University of Sri Jayewardenepura to Support Polymer Industry

Polymers can be found naturally as well as can be chemically synthesized. They are ubiquitously used in day today life due to the range of inherent characteristics. Simply, polymer is a large molecule composed of many repeated subunits. Polymers range from synthetic plastics such as polystyrene to natural polymers such as natural rubber, DNA and proteins. Annual polymer production and consumption rates rapidly increase in Sri Lanka, where currently there are over 4500 rubber manufacturing and over 500 plastic manufacturing industries providing more than 500,000 jobs. Current polymer consumption rate in the country is more than 260,000 tons per year. Since, polymers have been widely used in the modern life, field of polymer science is a well-established area in science. However, the Department of Chemistry at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJP) is the only higher education institute in Sri Lanka to deliver a polymer science and technology degree in the undergraduate level as well as post graduate level.

As a pioneer of producing polymer scientists and technologists to the nation, the department of Chemistry at University of Sri Jayewardenepura co-organizes the third consecutive biennial International Symposium on Polymer Science and Technology 2017 with the National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka in collaboration with Industries, Institutions and Universities (IIU PST 2017). This symposium is a threeday event, with an inauguration on the evening of 13th July 2017, followed by a full day of theme seminars and panel discussions on 14thalong with a full day of technical sessions on 15that the Golden Rose Hotel, Boralesgamuwa, Colombo. The symposium is expected to embrace more than 200 local and international participants from academia, industry and research institutions. Based on the view of the Vice Chancellor Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, the main aim of the symposium is to enhance the know-how of the polymer science and technology related fields and industries and to elevate it to a better position among both local and international community.

Prof. Sudantha Liyanage, Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, USJP, who is the initiator of the symposium series in 2012, stated that there is a high demand for Polymer Science and Technology degree among the z- score students in the undergraduate level are being selected to carry out polymer science and technology as a subject for the general degree where as the best among those are selected for the Extended Degree in Polymer Science and Technology with a 6 months in- house industrial training. Prof. P.M. Jayaweera, Head, Department of Chemistry, USJP stated that polymer science, which is often known as macromolecular science, is a subfield of material science and to under- stand physical and chemical properties of polymers, a substantial knowledge in the fields Chemistry and Physics are required. Prof. Laleen Karunanayake, Professor in Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, USJP, described that “As the foremost knowledge hub in polymer science and technology in the country, the university academics in the polymer program at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura play a significant role in the polymer industrial society by introducing novel technologies to develop the polymer industry while saving the environment from the products, by products and the wastes of this industry”.

Dr. Ranga Jayakody, the Event Coordinator/Senior Lecturer at the Dept. of Chemistry, USJP expressed his ideas about the conference as “The main aim of the 3rd IIU PST is to build a common platform to exchange information and novel ideas among academics, scientists, technologists, environmentalist as well as industrialists, and further strengthen the university- industry linkage and collaboration which were established during the first two symposia and continued since then. Strengthening the bridge between university and industry will open up the doors in polymer industry for USJP undergraduate- and postgraduate- students. Further, it will give an opportunity to the industry to utilize the knowledge concentrated in academia”. Five foreign Guest Speakers, Prof. Dvora Perahia, Clemson University, USA, Dr. Gary Grest, Sandia National Laboratories, USA, Prof. Frank Blum, Oklahoma State University, USA, Prof. Steven Bell, Queen’s University, UK and Prof. William Jones, University of Cambridge, UK and three local guest speakers Prof. Nilwala Ko t t e g o d a , U n ive r s i t y of Sri J ayew a rd e n e p u r a , D r. Sisira Ranathunga, Elastomeric Engineering Pvt. Ltd and Dr. Shantha Amarasinghe, University of Moratuwa will be addressing the gathering to enhance the knowledge sharing their expertise and experiences covering four sub themes, polymer science and technology, advanced materials, applications of polymers and ecofriendly polymers, under the main theme ‘polymers and advanced materials for the sustainable development’.

Moreover, this symposium is aimed at facilitating the advancement of research and development in polymer and material sciences in Sri Lanka. The focus of the symposium is directed towards free industrial workshop on ‘ Computations and Simulations: Possibilities, Advantages, and Benefits for Sri Lankan Polymer Industry’. As a step forward in tightening up the link between the industry and academia, the organizing committee has organized this work shop to educate the Sri Lankan polymer industrialists in the field of state-of-art computer calculations and simulations. The workshop will be conducted by renowned international and local experts on polymer science, Prof. Gary S. Grest, Sandia National Laboratories, USA, Dr. Sisira Ranatunge, Elastomeric Engineering Pvt. Ltd, Sri Lanka and Dr. Ritwik Kavathekar, Dassault Systems, India. It is primarily focused on inspiring the Sri Lankan industrialists and polymer scientist on the cutting-edge technology of computer simulations and convincing them to employ these technologies in their industries towards world class R & D programs and enhanced wealth generation. The organizers greatly appreciate the support given by the Central Environmental Authority as the Platinum Sponsor and MAS as the Gold Sponsor including many local companies such as C& T worldwide, Loadstar, Trelaborg, Antler group, Plastic and Rubber Research Institute, Rotak instruments, ATG gloves, Elastomeric, Richard Peris and DSI. This symposium and industrial workshop will provide a platform to academics, researchers and the industry to share and discuss the recent discoveries, know-how and advanced materials for sustainable development.

As a pioneer of producing polymer scientists and technologists to the nation, the department of Chemistry at University of Sri Jayewardenepura co-organises the third consecutive biennial International Symposium on Polymer Science and Technology 2017 with the National Science Foundation, Sri Lanka in collaboration with Industries, Institutions and Universities (IIU PST 2017). This symposium is a three-day event, with an inauguration on the evening of 13th July 2017, followed by a full day of theme seminars and panel discussions on 14thalong with a full day of technical sessions on 15that the Golden Rose Hotel, Boralesgamuwa, Colombo.

- Dr. Meththika Vithanage Senior Lecturer, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences University of Sri Jayewardenepura 0776411071 / email: polymersympo@sjp.ac.lk

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