University of Peradeniya and Duke University, USA were collaborated to host a two-day workshop focused on enhancing air quality in South Asia. The workshop gathered researchers from seven South Asian countries, along with subject experts from the USA. DEEE congratulates Dr. Gayan Bowatte, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, UOP, Principle Investigator of the Project, and his collaborator/DEEE member: Dr. Nalin Harischandra, and RAs Mahesh Senaratne and Gimhan Aththanayake for successful completion of the workshop from 06 to 08th of August, 2023.

The event was graced with the presence of many distinguished guests and intellectuals from the South Asian nations and was certainly a platform that exchanged quite an impressive amount of knowledge and experiences. Chief Guest, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Prof. Terrence Madhujith, and Deputy Director General-Environment Protection, Central Environmental Authority, Dr. Sanjaya Rathnayake addressed the gathering. Prof. Michael H. Bergin from Duke University, who is the Director of the main project, “Building Capacity to Improve Air Quality in South Asia: Reducing PM2.5 Through Low-Cost Sensor Network Driven Policy Decisions”- funded by the U.S. State Department, also addressed the gathering via zoom platform.

Findings and updates were presented by not only delegates from the project implementing partners, that is, research groups in each of the South Asian countries, such as NUST Islamabad, IIT Kanpur, Tribhuvan University CDES, Sherubtse College, Dhaka University, Maldives National University, and University of Peradeniya, but also local investigators from Verité Research and NBRO, Sri Lanka. Subject experts from USA: Dr. Prakash Bhave, Duke University and Prof. Jamie Schauer, University of Wisconsin and two members representing US State Department Mr. Patrick Gan and Mr. Jay Pal Shrestha were also participated in the discussions. 

Parallel to the workshop, on 9th of August, a team of researchers/experts from the consortium visited the Central Environmental Authority to discuss the current situation and future plans of Air Quality monitoring in Sri Lanka. More information can be found here.

More details and captures from the event can be found here.