OWSD Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan Women in Science and Engineering: Beyond Pandemics and Disasters

In the challenging socio-economic context of developing countries, knowledge should serve to solve the varied problems faced by our societies.

What has surprised me is the way technology is emerging and affecting the current state of research. We are encountering a fourth industrial revolution that entails advances in computing power, quantum computing and artificial intelligence, which has already been shown to alter the way we conduct research.

Just give me the seed and I will continue.

I wanted to do applied physics, not theoretical physics… I really wanted to use all of the knowledge that I acquired at university to explain our environment.

“Ten to fifteen years from now, people, not only in Kenya but in the African continent, will switch to magnetic refrigeration”

There is no reproduction without science. There is no electricity without science. There is no water without science…Life is science, science is life.

OWSD fellowship represents a real empowering difference in my life and career

I have to think of something that can help us, that we can use based on resources that we have. The lack of things is the biggest inspiration in my life. I want to help my country.

I’ve been working on reptile and amphibian biodiversity for 10 years, and I know that there are still new species that need to be described.

I intend to disperse my achieved knowledge as one of the leading researchers in my country in the domain of microbial biotechnology, to support sustainable and prosperous agriculture.

The OWSD award helped me not only to become the researcher I am today, but also to become a leader in research.

All this has broadened my knowledge for this domain of science, gave me an open mind and also allowed me to learn many things.

In today’s scientific environment, in which most PhD scientists concentrate on a single specific discipline, I might shift toward a more systemic view to approach the challenge in infectious diseases.

I desire to see my country, Nigeria, become a leading destination for impactful clinical studies.

Winning this award opened many doors for me. It has led to success in acquiring local funding.

When I got my OWSD fellowship, it was an amazing feeling. Before getting the letter, my academic career was a dream, the letter made it possible.

OWSD has provided tremendous support in shaping my career as a researcher, science ambassador, role model for women scientists and a "think high" human being.

What fascinated me is that only 5% of microorganisms are harmful, and the rest are beneficiary.

After my postdoc, I will return to Syria and work to achieve my big dream, which is to establish a research center.

By creating links between food research and industry, she hopes to enhance food security both in Ghana and in Africa as a whole.