According to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Statistical Handbook for Sri Lanka, female scientists in natural sciences, medicine, and agricultural sciences make for 40%, 46%, and 38% of the current pool. While these proportions may not be too bleak, much larger gender differences existed in engineering and technologies (only 27% female), and social sciences (only 30% female).
To celebrate the local queens who have moved the very fabric of discovery and contributed to the advancement of our environment and society, pulse.lk has compiled a list of ten ‘Female Sri Lankan Scientists you need to know about’.
It is with great pleasure that we announce Ms. Hemavaruni Fernando (M.Phill USJ) has been listed among those ten female scientists.
Name: Hemavaruni Fernando
Specialisation: Anticancer Effects of Garcinol Mediated Metal Nanoparticles
Occupation: Research Assistant at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Alma Mater: Master of Philosophy University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Ms. Hemavaruni Fernando is currently a Research Assistant at the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Her research is mainly focused on the determination of in-vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activities of garcinol-mediated metal nanoparticles and garcinol metal complexes. Garcinol is a chemical compound extracted from the Goraka plant, but possible applications have been limited due to the pant’s lower solubility in water.
Currently, Miss Fernando’s research work achieved three abstract publications in national and international conferences including the Best Poster Presentation at the 74th annual sessions of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS-E3) and one full paper publication in the journal of microbiology and biotechnology (JMB). She also won a People’s Choice Award for her research on Antimicrobial Activity of Garcinol mediated metal nanoparticles and metal complexes. Ms. Dharani Abeysinghe and Ms. Vidumini Samarasiri represented the 258th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, California, USA
Read More: http://www.pulse.lk/everythingelse/9-lankan-women-in-science-you-need-to-know-of/
