Science Foundation celebrates 40th anniversary

The National Science Foundation (NSF), together with its two predecessors, the Natural Resources, Energy and Science Authority (NARESA) and the National Science Council (NSC), is celebrating 40 years of contribution to the advancement of research in science.

The National Science Council commenced awarding research grants in 1970; the NSF now supports industrial research and development, recognising it as a major force which drives both science and the economy.

In keeping with recent advances in science, the NSF, together with the Ministry of Science and Technology, initiated and now leads the National Nanotechnology Initiative to infuse nanotechnology into local industries such as telecommunication, apparels, water purification, and the agro-based industries.

Some of the noteworthy developments, resulting from research grants disbursed during the past 40 years, include, developing molecular anthropology techniques (commonly known as DNA fingerprinting) in Sri Lanka, (successfully used as evidence in courts of law, e.g. Hokandara multiple murder, Royal Park and Judge Ambepitiya murders, and the identification of Baby 81, fertilisers from paddy straw for wetland rice fields thus reducing dependence on chemical fertilizers, new laboratory method to detect histamines in fish enables those with allergic reactions to choose their sea food discerningly and MURALI a reliable and low cost robot which detects landmines; this is more robust than existing landmine systems as it can coordinate a colony of robots for landmine detection in a given area.

In addition initial studies with mice confirmed a number of therapeutic effects hitherto unknown in Sri Lanka's black tea, eco-friendly methods of mopping up poisonous metals from waterways (phytoremediation uses plant processes to remove and detoxify metals and other toxins from contaminated areas and more.

A NSF sponsored study revealed that certain water plants which were grown in laboratories absorbed heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and nickel; experiments are now underway to determine the effectiveness of these plants to mop up industrial wastes contaminated with these heavy metals.

The coordinated thematic research programme (CTRP), implemented recently, is based on a collaborative, multidisciplinary, research perspective.

Through this programme, NSF expects to re-orient and drive the national research system to produce well defined outputs that will directly contribute towards the economic and social welfare of the country. The NSF gives priority to development-oriented research programmes, particularly those with public-private partnerships.

The themes which were identified for research under CTRP are: (i) technologies for rural sector development, (ii) alternative agriculture for self reliance, (iii) environmental protection and sustainable development, (iv) non-communicable diseases, (v) utilisation of neem and neem products, (vi) quality assurance for consumer protection, (vii) sustainable utilisation of natural products, (viii) disaster mitigation and management, (ix) sustainable management and utilisation of marine resources, (x) science education, (xi) bio-fuels and (xii) use of Eppawala rock phosphate in agriculture.

The NSF's thematic committees are presently in the process of short-listing the concept papers with a view to calling for full proposals.

The one-stop National Science Library and Resource Centre (NSLRC), formerly known as the NSF Library, was the first digitalised library in Sri Lanka. The information gateway, accessible through the NSF website, offers remote online access to local databases and to international academic databases. Additionally, NSLRC is the electronic repository of literature for the major scientific institutions in the country.

As the national focal point for several intergovernmental / multilateral initiatives such as UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere programme (MAB), the NSF developed and sustained the Sinharaja natural reserve, Bundala national park, and the Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya.

The NSF is committed to upholding international principles and standards on ethics in science and scientific research; to this end NSF conducts several workshops for school teachers and university faculty on teaching bioethics to their respective students.

Recognising and supporting young scientists is a major focus area and the NSF has funded over 300 post-graduate degrees in all fields of science.

"The National Science Foundation does all this and more entirely with public funds."