INSPIRE #18: Webinars/ Seminars Series
July 08, 2022
Faculty of Science
University of Peradeniya
Faculty of Science
University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
University of Peradeniya
Title: "NASA’s New Horizons Mission to PLUTO, the Kuiper Belt and Beyond"
By Dr. Henry Throop, Astronomer at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC, USA
Dare: 15-12-2022, Thursday
Time: 4.30 pm
Venue: P1 Theater, Physics New Building
All are cordially invited
The "Inspirational Talk Series" is organized to inspire students using different life stories and the journeys of academics and other professionals so that students realize that everyone's story is different. Everyone has their desires, priorities, successes, and failures, which would not affect being successful personalities one day.
At the same time, during each talk, the society attempts to introduce essential concepts related to creating sustainable environments and development, focusing on the United Nations' sustainable development goals.
Under this program, Prof Charmalie Abayasekara will be conducting the 1st talk. We try to introduce the concepts of "Going Ecofriendly and Zero Waste" and the participants are encouraged to bring reusable and eco-friendly materials (picnic blankets) and a lunch that produces no waste after eating (brown bag lunch).
Researchers from the University of Peradeniya including Dr. Sumudu Ruklani and Prof. Sumudu Rubasinghe present the first monograph of Sri Lankan thalloid liverworts with three new species records to Sri Lanka; Plagiochasma appendiculatum, Riccia crispatula and Fossombronia cristula
.This comprehensive taxonomic treatment of thalloid liverworts is presented based on specimens collected from throughout the country covering all possible geographical localities. Twelve families, fifteen genera, and twenty four species of thalloid liverworts are described along with taxonomic keys, descriptions, photographs and taxonomic illustrations. This work fulfills a critical information gap on global biodiversity, biogeography, and conservation of plants.
By Prof. Shirvel Stanislaus from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, USA.
Dare: 24-11-2022, Thursday
Time: 3.30 pm
Venue: P1 Theater, Physics New Building
All are cordially invited
The Science Education Unit, Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya organized the second Science Camp of the year 2022 at Bandarawela Central College from 5th to 6th November 2022, for approximately 300 G.C.E. (O/L) students and 500 G.C.E. (A/L) Science and Mathematics students. A group of 54 staff members including academic staff members, demonstrators and non-academic staff members of the Faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya participated in the Science Camp. The resource persons of this programme participated voluntarily.
The main aim of this programme was to motivate young students for Science and Mathematics education. The Science Camp consisted of lecture and practical sessions on Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics including the “Wonders of Chemistry” programme. The above Science Camp was organized in collaboration with the Past Students’ Association of the Bandarawela Central College. The participants have highly valued the knowledge and motivation they received from this programme in their feedback.
"Professional Certificate Course in Data Engineering" Jointly organized by
Department of Statistics and Computer Science and Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS),
successfully conducted from 2nd to 4th September 2022 at the
Data Science Laboratory / Department of Statistics and Computer Science.
The S19 Huddle is a series of workshops for the undergraduates of the 2019' batch, from the faculty of Science, University of Peradeniya. This event will take place over three and a half days, filled with fun activities, engaging talks and guided sessions aimed at personal growth. This event is organized by the Students of the S19 batch, and staff of the Faculty of Science, coordinated through the Student Academic Advisory Committee (SAAC).
Workshop Website : https://sites.google.com/sci.pdn.ac.lk/s19-huddle/home
The undergraduate research studies carried out by Ms. B.K. Ruvini Oliviya Rodrigo (Chemistry), Ms. M.R. Dyaanika Gimhani Kumari (Chemistry), Ms. J.G.A. Sachini Sewwandika Gamage (Molecular Biology & Biotechnology), and Mr. E.P. Tharosa Missaka Rajaratne (Environmental & Industrial Sciences) of the Faculty of Science were able to reach the top 10 submissions at the final round of the Inter-university Undergraduate Research Competition in Chemical Sciences organized by the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) – Section E2 (Chemical Sciences), held on the 15th of October at the SLAAS “Vidya Mandiraya”, Colombo 7.
