Statistical Consultancy Projects – From April, 2024 to September, 2024

Pollen Morphology of Genera Dillenia L. and Schumacheria Vahl. (Dilleniaceae) in Sri Lanka

This project explored the pollen morphology of two genera, Dillenia and Schumacheria, within the Dilleniaceae family in Sri Lanka. The study provided detailed descriptions of pollen characteristics, contributing to the taxonomic understanding of these plants. The findings enhance the knowledge base for further pollen identification and classification in the region.

Cultural Validation of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to Sinhala and Assessment of Depression and Anxiety among People Living with HIV in Colombo

The aim of this study was to validate the Sinhala version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and to assess its effectiveness in screening for anxiety and depression among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Colombo. The study provided valuable insights into the mental health status of this population, supporting the use of HADS as a reliable tool in the Sinhala-speaking context.

Water and Salt Stress Tolerance of Different Varieties of Quinoa: A Climate Resilience Future Crop for Sri Lanka

This project investigated the tolerance of various quinoa varieties to water and salt stress conditions, with the aim of identifying suitable varieties for cultivation in Sri Lanka. Given the increasing importance of climate-resilient crops, the study’s findings are crucial for enhancing nutritional security and promoting sustainable agriculture in the country.

Runoff Dynamics in a Pine Plantation: Effects of Clear-Cutting and Replanting in Sri Lanka

This project assessed the environmental impact of forest management in a tropical lowland pine plantation by analyzing runoff patterns before and after clear-cutting and replanting. Key factors affecting runoff variation were identified through ANCOVA and Multiple Linear Regression, revealing a marked increase in runoff post-harvest. These insights contribute valuable guidance for sustainable forestry practices.

Optimizing Quinoa Yield and Growth: Responses to Water and Salt Stress

This study aimed to enhance quinoa resilience by examining how a single variety responds to different levels of water and salt stress. Using the Multivariate Kruskal-Wallis test and Mixed Effects models, it identified yield and growth parameters essential for adapting to challenging environments. The findings support strategies to optimize quinoa cultivation in water-limited and saline regions, bolstering food security and sustainability.

Detailed tasks

ISC 2024

4th IASSL International Conference on Statistics and Data Science

4th IASSL International Conference on Statistics and Data Science

December 28-29, 2024 Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo, Sri Lanka

ISC 2024

Conference website: https://isc24.iassl.lk/   

Contact: appstatsl@gmail.com, niroshan@sci.sjp.ac.lk

International Statistics Conference 2024 (ISC 2024) is jointly organized by the Institute of Applied Statistics, Sri Lanka (IASSL) and the Department of Statistics, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ), Sri Lanka. The Simon Fraser University (SFU), Canada will be the International collaborator of the Conference.

The theme of the conference is “Unleashing the power of data: Harnessing the Synergy between Statistics and Data Science“. The Guest of Honour of the conference is the world renowned researcher Professor Rob Hyndman, Monash University, Australia. Keynote speeches will be delivered by Prof. Rob Hyndman as well as another renowned Statistician Professor Tim Swartz, SFU, Canada. Professor Ji-Hyun Lee, the President-elect 2024 of the American Statistical Association and Emeritus Professor Jay Emmerson, Yale University, USA will deliver guest speeches during the conference.

Please join us to present your latest research work and meet renowned international and local researchers.

The Conference Proceedings will be published with an ISSN and ISBN. Selected papers will be submitted to Springer Nature for a possible publication in a Scopus-indexed book series or published in Sri Lankan Journal of Applied Statistics.

Tracks of Interest:

Probability and statistical inference, Statistical modelling, Time series and forecasting, Sampling and surveys, Experimental designs and analysis, Spatial and longitudinal data analysis, Actuarial statistics, Data mining and Big data analytics, Machine Learning and AI, Data visualization, Predictive analytics, Econometric modelling, Sports analytics, Biostatistics, bioinformatics and healthcare analytics, Developments in statistical software, Ecological modelling, Financial and marketing data analytics, Manufacturing, telecommunication, transport and energy data analytics, Education and social science data analytics, Agriculture, food and environment data analytics, Operations research applications, and other relevant topics.

  • Submission Deadline: May 15, 2024
  • Acceptance Notification: July 15, 2024
  • Camera-ready Submission: August 15, 2024
  • Early-Bird Registration Closes: August 31, 2024

4th IASSL International Conference on Statistics and Data Science

December 28-29, 2024 Cinnamon Lakeside, Colombo, Sri Lanka

ISC 2024

Conference website: https://isc24.iassl.lk/   

Contact: appstatsl@gmail.com, niroshan@sci.sjp.ac.lk

field_visit

Exploring Practical Statistics: A Visit to the Fruit Research Institute.

The Department of Statistics of University of Sri Jayewardenepura organized an exciting educational field visit to the Fruit Research and Development Institute in Horana. This hands-on experience aligns with the department’s commitment to providing practical learning that enhances students’ grasp of statistical concepts in real-world settings.

This visit aimed to showcase the practical applications of experimental designs, complementing coursework in STA 317 2.0/ASP 452 2.0 Advanced Design of Experiments. Thanks to the support of Mrs. K.A. Renuka, Director of the Fruit Research and Development Institute, the excursion took place on August 8th, 2023.

Dr. Ranjala Kumari, the Assistant Director of Agriculture guided and transformed this visit into an exceptional learning opportunity for all the third-year students and all fourth-year undergraduates who participated by adeptly showcasing the practical application of various experimental designs, bridging the gap between theory and practice. As students observed the deliberate application of designs such as Completely Randomized Design (CRD), Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), and factorial designs in the cultivation of bananas, rambutan, avocados, and pineapples, the theories, and concepts they had previously studied in the classroom began to take physical form.

Dr. Kumari encouraged students to participate in insightful conversations about the specifics of experiment design, treatment use, and the organization of experimental blocks, going beyond simple observation. .

The trip sparked lively discussions and inquiries, deepening the understanding of experimental designs, and piquing the interest in the broad applications of statistics in different sectors. Armed with newfound insights, students now approach their studies with a practical perspective, all thanks to this enlightening adventure.

Written by N. B. U. Savindi