Four Sri Lankans in Asian Scientist 100

by Staff Writer 12-06-2023 | 9:04 AM

COLOMBO (News 1st); Four Sri Lankans have been named in the ASIAN SCIENTIST 100 Magazine's 2023 edition.

Asian Scientist Magazine is an award-winning science and technology magazine that highlights R&D news stories from Asia to a global audience.

The magazine is published by Singapore-headquartered Wildtype Media Group, Asia’s leading STEM and healthcare media company.

Asha DeVos, the founder of Oceanswell, and Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda made the list with Chathuranga Ranasinghe from the University of Colombo, and Ashani Savinda Ranathunga from the University of Moratuwa.

Asha DeVos is a marine biologist, educator and a leader in the field of blue whale research. She is the first Sri Lankan to receive a PhD in marine mammal research and the first National Geographic explorer from the country. For her contributions in the field and for mentoring young scientists in Sri Lanka, DeVos has received numerous awards including the Maxwell-Hanrahan Award in Field Biology, Vanithabhimana Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Global Teacher Prize. De Vos, who is also a TED Fellow, founded Oceanswell, Sri Lanka’s first marine conservation research and education organization.

Dr. Rohan Pethiyagoda won the 2022 Linnean Medal in zoology, and became the first Sri Lankan to receive the medal. He was recognized for his consistent research, writing and advocacy in biodiversity conservation in Sri Lanka.

Chathuranga Ranasinghe received the 7th Sheikh Fahad Hiroshima-Asia Sports Medicine and Science Award in 2022. This award is given once in four years to a medical expert from Asia for their contribution to sports medicine.

Ashani Savinda Ranathunga is the recipient of 2022 OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award for turning industrial and agricultural waste into value-added products and using them as raw materials for eco-friendly construction and development projects.