Case study:
SciDev.Net helps Sri Lanka tackle food security "SciDev.Net enables me to be up-to-date with global developments — gets my brain ticking on new innovative approaches!" Sarath Abayawardana Director of Sri Lanka’s National Science Foundation Sarath Abayawardana is director of Sri Lanka's National Science Foundation (NSF). His organisation supports and promotes scientific research projects, setting up multidisciplinary research teams, and bidding for grants to fund research programmes. Sarath tells us he uses SciDev.Net regularly and extensively in his work. He says SciDev.Net has helped the foundation develop a mission-oriented research programme on food security for Sri Lanka. The programme aims to identify and address the underlying issues threatening food security. Rural farmers with small-holdings, the marginalised urban poor, and those affected by the prolonged civil conflict will all benefit. SciDev.Net reports regularly on food security issues in the developing world, and Sarath says that it helps him gather the background information he needs to underpin the research programme. "The research programme is in its very early stages now, but continued use of SciDev.Net will help us implement it," he says. Sarath told us he also uses SciDev.Net to develop his staff, building capacity amongst his research administrators and encouraging them to maintain a professional approach to their work. Our weekly email alert has even inspired him to create an e-newsletter, "ScinnoTech Alert" circulated to about 2,500 scientists and other professionals within Sri Lanka. Sarath is fully aware of the benefits that come from encouraging the exchange of scientific information. Thanks to SciDev.Net, his e-newsletter is fostering just such a culture in Sri Lanka.
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Annual Review 2009
07