NASTEC

13th YSF Annual Research Symposium 2025 of the Young Scientists Forum (YSF)

The Young Scientists Forum (YSF) of Sri Lanka is hosted by the National Science & Technology Commission (NASTEC) as a consultative forum of the institute. The YSF Research Symposium which was initiated in year 2012 has become a popular event with the main objective of providing a platform for young scientists to promote collaborative research by sharing research findings and research interests in different fields while creating a space for networking and techno entrepreneurship development.

NASTEC has organized its 13th YSF Research Symposium on 24th January 2025 from 9.00 a.m. onwards as a one day event via Zoom Video Conference facility at the Metropolitan Campus KDU, Colombo 01.

The symposium was initiated with an Inauguration Ceremony with the participation of large number of guests in the auditorium and presided over by Dr. Chrishantha Abeysena, the Hon. Minister of Science and Technology, as the Guest of Honor. Prof. Rohan Fernando, Chairperson of NASTEC welcomed the gathering which consisted of Mr. Y.L. Mohamed Navavi, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry officials, Commission members of NASTEC, Heads of S&T Institutes under Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as authors of the papers to be presented at the symposium and YSF members. Prof. Nayana Gunathilaka, Professor, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, and also the winner of the NASTEC Young Scientist Award, presented the Keynote Address under the title "Integrating Scientific Advancement in vector-borne Disease Research for Sustainable Public Health and Economic Development”.

The E-Proceedings of the 13th YSF Symposium as well as YSF Thematic Chapter E-Publication under the title ‘Sustainable bioeconomy approaches to strengthen economy, society and the environment in Sri Lanka’, were also launched at the inauguration ceremony by the Chief Editors, Dr. Anchala Kuruppu and Dr. Sumudu Mapa, respectively.

The 48 research presented in six parallel technical sessions were published in extended abstract and full paper format in the E-Proceedings of the symposium.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the YSF was also held on 24th January 2025 and a new 15 member steering committee for YSF for year 2025 was elected to coordinate future YSF activities.

13th Symposium Photos