Ms Eshadi Mendis, a Research Assistant at the Department of Building Economics, has been recognised as one of “50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about”. The recognition comes from the Explorers Club 50, a prestigious international organisation that annually honours 50 individuals advancing science and exploration.
Mendis’s work offers new ways of exploring by reframing it not as distance travelled, but as the depth of attention. Through Schoolyard Scientists, an initiative she founded, she enables children to observe closely, investigate thoughtfully, and build relationships with the natural world around them. At the University of Moratuwa, as part of an SRC long term grant, she is currently developing a research-backed framework that uses the built environment of schoolyards to help schools embed curiosity-driven, nature-connected learning in sustainable ways, including in resource-constrained settings.
About The Explorers Club: Founded in 1904 and headquartered in New York City, The Explorers Club is a global professional society dedicated to advancing field research, scientific exploration, and conservation. Members of The Explorers Club have led historic firsts, including expeditions to the North and South Poles, the summit of Mount Everest, the deepest point in the ocean, and the surface of the moon.
