ECR: Aligning Professional Success with Sustainable Research

The event, organised by the Department of Limnology and Water Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, University of Ruhuna brought together students, early-career researchers, academics and professionals to explore the links between research, sustainability, international collaboration and career development.

The programme opened with welcome and opening remarks by DAAD Research Ambassador Dr. Lishani Wijewardene, University of Ruhuna, followed by a session on “The Indian/German Research Corridors on Sustainability: Exploring higher education opportunities and collaborative research frameworks for Sri Lankans in Germany and India,” delivered by DAAD Research Ambassador Prof.Dr Vasant Matsagar of IIT Delhi, India.

Participants also had the opportunity to learn about Research for Sustainability through an online session with Dr. Uta Ulrich and Dr. Lukas Paul Loose from the University of Kiel, Germany. A further highlight of the programme was the session on DAAD Funding Opportunities presented by DAAD Information Centre – Colombo. Following a networking lunch, the programme continued with an expert workshop on “Sustainability for Research”, led by expert academics of the Faculty. The session encouraged participants to shift their perspective from conducting research on sustainability towards considering how the research process itself can be made sustainable.

The day concluded with a panel discussion on “Research/Innovation and Sustainability for Career.” Bringing together alumni of the Faculty representing diverse industries, the discussion explored how research-led innovation can contribute to diverse career opportunities in industry. Participants gained practical insights into translating research knowledge and innovation into meaningful professional pathways.

A special thanks goes to DAAD Research Ambassadors Dr. Lishani Wijewardene and Prof. Vasant Matsagar for their valuable role in organising and participating in the programme. Their commitment to strengthening research networks and creating opportunities for early-career researchers contributed significantly to the success of the event.