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Sri Lankan Paleogeographic Expert Completes Cooperative Research at South China Sea Institute of Oceanology

2018-10-31

The first Sri Lankan expert funded by  President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), professor Pradeep Nalaka Ranasinghage, paleogeology expert and director of the department of oceanographic and marine geology of the University of Ruhuna, recently completed his visit and cooperative research at the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology.

 

Professor Ranasinghage gives a research report at the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology. 

Professor Ranasinghage worked at the institute at the invitation of researcher Wang Dongxiao, director of the China-Sri Lanka joint center for science and education. He cooperated in research on the marine sedimentary environment as part of a physical marine research team for three months investigating the reconstruction of cyclones in the South China Sea (Holocene typhoons). He conducted additional research on the sea level change of the Pearl River Estuary caused by climate change and the mechanisms of historical geological hazards in inshore estuary areas. To reconfirm the sampling method, he went to the Institute of Geographic Science and Natural Resource Research and had discussions with experts on geological sampling and extraction of historical storm surge information from lagoon geological columns.

All social circles of Sri Lanka actively respond to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which considers coastal zones as a new engine to drive economic development. However, coastal zones frequently experience natural disasters and their ecological environment lacks stability, which restricts sustained economic growth. Professor Ranasinghage is devoted to predicting the impacts of climate disasters on coastal zones and their biodiversity, social groups and life patterns in order to give timely alarms and response.

 

Professor Ranasinghage investigates at Shangtang village, Wuchuan city.

 

Professor Ranasinghage investigates a lagoon in Wanning, Hainan province. 

Affected by climate changes, the southern coast of Sri Lanka often experiences storm surges, floods and other natural disasters, as does China’s southeast coastal area. During his studies in China, professor Ranasinghage went to the coastal zones of western Guangdong and Hainan Island affected by storm surges to carry out investigation and collect samples. Taking the starting point of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road (South China Sea) and its midpoint (the Indian Ocean exclusive economic zone at the southern end of Sri Lanka) as sample regions, he carried out an in-depth comparative study of cyclone historical events in the two regions, playing a pioneering and leading role in marine scientific research in both China and Sri Lanka.

As an expert in the field of environmental paleo-sediment and paleocoastal zone disasters, professor Ranasinghage is also interested in unraveling the historical code left by the earth to the present generation. His research interests thus include dealing with environmental problems with the help of a complete analysis of the laws of history. He can quickly accept new things and adjust accordingly. Sri Lankan students’ theses supervised by professor Ranasinghage will be published soon. He participated in the publication of the Geological Tourism Map of Sri Lanka, and also expressed his willingness to introduce China’s complex terrains and distinctive regional characteristics to the world by a popular science book, hoping to let more people experience Chinese customs through text and pictures.

After completing his cooperative research work, professor Ranasinghage gave a high appraisal to Chinese government’s measures of introducing and attracting international talents and overseas senior experts in natural science. He feels honored to be invited to work with leading researchers in China's ancient coastal zones and in studies in climate changes and marine science. The cross-national and cross-disciplinary cooperation will certainly help break through the bottleneck of natural disasters that restricts marine economic development in China and Sri Lanka, strengthening the two nations’ competitiveness in marine science and technology as well as that of coastal countries along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. By pursuing his research he learned the advantages of CAS’ role as a center platform for international cooperative studies. The two countries’ cooperation will be further expanded and their personnel exchanges will be more frequent through the China-Sri Lanka joint center for science and education which is a bridge for the two countries’ scientific, educational and cultural exchanges.

(Editor: LI Yuan)