Meet Sri Lankan Researcher — Sajith Wijesuriya

What are you currently working on or worked on before?

I work on experimental and modeling studies of thermally resilient and novel building envelopes. These include studies on the inclusion of thermal energy storage, switchable insulation, cross-laminated timber and other improved material.

What encouraged you to pursue your research topic?

As a mechanical engineer, I always had a passion to pursue the resilience of energy systems. This can happen at different stages, (generation, transmission, and consumption). I wanted to focus more on the consumption end and improve the technologies there.

What is the name of your current institute?

National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Where do you find your best inspiration for your work?

The moments of actual implementation is the best inspiration. Therefore, I tend to follow applications of technology regularly to assess the impact they make on changing the way of lives of everyone. Furthermore, being able to push policy implications in parallel to the technological advances of my work is another inspiring factor. For that, I have been engaged with UN processes related to the energy transition since 2012.

Can you share with us some of your publications?

Yes, you can find them on Applied Energy and Building and Environment.

What’s one of your biggest personal achievements so far?

Having my organization, Science Policy Circle invited to the Climate Action Summit convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in 2019. I have been awarded individual awards for my academic performance. But, above is the most important recognition as I could build an organization from scratch to the level of being recognized to the highest level UN events of the last decade based on the work that we do.

What lessons would you share with a budding researcher?

Always have a main goal and subgoals. Perhaps the highest level publication in a journal would be the goal of knowledge creation as a researcher. But sub-goals could be influencing a policy decision, creating a patented innovation, etc. The small goals will keep you inspired to keep creating knowledge towards the main goal.

What motivated you to be a researcher?

The need for knowledge creation and the need for new solutions to increase the resilience of the energy and other systems that serve humankind are the main drivers that lead to me becoming a researcher. Although we always say that there are solutions available, there is a lacking of transfer of knowledge and technologies to optimally serve the communities that are in need. To fill this gap is another motivation behind pursuing both technology and policy research.

If there is a chance, will you help build research in Sri Lanka?

I have done so in my time at the University of Moratuwa and will continue to do so.

According to your opinion, what are the changes that the Sri Lankan education system needs to do, in order to meet the requirement of the international industry and academia?

Firstly, the Sri Lankan education system should appreciate and recognize the contributions from non-formal education when creating access to higher education. Secondly, products created as a result of outputs from the existing formal education system should be evaluated and the needs for resources, guidance, and teaching should be made available where they are needed to facilitate more timely outcomes. Thirdly, more publications based on high school and undergraduate research should be encouraged and supported.