Sri Lankan scientist honoured

Dr. Meththika Vithanage, a Research Fellow at the Institute of Fundamental Studies (IFS) in Kandy has been appointed as a committee member of the International Participation of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) in the United States for a two-year term beginning July 2010.

The International Participation Committee is responsible for guiding AGU's efforts to promote scientific cooperation in Earth and Space Sciences on a global scale. As a member of the committee, Dr. Vithanage will provide advice on international involvements, develop partnerships with other societies and individuals, and help increase the international pool of students in the Earth and Space Sciences.

She is also expected to explore ways that technology can be used to better serve the members internationally, particularly those from developing countries. This is the first time that a Sri Lankan has been appointed to such a position in this professional society.

Dr. Vithanage has been a member of the AGU since 2006 and won the Best Graduate Award for the Natural Hazards Focus Group of the AGU, 2009. She has attended the AGU Fall meetings several times which are attended by about 15,000 scientists from USA and several other countries throughout the world.