“Who do you want to be when you grow up?” is an all-too-common question adults would ask us during our childhood days. As we mature over the years, our dreams of what we want to become may have changed – but the question might still remain. Some of us are unsure about the answer – either overwhelmed by the seemingly infinite opportunities out there or because we are still figuring out ourselves and what we are capable of. Feeling lost, confused and unsure are feelings many can relate to – especially when one is on the cusp of adulthood.
Wise Advice 2.0 was the fruit of the desire to be a guiding light to those venturing into the vast, open fields of science, seeking new worlds of discovery. Conducted for the second consecutive year and going under the slogan “Dare to Thrive”, Wise Advice 2.0 was a continuation of the efforts to guide prospective undergraduates through the many spheres of science while simultaneously highlighting the importance of science in the path to progress and development. This project was done in partnership with the Interact clubs of Ananda College, Gothami Balika Vidyalaya, Mahanama College, St. Peter’s College, Viharamahadevi Balika Vidyalaya and Visakha Vidyalaya.
As a starter to the main course, Wise Advice 2.0 kickstarted off with a podcast series consisting of two episodes, featuring two well-qualified and talented professionals, all of whom are proud alumni of the University of Colombo. The podcast series allowed us to provide a more focused and in-depth outline about the scopes of science and how a background in science can be integrated with other disciplines to open up a wider range of opportunities.
The guest speaker for Episode 1 was none other than Mr. Fadil Iqbal, a PhD candidate at the Purdue University Indianapolis and a gifted science communicator whose YouTube channel – IQ Labs – has so far garnered over 68 thousand subscribers. The talk that was centered around the topic “Science & Higher Studies”, explored the ways how the myriad branches of science have intertwined generating a vast range of sub-disciplines. Mr. Iqbal also emphasized the need to integrate applications of science within the curricula while pointing out that the purpose of education isn’t to “fill” the minds of an individual but to get that mind “hooked” on to something worth learning. He also highlighted the need for scientists of different fields to collaborate and communicate their ideas. “Don’t limit yourself” is the wise advice that Mr. Iqbal imparted to the listeners towards the end of his talk.
In episode 2 of the podcast series, the microphone was passed to Mr. Rahul Kalubowila, a rather charismatic and influential persona with a penchant for learning. As the Director of Operations at N-Force Maritime Services, Mr. Kalubowila, had much to share in terms of knowledge and experience and the influence of science in the corporate world. After a brief description of his school and university, he progressed to answer the question about why choosing a path in science can open the doors to a plethora of opportunities. He also quite eloquently provided a brief but informative insight into his own field of expertise: statistics. A focal point of his talk was the appreciation of the potential of Sri Lankan graduates and their contribution to advancing science globally. He urged listeners to connect the dots and stated how the vital knowledge gained while studying at university can be applied in real-world scenarios.
The project finale was the much-anticipated Panel Discussion that took place on the 28th of May via Zoom, featuring some of the best scientists of the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo. The panel consisted of Prof. Sampath Seneviratne, an expert in the fields of Molecular Ecology from the Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Prof. Rohini M. de Silva who specializes in Organometallics and Nanomaterials representing the Department of Chemistry, Dr. W. A. Monika Madhavi, who specializes in Computational Biophysics in the Department of Physics and Dr, H. Iroja Upekha Caldera, a leading scientist working in the fields of Environmental Science and Environmental Law in the Department of Plant Sciences.
Moderated by our fine comperes – Rtr. Ruwinda Rowel and Rtr. Bihara Ganegoda – the Panel Discussion had participants joining from the Faculty of Science, University of Colombo and the schools of the partnering Interact clubs. Without much ado, the session dived right in to provide the answers to some of the many pressing questions held by those considering a career path in science. The panelists eloquently elaborated on the differences in the available degree programs and went on to describe the many virtues of their respective areas of expertise. They also touched upon the various challenges that we as Sri Lankans face but on the other hand stressed about the abundance of resources and latent potential that lies in our nation. While reminding the listeners that it is scientists who create new knowledge and who allow new inventions and breakthroughs to take place, the esteemed panel reiterated that it is one’s passion and drive that can make one reach the higher rungs in the ladder of success and how expanding one’s arsenal of skills is imperative in that undertaking.
Extending our gratitude to the panelists for their words of wisdom, and also to the participants who joined in to listen and engage in the panel discussion was the closing curtain on yet another successful project by the Professional Development Avenue of the club. After tireless weeks of preparation amidst innumerable hurdles, receiving the overwhelmingly positive feedback from both the panelists and participants was the cherry on the cake of the entire project and we wrapped up with smiles of satisfaction resulting from a job well done.
By Rtr. Yowan Dias
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