Ms. Rodrigo emerged victorious for her research work on “Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Anti-fungal Shampoo Using Coconut Oil and Natural Ingredients” (Supervised by Prof. A.D.L.C. Perera & Dr. J.M.S. Jayasinghe). Ms. Gimhani won 2nd place for her work on “Chitosan-coated Magnetite Nanoparticles Loaded with Polar Extracts of Osbeckia octandra (Heen Bōvitiyā) Leaf and In-vitro Anticancer Properties.” (Supervised by Prof. R.M.G. Rajapakse, Prof. B.M.R. Bandara, Dr. M.P. Thomas, & Prof. R.P.V.J. Rajapakse). Research works on “Assessment of retained microflora and the presence of human DNA on used toothbrushes using PCR technique” (Supervised by Prof. Sanath Rajapakse & Prof. J.A.M.S. Jayatilake) of Ms. Gamage, and “Dispersion Modelling of Vehicular Carbon Monoxide in the Kandy Municipality” (Supervised by Dr. R.J.K.U. Ranatunga) of Mr. Rajaratne, were recognized with scientific merit for reaching the top 10.
Photograph (L to R): Ms. Rodrigo, Ms. Gimhani, Ms. Gamage, Mr. Rajaratne
The Botanical Society (BOTSOC) of the University of Peradeniya presents you a workshop series "The Botanical Entrepreneur" to introduce you to all business ideas made out of plant resources.
Our first Workshop, "A Little Step Into Bonsai", will be conducted by Prof. Jilushi Damunupola.
Session 1: 4th November 2022
Session 2: 11th November 2022
Time - 11.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
Venue - Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya
First 20 undergraduate students who register using the link below will be selected.
Keep updated on BOTSOC's upcoming events by visiting us at: https://botsoc.soc.pdn.ac.lk
The 'Regreen Hantana Project' was initiated in January 2022 with the aim of restoring the degraded sites in Hantana Mountain Range to reinstate ecosystem services for the future. The community awareness program of the project was conducted on the 4th of October 2022 by the Regreen Hantana Team at the Uda Peradeniya Temple. Seventy people representing various ethnic groups in the area participated for this event. During the program discussions were conducted on significance of the project, vegetation types and fauna of Hantana, ecosystem services provided by Hantana, and the importance of community participation in the project. The university students conducted an activity to encourage community participation, where the local community was given an opportunity to suggest their visions for the restoration site. Moreover, a social survey was conducted using questionnaires prepared in Sinhala and Tamil. The event was organized by the Faculty of Science in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Studies (CES), University of Peradeniya. The media coverage for the event was provided by the 'Perabeats'.
Before Begin ...
Ms. Dinushika Yapa Abeywardhana explaining the role of community in restoration
Mr. Saumya Bandara Intoduing the objectives of the awareness program
Community activity
Community activity on their vision for restoration site
Community activity
Ms. Chinthani Malsha explaining flora of Hantana
Community activity
Discussion ...
Mr. Chandula Idirisinghe explaining about ecosystem services
Mr. Ranjith Pushpakumara (Grama Niladari) addressing the gathering
Mr. Kumudu Wijesooriya talking on fauna of Hantana
Mr. Kumudu Wijesooriya talking on fauna of Hantana
Regreen Hantana Team
A research group including Mr. Indrakheela Madola (Wayamba University of Sri Lanka), Prof. Deepthi Yakandawala (University of Peradeniya) and Prof. Kapila Yakandawala (Wayamba University of Sri Lanka) who works on the Taxonomy of genus Lagenandra have found a new plant species, with two varieties, from the wet zone of Sri Lanka. They named this new plant species as Lagenandra peradeniyae in honour of University of Peradeniya and the two intraspecific varieties as L. peradeniyae var peradeniyae and L. peradeniyae var speciosa. This plant group is locally known as "Ketala/Kethala".
As the newly found species is restricted to a lowland rainforest patch in the wet zone of Sri Lanka, it is considered to be a Critically Endangered (CR) species according to IUCN Red Listing criterion.
Lagenandra peradeniyae var peradeniyae
Lagenandra peradeniyae var speciosa
Mr. Indrakheela Madola
Prof. Deepthi Yakandawala
Prof. Kapila Yakandawala
Science Undergraduate Research Symposium (SURS) 2022, organized for the second consecutive time by the Faculty of Science, provides a platform for the nal year undergraduates of the Faculty to showcase the outcomes of their research projects. Abstracts are called from the nal year undergraduates of each Honors Degree Programme from the respective Department for Oral Presentations.
Important Dates
Abstracts prepared according to the guidelines should be emailed to the SURS 2022 editorial committee member of each Departmental on or before the deadline.
SURS 2022 is organized and funded as an activity under the AHEAD Project
Speaker : Prof. Gomika Udugamasooriya, University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Houston, USA
Date : Thursday | August 18th, 2022
Time : 05:00pm onwards
Zoom Meeting URL : bit.ly/3QEHxqv
Website : INSPIRE
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