Prof. Duleeka Gunarathne from the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Moratuwa, participated in a panel discussion titled “Research Under Constraints: Enabling Global Collaboration for Sustainable Innovations” at the 21st Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES), held from 30th August to 3rd September 2026 in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
The panel brought together OWSD–Elsevier Foundation Award-winning scientists representing Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East to share their experiences in advancing impactful research under challenging conditions and contributing to sustainable development in their respective regions. The panelists included Dr. Fadia Alhaj Hussien from the Middle East, Dr. Cristina Dominguez from Latin America, Prof. Duleeka Sandamali Gunarathne from Asia, and Dr. Ghafi Kondi Akara from Africa. The discussion explored the challenges faced by researchers working in resource-constrained environments and highlighted the importance of international collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships in enabling sustainable and impactful research. The panel was moderated by Prof. John Kabuba from the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Vaal University of Technology, South Africa.
The OWSD–Elsevier Foundation Award winners were also formally presented with their awards during the opening ceremony of the conference.
