All four winners are women. Also, two of the winners are from the Least Developed Countries, Burkina Faso and Malawi. The other two are from Sri Lanka and China. The awards provide a powerful incentive for developing world scientists to excel on new levels while bringing much-deserved global recognition to their achievements and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
Dr. Imalka Munaweera, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences received 2023 TWAS-Atta-ur-Rahman Award in Chemistry, for her contributions to the development of engineered inorganic nanostructures and nanofiber composites that may have multidisciplinary applications.
Mercury, a potent environmental pollutant, requires careful management to prevent adverse effects on both human health and the ecosystem. The Department of Chemistry at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in collaboration with the National Cleaner Production Center, Sri Lanka hosted a vital training session on the “Sound Management of Mercury and Mercury-containing Waste” on the 15th of August 2023 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. aiming to equip technical officers and lab attendants with the knowledge and skills necessary to handle Mercury responsibly. The training was graced by the esteemed presence of Prof. Champa Jayaweera, the Head of the Department of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Her presence underscored the significance of the event and emphasized the department’s commitment to promoting responsible chemical management practices. The training attracted a diverse group of participants, primarily technical officers and laboratory attendants from the Department of Chemistry and technical officers from other departments including Zoology, Botany, Physics, Statistics, and Food Science.
The training program was thoughtfully designed with four comprehensive modules,
Introduction to Chemical Management
Sources, Types, Properties of Mercury, and Adverse Health Effects of Mercury
Mercury-Free Alternatives to Mercury-Contained Products
Mercury Spill Management
Ms. Terancy Samarawickrama, Assistant Director at the Environment Management Department, Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, led the first two modules and her experience in environmental management brought valuable insights into the safe handling of Mercury. Modules 3 and 4 were conducted by Prof. Jagath Premachandra from the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Moratuwa and his profound knowledge in chemical engineering and Mercury management added depth to the training. The participants gained a comprehensive understanding of Mercury and Mercury-containing waste management, thanks to the well-structured modules and the expertise of the presenters. The training proved to be immensely beneficial for all participants. Not only did it equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle Mercury safely, but it also fostered a sense of responsibility towards environmental sustainability. With Mercury being a hazardous substance, proper management is not just a professional obligation but a societal responsibility.
Congratulations to Dr Imalka Munaweera for winning Ramakrishna memorial award at the 52nd Annual Sessions and the 82nd Anniversary Celebrations of the Institute of Chemistry, Ceylon.
Ramakrishna Memorial Award is awarded for exceptional research contributions of original nature in the field of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry and related areas, such as Bio-inorganic Chemistry or Bio-analytical Chemistry.
If you are willing to attend this event, we kindly request you to fill out the Google form by July 13th noon by registering through the following link:
