Champika Ellawala Kankanamge
Senior Lecturer
College of Ruhuna
Sri Lanka
AsianScientist (Aug. 6, 2021) – We would not discover it in our day by day lives, however we’re closely reliant on the biodiversity of our planet—from the crops that assure clear air, to micro organism that gives wholesome soil, to new medicines which are harvested from nature. Nonetheless, with an eighth of all species dangerously near extinction and 160 species already misplaced during the last decade, the essential biodiversity that we rely on is being severely threatened.
Thankfully, hope is just not misplaced when scientists like Dr. Champika Ellawala Kankanamge from the College of Ruhuna are working to guard our biospheres.
Her present analysis efforts are centered on controlling invasive aquatic crops—or macrophytes—by restoring shade and inspiring their pure resistance. On the similar time, Kankanamge is assessing air pollution ranges in aquatic ecosystems, particularly the degrees of heavy metals in fish and shellfish in Sri Lanka’s Batticaloa lagoon—the primary supply of seafood for the local people.
It could sound like a tall order, however any person has to do it. Fortunately, her more and more necessary work is well-recognized; Kankanamge acquired the OWSD-Elsevier Basis Awards for Early-Profession Ladies Scientists within the Creating World in 2020. Speaking to Asian Scientist Journal, right here she shares the inspiration behind her analysis and her hopes for the longer term.
- How would you summarize your analysis in a tweet?
I work on ecosystem conservation and air pollution management.
- Describe a accomplished analysis mission that you’re proudest of.
My PhD thesis was a research on the affect of circulate turbulence on the expansion of submerged macrophytes in aquatic ecosystems. In the course of the three years of my PhD, I studied a substantial amount of completely different plant species and their responses to turbulence. Most significantly, it led to new insights into the interactions between macrophytes and the motion of water, laying the inspiration for additional research on the identical matter.
- What do you hope your analysis will accomplish within the subsequent decade?
For my part, world warming, local weather change and the conservation of our planet want our consideration. I hope the human inhabitants will give attention to air pollution management and ecosystem conservation within the subsequent decade. With this hope, my future analysis can be centered on ecosystem restoration strategies.
- What motivated you to enter your area of research?
I used to be born and grew up in a village so I used to be all the time in a position to take pleasure in nature. Surely, it’s my appreciation of nature that motivated me to grow to be an environmental scientist.
- What’s the greatest adversity that you simply skilled in your analysis?
When it considerations the management of environmental air pollution and ecosystem degradation, it’s essential to have neighborhood and authorities assist. The most important hardship for me was getting funding for the implementation of my analysis.
- What are the largest challenges dealing with the tutorial analysis neighborhood in the present day, and the way can we repair them?
The most important problem is to create and retain good researchers. Right here in Sri Lanka, many graduates select industrial jobs simply after commencement. Individuals who determine to pursue greater research additionally want to maneuver to international universities. There are few industrial alternatives for researchers and analysis is restricted to universities—this should change to encourage analysis actions within the business.
- When you had not grow to be a scientist, what would you’ve gotten grow to be as a substitute?
I’d nonetheless be working within the agricultural area, however I’m undecided what sort of work I’d be concerned in. Nonetheless, I nonetheless dream of residing on a farm as soon as I retire.
- What do you do exterior of labor to calm down? Do you’ve gotten any pursuits and hobbies?
I like to learn novels—a very good ebook can take me away from my environment. I additionally like to go on street journeys with my accomplice.
- When you had the facility and assets to eradicate any world downside utilizing your analysis, which one would you clear up?
I’d discover methods to restrict human inhabitants progress. Elevated useful resource use by a quickly rising inhabitants is a significant cause behind environmental air pollution, ecosystem degradation and plenty of different issues.
- What recommendation would you give to aspiring researchers in Asia?
Being a researcher is tough wherever on the earth. Regardless of the difficulties, maintain attempting.
This text is from a month-to-month sequence known as Asia’s Rising Scientists. Click on right here to learn different articles within the sequence.
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Copyright: Asian Scientist Journal. Illustration: Ajun Chuah/Asian Scientist Journal.
Disclaimer: This text doesn’t essentially replicate the views of AsianScientist or its employees.
