Archives

The Young Scientist Awards sponsored by the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) was held recently at the National Science Foundation, under the patronage of the Minister for Science and Technology, Keheliya Rambukwella.

A major objective of the Third World Academy of Sciences which is based in Trieste, Italy, is to recognize and support individual scientists in developing countries who have made significant contributions to the advancement of science. In this context, the TWAS provides financial assistance to designated institutions in developing countries to enable them to institute a scheme of annual TWAS prizes for young scientists. In Sri Lanka, the TWAS awards are made annually by the National Science Foundation.

Delivering the introductory speech, Prof. Ranjan Ramasamy, Chairman, NSF stated that the TWAS travelling fellowships, equipment support, research grants and awards have served to nurture science in Sri Lanka. He noted that financial and administrative constraints remain major hurdles to science in the Southern hemisphere, pointing out that while the scientific gap between the North and South may tend to widen, effective use of new communication technologies and frequent scientific contacts can help bridge this divide.

Chief Guest at the occasion, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella in this address stated that the government recognises that scientists in all disciplines, whether it be natural sciences, social sciences, engineering or medical sciences, have a vital role to play in the development of the country and improvement of the quality of life for all its people. Minister Rambukwella said that his Ministry would give the fullest support to the NSF to help achieve these objectives.

He pointed out that in addition to the generation of new knowledge and new technological processes through harnessing the talents of scientists and technologists, the NSF also has a commitment to promote the diffusion of scientific knowledge to the wider population of this country through the mass media. He said that while facilitating scientific research, it is also important to recognise the contributions made by individual scientists and that the annual prizes awarded by the NSF are one way of recognizing the contributions made by scientists of this country.

The Young Scientist Awards for the years 2001 and 2002 were presented to four notable young researchers. Dr. Maya Gunasekera received the award for Biology for the year 2002. Formerly of the University of Colombo, Dr. Gunasekera is the present Chief Executive of Genetech. She received her award for a population genetic study which was performed on two endangered animal species in Sri Lanka; the elephant and the fruit bat. The study was conducted with the aim of developing strategies for their management and conservation.

A genetic drift due to habitat fragmentation was observed indicating that elephant management programmes need to ensure genetic exchange to prevent inbreeding in small isolated elephant populations. The DNA fingerprinting technology developed in this study was successfully unitized for the accurate assignment of the paternity of elephant calves born in captivity in the Pinnawela elephant orphanage.

This work also represents the first mitochondrial-DNA (mtDNA) based study done in Sri Lanka to determine the taxonomic status of an animal species. Cytochrome b gene analysis of fruit bat, identified two species of Cynopterus, C.sphinx and C.brachyotis.

The study recommends the strict conservation of the primary forest areas, the habitat of C. brachyotis, for its long-term survival. The sequence data of mitochondrial ND 5 gene of the elephant and Cyt b gene of Cynopterus, are reported first in this work. Both mtDNA and DNA fingerprint analysis are now being used for monitoring of captive breeding programmes and identification of the parentage of elephants, including casework related to wildlife poaching.

The prize for Physics for 2002 was awarded to Dr. C. A. N. Fernando of the University of Ruhuna. Based on the research conducted by Dr. Fernando, a system was found for the first time to produce Hydrogen (H2) gas from water as a fuel in a photo electrochemical cell, using thin films of n-type cuprous oxide semiconductor as a solar energy conversion device.

Easy fabrication methods were found to prepare thin films of n-type cuprous oxide on commercially available copper substrate. In addition to the above, dye sensitized solar cells with ordered and disordered molecular arrangements were also investigated. Sensitized semiconductor films, connected to solid state photovoltaic cells and photo electrochemical cells, were used to generate electricity from solar energy.

Dr. D. P. Dissanayake of the University of Colombo received the award for Chemistry for 2002. The objectives of the study conducted by Dr. Dissanayake were to develop methods for analysis of pollutant gases and to develop catalysts for oxidation of volatile organic compounds. The emphasis was on the use of metal oxide as catalysts. One major problem associated with metal oxide catalysts is the formation of surface carbon during the oxidation of volatile organic compounds.

This situation becomes more severe under oxygen deficient conditions, and the catalytic activity decreases significantly when surface carbon is formed. During this research programme, Dr. Dissanayake was able to achieve a method for testing the catalysts for carbon formation using infrared spectroscopy and he was able to establish that the oxygen storing metal oxides, Cerium and Manganese oxides, can be used as catalysts or modifiers to prevent carbon deposition. Consequently, the life of oxidation catalysts can be prolonged especially under oxygen deficient conditions.

Dr. Ayanthi Navaratne of the University of Peradeniya received the award for Chemistry for 2001, for research work done to develop analytical methods based on electrochemical sensors and biosensors for the detection of environmentally and industrially important substances. Since these analytical detection schemes are based on electrochemical instrumentation, they are relatively inexpensive compared to other sophisticated instrumental methods. As a result of this research work, Dr. Navaratne has been able to develop a detection scheme for paraquat (a heavily used herbicide in Sri Lanka), based on amperometry.

In addition, she has developed detection schemes based on the same methodology, for some other pesticides namely, Cyhalothrin, an insecticide and Propanil, a heavily used chlorinated herbicide in rice fields.

On the research work done based on biosensors, Dr. Navaratne has been able to develop a low cost analytical method to monitor and detect hydrogen peroxide in milk. Hydrogen peroxide is added to milk as a preservative under exceptional circumstances, and in such cases regular monitoring of hydrogen peroxide is mandatory due to health concerns. Therefore, this novel and low cost electrochemical biosensor has potential application in the milk and dairy industry in the country.

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager