Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019): Good Journalism, Epitomised!
•Download as PPTX, PDF•
0 likes•268 views
Slides accompanying the brief talk given by Nalaka Gunawardene at the online seminar on "Darryl's India: journalism, environment and a look to the future" in Memory of late Darryl D'Monte, veteran journalist. The event was organised by Greenaccord International and held on 5 August 2020.
Report
Share
Report
Share
Recommended
Youth run for peace and sustainability
The Youth Run: For Peace and Sustainability was organised by the World
Assembly of Youth (WAY), in collaboration with Melaka State Government,
Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah (MBMB), Melaka State Youth Council, and
several local NGOs. It is also an event planned in commemoration of the Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), which took place 17th to 19th of April, 2015, around the world.
Avoiding ‘Cyber Nanny State’: Challenges of Social Media Regulation in Sri Lanka
Keynote speech delivered by science writer and digital media analyst Nalaka Gunawardene at the Sri Lanka National IT Conference held in Colombo from 2 to 4 October 2018 (https://www.nitc.lk/2018/).
Summary:
With around a third of Sri Lanka’s 21 million people using at least one type of social media, the phenomenon is no longer limited to cities or English speakers. But as social media users increase and diversify, so do various excesses and abuses on these platforms: hate speech, fake news, identity theft, cyber bullying/harassment, and privacy violations among them.
Public discourse in Sri Lanka has been focused heavily on social media abuses by a relatively small number of users. In a balanced stock taking of the overall phenomenon, the multitude of substantial benefits should also be counted. Social media has allowed ordinary Lankans to share information, collaborate around common goals, pursue entrepreneurship and mobilise communities in times of elections or disasters. In a country where the mainstream media has been captured by political and business interests, social media remains the ‘last frontier’ for citizens to discuss issues of public interest. The economic, educational, cultural benefits of social media for the Lankan society have not been scientifically quantified as yet but they are significant – and keep growing by the year.
In this talk, I caution that social media regulation in the name of curbing excesses could easily be extended to crack down on political criticism and minority views that do not conform to majority orthodoxy. An increasingly insular and unpopular government – now in its last 18 months of its 5-year term – probably fears citizen expressions on social media.
Yet the current Lankan government’s democratic claims and credentials will be tested in how they respond to social media challenges: will that be done in ways that are entirely consistent with the country’s obligations under international human rights laws that have safeguards for the right to Freedom of Expression (FOE)? This is the crucial question.
Communicating Research: How to Engage Policy-makers - By Nalaka Gunawardene
Presentation made to a group of young (early to mid-career) researchers from across South Asia who want to study many facets of global change. They were brought together at a regional workshop held in in Paro, Bhutan, by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and the National Environment Commission of the Royal Government of Bhutan.
Titled ‘Proposal Development Training Workshop (PDTW)’ and held from 14 to 16 December 2016, PDTW aimed “to raise awareness of APN among early career scientists and practitioners, and to increase the capacity to develop competitive proposals for submission to APN”.
The workshop involved two dozen researchers and half a dozen mentors. I was the sole mentor covering the important aspect of communicating research.
Climate Communications: Go Beyond Fear, CO2 and COPs! by Nalaka Gunawardene
The document discusses best practices for communicating climate change information to the public. It recommends going beyond focusing solely on CO2 emissions and international climate talks, and instead emphasizing local impacts and solutions. The document also stresses the importance of clarifying misconceptions, appealing to public interests like health and economic benefits, and telling stories about non-carbon climate actions and other greenhouse gases beyond just CO2. Journalists are advised to connect climate issues to everyday weather in an accessible way while balancing scientific details and uncertainties.
Going Beyond Poor Journalism that Ignores the Poor - Nalaka Gunawardene
My presentation to the orientation workshop for Media Fellows on Poverty and Development, held in Colombo on 24 September 2016, and organised by Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) and UNESCO.
Sri Lanka has recently been declared a Middle Income Country. Public expenditure on the social sector has declined as a percentage of the GDP and this has created widening inequalities. Poverty, therefore, is still a crucial issue, but it needs be understood from a more holistic perspective which considers aspects such as people’s capabilities, private and social assets, leisure (or lack of it), and attainment of social participation and security.
However, most media look at poverty from a purely economic perspective as a lack of money. A wider understanding on poverty would include democracy, good governance, rule of law, freedom of expression and media freedom as prerequisites for people to realise their full capabilities. In addition to the limited understanding of poverty, most media houses allocate little or no budget for field-based and investigative journalistic assignments on poverty related topics.
With the Media Fellowships on Poverty and Development, the Center for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) hopes to tackle this gap. Some 20 competitively selected journalists – drawn from print, broadcast and web media outlets in Sinhala, Tamil and English languages – are to be given a better understanding of the many dimensions of poverty.
These Media Fellows will have the opportunity to research and produce a story of their choice in depth and detail, but on the understanding that their media outlet will carry their story. Along the way, they will benefit from face-to-face interactions with senior journalists and development researchers, and also receive a grant to cover their field visit costs.
Science writer, columnist and blogger Nalaka Gunawardene is a member of Expert Panel that mentors Media Fellows on Poverty and Development.
Social Media in Sri Lanka: Do Science and Reason Stand a Chance? - Nalaka Gun...
Sri Lanka’s first Science and Technology for Society (STS) Forum took place from 7 to 10 September in Colombo. Organized by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research, it was one of the largest gatherings of its kind to be hosted by Sri Lanka. http://costi.gov.lk/sts/
Science writer Nalaka Gunawardene was keynote speaker during the session on ‘Using Social Media for Discussing Science Topics’. He used it to highlight how social media have become both a boon and bane for scientific information and thinking in Sri Lanka.
For now, it appears that pseudo-science and anti-science sentiments – some of it rooted in ultra-nationalism or conspiracy theories -- dominate many Lankan social media exchanges. It is as if Lankan society has permanently suspended disbelief.
How and where can the counter-narratives be promoted on behalf of evidenced based, rational discussions? Is this a hopeless task in the face of irrationality engulfing wider Lankan society? Or can progressive and creative use of social media help turn the tide in favour of reason?
Answers to these questions are explored in this presentation, which also cites examples of promising counter-narratives emerging in social media itself. Social media being a contested space, the race between darkness and light continues...
Changing Climate & Changing Minds - Challenges of Climate Communication - Nal...
Sri Lanka’s Centre for Environmental Justice in collaboration with the government’s Climate Change Secretariat, UNDP and Janathakshan held a national conference on “SRI LANKA’S READINESS FOR IMPLEMENTING PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT” on 7 and 8 September 2016 in Colombo. It was attended by over 200 representatives from government, civil society and corporate sectors.
This presentation was made by science writer and development communicator Nalaka Gunawardene in Session 5: Climate Solutions, under the topic “Climate communication and Behaviour changes”.
As climate change impacts are felt more widely, the imperative for action is greater than ever. Telling the climate story in accurate and accessible ways should be an essential part of our climate response.
That response is currently organised around two ‘planks’: mitigation and adaptation. Climate communication can be the ‘third plank’ that strengthens the first two.
Encouragingly, more journalists, broadcasters, researchers and advocacy groups are taking up this challenge. They urgently need more media and public spaces -- as well as greater resources -- to sustain public engagement.
Sri Lanka’s Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation, prepared in 2010-11, has recognized how “IEC action can lead to better informed decisions and enlightened choices in both climate change mitigation and adaptation”.
When strategically carried out, IEC can be a powerful force for change on both the ‘supply’ and ‘demand’ sides of climate adaptation and climate related public information.
In this analogy:
• ‘supply’ involves providing authentic, relevant and timely information to all those who need it, in languages and formats they can readily use; and
• ‘demand’ means inspiring more individuals and entities to look for specific knowledge and skills that can help make themselves more climate resilient.
These two sides of the equation can positively reinforce each other, contributing significantly to Sri Lanka’s fight against climate change.
Right to Information (RTI) - South Asian Regional Experiences - by Nalaka Gun...
Right to Information (RTI): South Asian Experiences
Presentation by Nalaka Gunawardene, science writer and new media researcher, at the RTI awareness seminar for senior staff of the Parliament of Sri Lanka on 16 August 2016.
Sri Lanka’s Parliament passed the Right to Information (RTI) law on 24 June 2016. Over 15 years in the making, the RTI law represents a potential transformation across the whole government by opening up hitherto closed public information (with certain clearly specified exceptions related to national security, trade secrets, privacy and intellectual property, etc.).
This presentation introduces the concept of citizens’ right to demand and access public information held by the government, and traces the evolution of the concept from historical time. In fact, Indian Emperor Ashoka (who reigned from c. 268 to 232 Before Christ) was the first to grant his subjects the Right to Information (RTI), according to Indian RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak, Coordinator, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI). Ashoka had inscribed on rocks all over the Indian subcontinent his government’s policies, development programmes and his ideas on various social, economic and political issues -- including how religious co-existence.
Therefore, adopting an RTI law signifies upholding a great Ashokan tradition in Sri Lanka. The presentation looks at RTI good practices and implementation experiences in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Maldives – all these South Asian countries passed an RTI law before Sri Lanka, and there is much that Sri Lanka can learn from them.
The presentation ends acknowledging the big challenges in implementing RTI in Sri Lanka – reorienting the entire public sector to change its mindset and practices to promote a culture of information sharing and transparent government.
Recommended
Youth run for peace and sustainability
The Youth Run: For Peace and Sustainability was organised by the World
Assembly of Youth (WAY), in collaboration with Melaka State Government,
Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah (MBMB), Melaka State Youth Council, and
several local NGOs. It is also an event planned in commemoration of the Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), which took place 17th to 19th of April, 2015, around the world.
Avoiding ‘Cyber Nanny State’: Challenges of Social Media Regulation in Sri Lanka
Keynote speech delivered by science writer and digital media analyst Nalaka Gunawardene at the Sri Lanka National IT Conference held in Colombo from 2 to 4 October 2018 (https://www.nitc.lk/2018/).
Summary:
With around a third of Sri Lanka’s 21 million people using at least one type of social media, the phenomenon is no longer limited to cities or English speakers. But as social media users increase and diversify, so do various excesses and abuses on these platforms: hate speech, fake news, identity theft, cyber bullying/harassment, and privacy violations among them.
Public discourse in Sri Lanka has been focused heavily on social media abuses by a relatively small number of users. In a balanced stock taking of the overall phenomenon, the multitude of substantial benefits should also be counted. Social media has allowed ordinary Lankans to share information, collaborate around common goals, pursue entrepreneurship and mobilise communities in times of elections or disasters. In a country where the mainstream media has been captured by political and business interests, social media remains the ‘last frontier’ for citizens to discuss issues of public interest. The economic, educational, cultural benefits of social media for the Lankan society have not been scientifically quantified as yet but they are significant – and keep growing by the year.
In this talk, I caution that social media regulation in the name of curbing excesses could easily be extended to crack down on political criticism and minority views that do not conform to majority orthodoxy. An increasingly insular and unpopular government – now in its last 18 months of its 5-year term – probably fears citizen expressions on social media.
Yet the current Lankan government’s democratic claims and credentials will be tested in how they respond to social media challenges: will that be done in ways that are entirely consistent with the country’s obligations under international human rights laws that have safeguards for the right to Freedom of Expression (FOE)? This is the crucial question.
Communicating Research: How to Engage Policy-makers - By Nalaka Gunawardene
Presentation made to a group of young (early to mid-career) researchers from across South Asia who want to study many facets of global change. They were brought together at a regional workshop held in in Paro, Bhutan, by the Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN) and the National Environment Commission of the Royal Government of Bhutan.
Titled ‘Proposal Development Training Workshop (PDTW)’ and held from 14 to 16 December 2016, PDTW aimed “to raise awareness of APN among early career scientists and practitioners, and to increase the capacity to develop competitive proposals for submission to APN”.
The workshop involved two dozen researchers and half a dozen mentors. I was the sole mentor covering the important aspect of communicating research.
Climate Communications: Go Beyond Fear, CO2 and COPs! by Nalaka Gunawardene
The document discusses best practices for communicating climate change information to the public. It recommends going beyond focusing solely on CO2 emissions and international climate talks, and instead emphasizing local impacts and solutions. The document also stresses the importance of clarifying misconceptions, appealing to public interests like health and economic benefits, and telling stories about non-carbon climate actions and other greenhouse gases beyond just CO2. Journalists are advised to connect climate issues to everyday weather in an accessible way while balancing scientific details and uncertainties.
Going Beyond Poor Journalism that Ignores the Poor - Nalaka Gunawardene
My presentation to the orientation workshop for Media Fellows on Poverty and Development, held in Colombo on 24 September 2016, and organised by Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) and UNESCO.
Sri Lanka has recently been declared a Middle Income Country. Public expenditure on the social sector has declined as a percentage of the GDP and this has created widening inequalities. Poverty, therefore, is still a crucial issue, but it needs be understood from a more holistic perspective which considers aspects such as people’s capabilities, private and social assets, leisure (or lack of it), and attainment of social participation and security.
However, most media look at poverty from a purely economic perspective as a lack of money. A wider understanding on poverty would include democracy, good governance, rule of law, freedom of expression and media freedom as prerequisites for people to realise their full capabilities. In addition to the limited understanding of poverty, most media houses allocate little or no budget for field-based and investigative journalistic assignments on poverty related topics.
With the Media Fellowships on Poverty and Development, the Center for Poverty Analysis (CEPA) hopes to tackle this gap. Some 20 competitively selected journalists – drawn from print, broadcast and web media outlets in Sinhala, Tamil and English languages – are to be given a better understanding of the many dimensions of poverty.
These Media Fellows will have the opportunity to research and produce a story of their choice in depth and detail, but on the understanding that their media outlet will carry their story. Along the way, they will benefit from face-to-face interactions with senior journalists and development researchers, and also receive a grant to cover their field visit costs.
Science writer, columnist and blogger Nalaka Gunawardene is a member of Expert Panel that mentors Media Fellows on Poverty and Development.
Social Media in Sri Lanka: Do Science and Reason Stand a Chance? - Nalaka Gun...
Sri Lanka’s first Science and Technology for Society (STS) Forum took place from 7 to 10 September in Colombo. Organized by the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research, it was one of the largest gatherings of its kind to be hosted by Sri Lanka. http://costi.gov.lk/sts/
Science writer Nalaka Gunawardene was keynote speaker during the session on ‘Using Social Media for Discussing Science Topics’. He used it to highlight how social media have become both a boon and bane for scientific information and thinking in Sri Lanka.
For now, it appears that pseudo-science and anti-science sentiments – some of it rooted in ultra-nationalism or conspiracy theories -- dominate many Lankan social media exchanges. It is as if Lankan society has permanently suspended disbelief.
How and where can the counter-narratives be promoted on behalf of evidenced based, rational discussions? Is this a hopeless task in the face of irrationality engulfing wider Lankan society? Or can progressive and creative use of social media help turn the tide in favour of reason?
Answers to these questions are explored in this presentation, which also cites examples of promising counter-narratives emerging in social media itself. Social media being a contested space, the race between darkness and light continues...
Changing Climate & Changing Minds - Challenges of Climate Communication - Nal...
Sri Lanka’s Centre for Environmental Justice in collaboration with the government’s Climate Change Secretariat, UNDP and Janathakshan held a national conference on “SRI LANKA’S READINESS FOR IMPLEMENTING PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT” on 7 and 8 September 2016 in Colombo. It was attended by over 200 representatives from government, civil society and corporate sectors.
This presentation was made by science writer and development communicator Nalaka Gunawardene in Session 5: Climate Solutions, under the topic “Climate communication and Behaviour changes”.
As climate change impacts are felt more widely, the imperative for action is greater than ever. Telling the climate story in accurate and accessible ways should be an essential part of our climate response.
That response is currently organised around two ‘planks’: mitigation and adaptation. Climate communication can be the ‘third plank’ that strengthens the first two.
Encouragingly, more journalists, broadcasters, researchers and advocacy groups are taking up this challenge. They urgently need more media and public spaces -- as well as greater resources -- to sustain public engagement.
Sri Lanka’s Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation, prepared in 2010-11, has recognized how “IEC action can lead to better informed decisions and enlightened choices in both climate change mitigation and adaptation”.
When strategically carried out, IEC can be a powerful force for change on both the ‘supply’ and ‘demand’ sides of climate adaptation and climate related public information.
In this analogy:
• ‘supply’ involves providing authentic, relevant and timely information to all those who need it, in languages and formats they can readily use; and
• ‘demand’ means inspiring more individuals and entities to look for specific knowledge and skills that can help make themselves more climate resilient.
These two sides of the equation can positively reinforce each other, contributing significantly to Sri Lanka’s fight against climate change.
Right to Information (RTI) - South Asian Regional Experiences - by Nalaka Gun...
Right to Information (RTI): South Asian Experiences
Presentation by Nalaka Gunawardene, science writer and new media researcher, at the RTI awareness seminar for senior staff of the Parliament of Sri Lanka on 16 August 2016.
Sri Lanka’s Parliament passed the Right to Information (RTI) law on 24 June 2016. Over 15 years in the making, the RTI law represents a potential transformation across the whole government by opening up hitherto closed public information (with certain clearly specified exceptions related to national security, trade secrets, privacy and intellectual property, etc.).
This presentation introduces the concept of citizens’ right to demand and access public information held by the government, and traces the evolution of the concept from historical time. In fact, Indian Emperor Ashoka (who reigned from c. 268 to 232 Before Christ) was the first to grant his subjects the Right to Information (RTI), according to Indian RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak, Coordinator, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI). Ashoka had inscribed on rocks all over the Indian subcontinent his government’s policies, development programmes and his ideas on various social, economic and political issues -- including how religious co-existence.
Therefore, adopting an RTI law signifies upholding a great Ashokan tradition in Sri Lanka. The presentation looks at RTI good practices and implementation experiences in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Maldives – all these South Asian countries passed an RTI law before Sri Lanka, and there is much that Sri Lanka can learn from them.
The presentation ends acknowledging the big challenges in implementing RTI in Sri Lanka – reorienting the entire public sector to change its mindset and practices to promote a culture of information sharing and transparent government.
Right to Information Matters Most to Citizens - by Nalaka Gunawardene
On 11 May 2016, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms & Mass Media convened a meeting with the senior managers of print and broadcasting media house to discuss how media can support the new Right to Information (RTI) law that has recently been tabled in Parliament.
Nearly 15 years in the making, the RTI law is to be debated in June and expected to be adopted with multi-party consensus. The law represents a transformation across government by opening up hitherto closed public information (with certain cleared specified exceptions).
While media can also benefit from RTI, it is primarily a law for ordinary citizens to demand and receive information related to everyday governance (most of it at local levels). For this, citizens need to understand the RTI process and potential benefits. Media can play a major role in explaining RTI law, and promoting its use in many different ways to promote the public interest and to nurture a culture of evidence-based advocacy for good governance and public accountability.
This presentation was made by media researcher and columnist Nalaka Gunawardene in his capacity as a member of the voluntary Right to Information Task Force convened by the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms & Mass Media. He illustrates how RTI can benefit citizens, and shares examples from other South Asian countries where newspapers and broadcast houses have been promoting RTI in innovative ways.
Info Society Rising in Sri Lanka: Are You Ready? by Nalaka Gunawardene, 27 Ja...
This document discusses the rise of the information society in Sri Lanka and the need for more research on media consumption trends, especially among youth. It summarizes a new study on mainstream and new media consumption, finding that youth primarily engage with media through smartphones and social media rather than traditional outlets. The document urges governments, businesses, and civil society to better understand changing media behaviors and leverage digital channels in their work. Sri Lanka is going through a decisive phase, and public consultation and participation will be vital as issues like reconciliation and constitutional reforms are addressed.
Crying Wolf in the Global Village: Managing Disaster Early Warnings in the Ag...
The challenge in disaster early warnings is to make the best possible decisions quickly using imperfect information. With lives and livelihoods at stake, there is much pressure to get it right. But one can’t be timely and perfectly accurate at the same time.
We have come a long way since the devastating Boxing Day tsunami of December 2004 caught Indian Ocean countries by surprise. Many of the over 230,000 people killed that day could have been saved by timely coastal evacuations.
The good news is that advances in science and communications technology, greater international cooperation, and revamped national systems have vastly improved tsunami early warnings during the past decade. However, some critical gaps and challenges remain.
The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWS) was set up in 2005 under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Over USD 400 million has been invested in state of the art equipment for rapid detection and assessment. However, the system’s overall effectiveness is limited by poor local infrastructure and lack of preparedness. Some countries also lack efficient decision-making for issuing national level warnings based on regionally provided rapid assessments.
Warnings must reach communities at risk early enough for action. False warnings can cause major economic losses and reduce compliance with future evacuation orders. Only governments can balance these factors. It is important that there be clearer protocols within governments to consider the best available information and make the necessary decisions quickly.
Now, the proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is making this delicate balance even more difficult. To remain effective in the always-connected and chattering Global Village, disaster managers have to rethink their engagement strategies.
Controlled release of information is no longer an option for governments. In the age of 24/7 news channels and social media, many people will learn of breaking disasters independently of official sources. Some social media users will also express their views instantly – and not always accurately.
How can this multiplicity of information sources and peddlers be harnessed in the best public interest? What are the policy options for governments, and responsibilities for technical experts? How to nurture public trust, the ‘lubricant’ that helps move the wheels of law and order - as well as public safety - in the right direction?
Mass Kidney Failure and Mass Media Failure in Sri Lanka - by Nalaka Gunawarde...
Scientists are researching widely on what causes the Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka that affects thousands of people (mostly farm workers) and burdens the public healthcare system. As health officials and policy makers struggle with the prolonged humanitarian emergency, unprofessional and fear-mongering media coverage often adds to public confusion and fear.
As a science writer, I have long been concerned about public communication of risk in times of distress. In late 2012, speaking at an Asian science communication workshop held in Colombo, I first coined the phrase: Mass Media Failure is complicating Mass Kidney Failure.
On 16 December 2015, I was invited by Sri Lanka’s Presidential Task Force for the Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease to speak on this topic at the NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON PREVENTION OF CHORNIC KIDNEY DISEASE held in Colombo.
Speaking to an audience of scientists, health and agriculture sector public officials and policy makers, I briefly explored the kind of misinformation, myths and pseudo-science uncritically peddled by Lankan media.
There are many reasons for systemic media failure in Sri Lanka that has allowed ultranationalists and certain environmental activists to pollute the public mind with half-truths and conspiracy theories. These need an industry level reform. Meanwhile, for improving the CKDu information flow in society, I proposed some short, medium and long term recommendations.
We the People in the Social Media Age – by Nalaka Gunawardene, Yangon - 10 De...
“We the People in the Social Media Age” is a plenary level presentation given at the 4th Media Development Conference in Myanmar, held in Yangon on 10 – 11 December 2015.
The conference, themed as “New Dynamics in Myanmar Media”, took place at a historic moment in Myanmar’s history: Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) has won a landslide victory in Myanmar after general elections on 8 November. It was the country's first national vote since a nominally civilian government was introduced in 2011, ending nearly 50 years of military rule.
Addressing nearly 200 participants drawn from Myanmar’s mainstream media, new media and ICT spheres – including policymakers, managers and practitioners – I briefly explored the impact of social media in the present social landscape: Asian Regional perspectives.
The organizers had asked me to touch on these points:
• The role of social media at elections
• Bloggers and other social media activists and their space and role in the whole social media theatre
• Usage and future challenges/perspectives of the social media sector
• The relationship between the conventional and social media in the media landscape in Asia
• Importance of media literacy in a society and ways and means of educating public on media literacy
I could only raise a few ‘big picture’ level points in the short time available. As always, I asked more questions than I could answer – but it is very important that we seek such answers.
My concluding remark on the panel was: whether we like it or not, social media is here. Let us use them to serve the public interest. In other words, as Sir Arthur Clarke used to say, Exploit the Inevitable!
Diplomacy and Foreign Relations in the Social Media Age: By Nalaka Gunawarden...
I made this presentation on 14 November 2015 to students of the Certificate Course in Creative Diplomacy, conducted by the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) in Colombo, Sri Lanka – a think tank on international relations.
In this, I introduce and briefly explore the new kind of real-time, public diplomacy that is being ushered in with the spreading of social media. I show how diplomats and other government officials can no longer ignore this mass medium, but at the same time their traditional ways of communications need to be reoriented to suit the realities of this new information ecosystem that is informal, irreverent and fleeting.
As I spoke on the day after the ISIS terrorist attacks in France, I used (among others) the latest examples of how Gérard Araud, France’s Ambassador to the US, tweeted live as multiple terror attacks unfolded in Paris on Nov 13 night.
To see the bigger picture, I’ve distilled some wisdom of key researchers in this area including: Anne-Marie Slaughter, former Princeton Academic and ex-Director of Policy Planning, US State Department; Philip Seib, Professor of Journalism and Public Diplomacy, University of Southern California; and Ramesh Thakur, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University (ANU).
I dedicated this presentation to a diplomat and scholar whose mentoring I was privileged to receive 20 years ago: Dr Harlan Cleveland (1918 - 2008) who served as US Ambassador to NATO, 1965–1969 (Johnson Administration), and earlier as US Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, 1961–1965 (Kennedy Administration).
Open Data, Open Government & Open Minds - by Nalaka Gunawardene - 15 Oct 2015
This document discusses the importance and benefits of open data. It notes that data is essential for decision making and accountability but that often data and discussions happen without the full picture. It highlights increasing sources of data and a UN call for a data revolution. The document advocates for Sri Lanka to open government data in line with sustainable development goals the country has committed to. It provides examples of initial open data efforts in Sri Lanka and argues more needs to be done, including developing data literacy.
Grassroots Journalism in the Digital Age - by Nalaka Gunawardene
Talk given by Nalaka Gunawardene to a group of 75 provincial level provincial journalists in Sri Lanka from around the island who have just completed a training course in investigative journalism conducted by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), with support from InterNews. The certificate award ceremony was held at Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), Colombo, on 2 October 2015.
In this talk, I look at the larger news media industry in Sri Lanka to which provincial journalists supply ground level news, images and video materials. These are used on a discretionary basis by media companies mostly based in the capital Colombo (and some based in the northern provincial capital of Jaffna). Suppliers have no control over whether or how their material is processed. They work without employment benefits, are poorly paid, and also exposed to various pressures and coercion.
I question why, after 180+ years, the Lankan media industry broadly follows the same production model: material sourced is centrally processed and distributed, without much adaptation to new digital media realities. Who can disrupt these old models and innovate? Can disruptive innovators emerge from among provincial journalists?
Managing Religious and Communal Tensions in the Digital Age - by Nalaka Gunaw...
Managing Religious and Communal Tensions in Digital Age: Choices & Dilemmas
Remarks at Consultation on Reporting on Religious & Communal Tensions in Sri Lanka, organised by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka.
Media Reforms in Sri Lanka - Highlights of a Rapid Assessment by Nalaka Gunaw...
Media Development in Sri Lanka: Highlights of a Rapid Assessment is the plenary presentation by Nalaka Gunawardene, media development consultant, to the Sri Lanka National Media Summit on Media Reforms held in Colombo on 13 May 2015.
This was a national level event jointly convened by the Ministry of Mass Media, Sri Lanka Press Institute, University of Colombo and International Media Support, to discuss broad-ranging policy, legal and institutional reforms needed in Lankan media.
Media Reforms in Sri Lanka - Some Big Picture Ideas by Nalaka Gunawardene
Talk given by science writer and media researcher Nalaka Gunawardene to the Sri Lanka Media Reform Working Goup, at its first meeting held at Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), Colombo, on 20 March 2015. The group will prepare for National Summit on Media Reforms to be held in mid May 2015.
In this talk, Nalaka looks at four facets of Lankan media -- owners, advertisers, practitioners and consumers -- and identifies some reform needs in each.
Ride Your Imagination to Space – by Nalaka Gunawardene
Presentation given by Nalaka Gunawardene
Science Writer
at
ORBIT ’15, Annual Astronomical Event of Astronomy & Space Science Association of D S Senanayake College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 13 March 2015.
Event details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/270492739827440/322372387972808/
Public Perceptions of Pesticides & How They Influence Policy - By Nalaka Gun...
Public perceptions of pesticides & how they influence policy: Case of CKDu in Sri Lanka
Presentation by Nalaka Gunawardene
To International workshop on
"Pesticides and Global Health: Research, Collaboration, and Impact"
Department of Anthropology
University of Durham, UK
10-11 February 2015
Emerging Digital Democracy? Social Media & Sri Lanka's Presidential Election ...
Emerging Digital Democracy?
Social Media and Sri Lanka's Recent Presidential Election
Talk by Nalaka Gunawardene
Science writer, columnist and new media watcher
At the University of London, 12 Feb 2015
Organised and hosted by:
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London & Commonwealth Journalists’ Association (CJA)
Synopsis:
A record 81.5% of registered voters took part in Sri Lanka’s presidential election on 8 January 2015 in which incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated by his former health minister Maithripala Sirisena. The peaceful regime change has been widely acclaimed as a triumph of democracy and a mandate for political reform, improved governance and national reconciliation.
The election saw unprecedented use of social media by both candidates as well as by politically charged yet unaffiliated youth. How much of this citizen awakening can be attributed to the fast spread of smartphones and broadband? Did it really influence how people voted? What does this mean for future politics and governance in Sri Lanka?
Trained as a science writer and working for over 25 years as a science journalist, Nalaka Gunawardene is a multimedia journalist with many outlets for his work – national and regional newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and the web (where he is active as a blogger and on Twitter: @NalakaG). He is also published in trade, academic and technical publications.
Mind the Gap between Perceptions & Reality - Nalaka Gunawardene keynote to He...
Plenary talk by Nalaka Gunawardene at the HelpAge Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2014 on "Older People in Ageing Societies: Burden or Resource?" held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 1 to 4 Sep 2014.
Long shadow of Pulp Science Fiction: Popular culture for promoting science an...
Presentation jointly by Nalaka Gunawardene, science writer, and S M Banduseela, science fiction translator, to Amazing Science Exhibition & Event in Colombo as part of the French Spring Festival.
‘Pulp magazines’ is a generic term for inexpensive magazines published in the United States from 1896 to the 1950s. They provided popular entertainment, especially before broadcast television became well established, and carried illustrated short stories and serialized stories in categories like adventure, travel, detective and science fiction.
This illustrated presentation will look at the role pulp magazines played in promoting science fiction writing and reading as part of 20th century popular culture. Many who later became mainstream writers, such as Robert A Heinlein, Arthur C Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury first established themselves by writing to such publications.
In this talk, we look at how pulp science fiction inspired scientific discovery and innovation in areas as diverse as space exploration, computer science, robotics, evolution and materials science. We will also show part of a 2010 documentary titled ‘PULP FICTION: The Golden Age of Sci Fi, Fantasy and Advent’.
Nalaka Gunawardene - Belling the Policy Cats - Talk to PEER Science Asia Conf...
Presentation by science writer Nalaka Gunawardene to PEER Science Participants’ Conference 2013, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 1 to 4 Oct 2013. It brought together over 40 principal investigators and other senior researchers from over a dozen Asian countries who are participating in Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) Science program. PEER Science is a grant program implemented by the (US) National Academies of Science on behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and in cooperation with the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Details at: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/dsc/peerscience/PGA_071746
21st Century Demons & Public Health in Sri Lanka by Nalaka Gunawardene, 24 se...
21st Century Demons & Public Health in Sri Lanka. Plenary presentation made at the Annual Sessions of the College of Community Physicians Sri Lanka, in Colombo, 24 Sep 2013.
Nalaka Gunawardene - AMS 2013 - Pandemics & Broadcasting workshop opening
Opening remarks to Asian broadcasters workshop on Pandemics & Broadcasting during Asia Media Summit 2013 held in Manado, Indonesia, where I was facilitator and a speaker.
Communicating Climate Change - Session with Panos South Asia Media Fellows - ...
Presentation made by science writer Nalaka Gunawardene to Panos South Asia Climate Change Media Fellows at a regional workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 23 to 25 April 2013.
This is part of a Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) project for enhancing climate change awareness and understanding among journalists in South Asia. The project, which is currently in its second phase, has already produced several quality outputs across the region on Climate change–related issues.
Details at http://www.panossouthasia.org/Left_read.asp?leftStoryId=224&leftSectionId=3
Optimizing Post Remediation Groundwater Performance with Enhanced Microbiolog...
Results of geophysics and pneumatic injection pilot tests during 2003 – 2007 yielded significant positive results for injection delivery design and contaminant mass treatment, resulting in permanent shut-down of an existing groundwater Pump & Treat system.
Accessible source areas were subsequently removed (2011) by soil excavation and treated with the placement of Emulsified Vegetable Oil EVO and zero-valent iron ZVI to accelerate treatment of impacted groundwater in overburden and weathered fractured bedrock. Post pilot test and post remediation groundwater monitoring has included analyses of CVOCs, organic fatty acids, dissolved gases and QuantArray® -Chlor to quantify key microorganisms (e.g., Dehalococcoides, Dehalobacter, etc.) and functional genes (e.g., vinyl chloride reductase, methane monooxygenase, etc.) to assess potential for reductive dechlorination and aerobic cometabolism of CVOCs.
In 2022, the first commercial application of MetaArray™ was performed at the site. MetaArray™ utilizes statistical analysis, such as principal component analysis and multivariate analysis to provide evidence that reductive dechlorination is active or even that it is slowing. This creates actionable data allowing users to save money by making important site management decisions earlier.
The results of the MetaArray™ analysis’ support vector machine (SVM) identified groundwater monitoring wells with a 80% confidence that were characterized as either Limited for Reductive Decholorination or had a High Reductive Reduction Dechlorination potential. The results of MetaArray™ will be used to further optimize the site’s post remediation monitoring program for monitored natural attenuation.
Improving the viability of probiotics by encapsulation methods for developmen...
Improving the viability of probiotics by encapsulation methods for developmen...Open Access Research Paper
The popularity of functional foods among scientists and common people has been increasing day by day. Awareness and modernization make the consumer think better regarding food and nutrition. Now a day’s individual knows very well about the relation between food consumption and disease prevalence. Humans have a diversity of microbes in the gut that together form the gut microflora. Probiotics are the health-promoting live microbial cells improve host health through gut and brain connection and fighting against harmful bacteria. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are the two bacterial genera which are considered to be probiotic. These good bacteria are facing challenges of viability. There are so many factors such as sensitivity to heat, pH, acidity, osmotic effect, mechanical shear, chemical components, freezing and storage time as well which affects the viability of probiotics in the dairy food matrix as well as in the gut. Multiple efforts have been done in the past and ongoing in present for these beneficial microbial population stability until their destination in the gut. One of a useful technique known as microencapsulation makes the probiotic effective in the diversified conditions and maintain these microbe’s community to the optimum level for achieving targeted benefits. Dairy products are found to be an ideal vehicle for probiotic incorporation. It has been seen that the encapsulated microbial cells show higher viability than the free cells in different processing and storage conditions as well as against bile salts in the gut. They make the food functional when incorporated, without affecting the product sensory characteristics.
More Related Content
More from Nalaka Gunawardene
Right to Information Matters Most to Citizens - by Nalaka Gunawardene
On 11 May 2016, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms & Mass Media convened a meeting with the senior managers of print and broadcasting media house to discuss how media can support the new Right to Information (RTI) law that has recently been tabled in Parliament.
Nearly 15 years in the making, the RTI law is to be debated in June and expected to be adopted with multi-party consensus. The law represents a transformation across government by opening up hitherto closed public information (with certain cleared specified exceptions).
While media can also benefit from RTI, it is primarily a law for ordinary citizens to demand and receive information related to everyday governance (most of it at local levels). For this, citizens need to understand the RTI process and potential benefits. Media can play a major role in explaining RTI law, and promoting its use in many different ways to promote the public interest and to nurture a culture of evidence-based advocacy for good governance and public accountability.
This presentation was made by media researcher and columnist Nalaka Gunawardene in his capacity as a member of the voluntary Right to Information Task Force convened by the Ministry of Parliamentary Reforms & Mass Media. He illustrates how RTI can benefit citizens, and shares examples from other South Asian countries where newspapers and broadcast houses have been promoting RTI in innovative ways.
Info Society Rising in Sri Lanka: Are You Ready? by Nalaka Gunawardene, 27 Ja...
This document discusses the rise of the information society in Sri Lanka and the need for more research on media consumption trends, especially among youth. It summarizes a new study on mainstream and new media consumption, finding that youth primarily engage with media through smartphones and social media rather than traditional outlets. The document urges governments, businesses, and civil society to better understand changing media behaviors and leverage digital channels in their work. Sri Lanka is going through a decisive phase, and public consultation and participation will be vital as issues like reconciliation and constitutional reforms are addressed.
Crying Wolf in the Global Village: Managing Disaster Early Warnings in the Ag...
The challenge in disaster early warnings is to make the best possible decisions quickly using imperfect information. With lives and livelihoods at stake, there is much pressure to get it right. But one can’t be timely and perfectly accurate at the same time.
We have come a long way since the devastating Boxing Day tsunami of December 2004 caught Indian Ocean countries by surprise. Many of the over 230,000 people killed that day could have been saved by timely coastal evacuations.
The good news is that advances in science and communications technology, greater international cooperation, and revamped national systems have vastly improved tsunami early warnings during the past decade. However, some critical gaps and challenges remain.
The Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWS) was set up in 2005 under UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. Over USD 400 million has been invested in state of the art equipment for rapid detection and assessment. However, the system’s overall effectiveness is limited by poor local infrastructure and lack of preparedness. Some countries also lack efficient decision-making for issuing national level warnings based on regionally provided rapid assessments.
Warnings must reach communities at risk early enough for action. False warnings can cause major economic losses and reduce compliance with future evacuation orders. Only governments can balance these factors. It is important that there be clearer protocols within governments to consider the best available information and make the necessary decisions quickly.
Now, the proliferation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) is making this delicate balance even more difficult. To remain effective in the always-connected and chattering Global Village, disaster managers have to rethink their engagement strategies.
Controlled release of information is no longer an option for governments. In the age of 24/7 news channels and social media, many people will learn of breaking disasters independently of official sources. Some social media users will also express their views instantly – and not always accurately.
How can this multiplicity of information sources and peddlers be harnessed in the best public interest? What are the policy options for governments, and responsibilities for technical experts? How to nurture public trust, the ‘lubricant’ that helps move the wheels of law and order - as well as public safety - in the right direction?
Mass Kidney Failure and Mass Media Failure in Sri Lanka - by Nalaka Gunawarde...
Scientists are researching widely on what causes the Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka that affects thousands of people (mostly farm workers) and burdens the public healthcare system. As health officials and policy makers struggle with the prolonged humanitarian emergency, unprofessional and fear-mongering media coverage often adds to public confusion and fear.
As a science writer, I have long been concerned about public communication of risk in times of distress. In late 2012, speaking at an Asian science communication workshop held in Colombo, I first coined the phrase: Mass Media Failure is complicating Mass Kidney Failure.
On 16 December 2015, I was invited by Sri Lanka’s Presidential Task Force for the Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease to speak on this topic at the NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON PREVENTION OF CHORNIC KIDNEY DISEASE held in Colombo.
Speaking to an audience of scientists, health and agriculture sector public officials and policy makers, I briefly explored the kind of misinformation, myths and pseudo-science uncritically peddled by Lankan media.
There are many reasons for systemic media failure in Sri Lanka that has allowed ultranationalists and certain environmental activists to pollute the public mind with half-truths and conspiracy theories. These need an industry level reform. Meanwhile, for improving the CKDu information flow in society, I proposed some short, medium and long term recommendations.
We the People in the Social Media Age – by Nalaka Gunawardene, Yangon - 10 De...
“We the People in the Social Media Age” is a plenary level presentation given at the 4th Media Development Conference in Myanmar, held in Yangon on 10 – 11 December 2015.
The conference, themed as “New Dynamics in Myanmar Media”, took place at a historic moment in Myanmar’s history: Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) has won a landslide victory in Myanmar after general elections on 8 November. It was the country's first national vote since a nominally civilian government was introduced in 2011, ending nearly 50 years of military rule.
Addressing nearly 200 participants drawn from Myanmar’s mainstream media, new media and ICT spheres – including policymakers, managers and practitioners – I briefly explored the impact of social media in the present social landscape: Asian Regional perspectives.
The organizers had asked me to touch on these points:
• The role of social media at elections
• Bloggers and other social media activists and their space and role in the whole social media theatre
• Usage and future challenges/perspectives of the social media sector
• The relationship between the conventional and social media in the media landscape in Asia
• Importance of media literacy in a society and ways and means of educating public on media literacy
I could only raise a few ‘big picture’ level points in the short time available. As always, I asked more questions than I could answer – but it is very important that we seek such answers.
My concluding remark on the panel was: whether we like it or not, social media is here. Let us use them to serve the public interest. In other words, as Sir Arthur Clarke used to say, Exploit the Inevitable!
Diplomacy and Foreign Relations in the Social Media Age: By Nalaka Gunawarden...
I made this presentation on 14 November 2015 to students of the Certificate Course in Creative Diplomacy, conducted by the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies (RCSS) in Colombo, Sri Lanka – a think tank on international relations.
In this, I introduce and briefly explore the new kind of real-time, public diplomacy that is being ushered in with the spreading of social media. I show how diplomats and other government officials can no longer ignore this mass medium, but at the same time their traditional ways of communications need to be reoriented to suit the realities of this new information ecosystem that is informal, irreverent and fleeting.
As I spoke on the day after the ISIS terrorist attacks in France, I used (among others) the latest examples of how Gérard Araud, France’s Ambassador to the US, tweeted live as multiple terror attacks unfolded in Paris on Nov 13 night.
To see the bigger picture, I’ve distilled some wisdom of key researchers in this area including: Anne-Marie Slaughter, former Princeton Academic and ex-Director of Policy Planning, US State Department; Philip Seib, Professor of Journalism and Public Diplomacy, University of Southern California; and Ramesh Thakur, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University (ANU).
I dedicated this presentation to a diplomat and scholar whose mentoring I was privileged to receive 20 years ago: Dr Harlan Cleveland (1918 - 2008) who served as US Ambassador to NATO, 1965–1969 (Johnson Administration), and earlier as US Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, 1961–1965 (Kennedy Administration).
Open Data, Open Government & Open Minds - by Nalaka Gunawardene - 15 Oct 2015
This document discusses the importance and benefits of open data. It notes that data is essential for decision making and accountability but that often data and discussions happen without the full picture. It highlights increasing sources of data and a UN call for a data revolution. The document advocates for Sri Lanka to open government data in line with sustainable development goals the country has committed to. It provides examples of initial open data efforts in Sri Lanka and argues more needs to be done, including developing data literacy.
Grassroots Journalism in the Digital Age - by Nalaka Gunawardene
Talk given by Nalaka Gunawardene to a group of 75 provincial level provincial journalists in Sri Lanka from around the island who have just completed a training course in investigative journalism conducted by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), with support from InterNews. The certificate award ceremony was held at Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), Colombo, on 2 October 2015.
In this talk, I look at the larger news media industry in Sri Lanka to which provincial journalists supply ground level news, images and video materials. These are used on a discretionary basis by media companies mostly based in the capital Colombo (and some based in the northern provincial capital of Jaffna). Suppliers have no control over whether or how their material is processed. They work without employment benefits, are poorly paid, and also exposed to various pressures and coercion.
I question why, after 180+ years, the Lankan media industry broadly follows the same production model: material sourced is centrally processed and distributed, without much adaptation to new digital media realities. Who can disrupt these old models and innovate? Can disruptive innovators emerge from among provincial journalists?
Managing Religious and Communal Tensions in the Digital Age - by Nalaka Gunaw...
Managing Religious and Communal Tensions in Digital Age: Choices & Dilemmas
Remarks at Consultation on Reporting on Religious & Communal Tensions in Sri Lanka, organised by the National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka.
Media Reforms in Sri Lanka - Highlights of a Rapid Assessment by Nalaka Gunaw...
Media Development in Sri Lanka: Highlights of a Rapid Assessment is the plenary presentation by Nalaka Gunawardene, media development consultant, to the Sri Lanka National Media Summit on Media Reforms held in Colombo on 13 May 2015.
This was a national level event jointly convened by the Ministry of Mass Media, Sri Lanka Press Institute, University of Colombo and International Media Support, to discuss broad-ranging policy, legal and institutional reforms needed in Lankan media.
Media Reforms in Sri Lanka - Some Big Picture Ideas by Nalaka Gunawardene
Talk given by science writer and media researcher Nalaka Gunawardene to the Sri Lanka Media Reform Working Goup, at its first meeting held at Sri Lanka Press Institute (SLPI), Colombo, on 20 March 2015. The group will prepare for National Summit on Media Reforms to be held in mid May 2015.
In this talk, Nalaka looks at four facets of Lankan media -- owners, advertisers, practitioners and consumers -- and identifies some reform needs in each.
Ride Your Imagination to Space – by Nalaka Gunawardene
Presentation given by Nalaka Gunawardene
Science Writer
at
ORBIT ’15, Annual Astronomical Event of Astronomy & Space Science Association of D S Senanayake College, Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 13 March 2015.
Event details at: https://www.facebook.com/events/270492739827440/322372387972808/
Public Perceptions of Pesticides & How They Influence Policy - By Nalaka Gun...
Public perceptions of pesticides & how they influence policy: Case of CKDu in Sri Lanka
Presentation by Nalaka Gunawardene
To International workshop on
"Pesticides and Global Health: Research, Collaboration, and Impact"
Department of Anthropology
University of Durham, UK
10-11 February 2015
Emerging Digital Democracy? Social Media & Sri Lanka's Presidential Election ...
Emerging Digital Democracy?
Social Media and Sri Lanka's Recent Presidential Election
Talk by Nalaka Gunawardene
Science writer, columnist and new media watcher
At the University of London, 12 Feb 2015
Organised and hosted by:
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London & Commonwealth Journalists’ Association (CJA)
Synopsis:
A record 81.5% of registered voters took part in Sri Lanka’s presidential election on 8 January 2015 in which incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated by his former health minister Maithripala Sirisena. The peaceful regime change has been widely acclaimed as a triumph of democracy and a mandate for political reform, improved governance and national reconciliation.
The election saw unprecedented use of social media by both candidates as well as by politically charged yet unaffiliated youth. How much of this citizen awakening can be attributed to the fast spread of smartphones and broadband? Did it really influence how people voted? What does this mean for future politics and governance in Sri Lanka?
Trained as a science writer and working for over 25 years as a science journalist, Nalaka Gunawardene is a multimedia journalist with many outlets for his work – national and regional newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and the web (where he is active as a blogger and on Twitter: @NalakaG). He is also published in trade, academic and technical publications.
Mind the Gap between Perceptions & Reality - Nalaka Gunawardene keynote to He...
Plenary talk by Nalaka Gunawardene at the HelpAge Asia Pacific Regional Conference 2014 on "Older People in Ageing Societies: Burden or Resource?" held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 1 to 4 Sep 2014.
Long shadow of Pulp Science Fiction: Popular culture for promoting science an...
Presentation jointly by Nalaka Gunawardene, science writer, and S M Banduseela, science fiction translator, to Amazing Science Exhibition & Event in Colombo as part of the French Spring Festival.
‘Pulp magazines’ is a generic term for inexpensive magazines published in the United States from 1896 to the 1950s. They provided popular entertainment, especially before broadcast television became well established, and carried illustrated short stories and serialized stories in categories like adventure, travel, detective and science fiction.
This illustrated presentation will look at the role pulp magazines played in promoting science fiction writing and reading as part of 20th century popular culture. Many who later became mainstream writers, such as Robert A Heinlein, Arthur C Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury first established themselves by writing to such publications.
In this talk, we look at how pulp science fiction inspired scientific discovery and innovation in areas as diverse as space exploration, computer science, robotics, evolution and materials science. We will also show part of a 2010 documentary titled ‘PULP FICTION: The Golden Age of Sci Fi, Fantasy and Advent’.
Nalaka Gunawardene - Belling the Policy Cats - Talk to PEER Science Asia Conf...
Presentation by science writer Nalaka Gunawardene to PEER Science Participants’ Conference 2013, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 1 to 4 Oct 2013. It brought together over 40 principal investigators and other senior researchers from over a dozen Asian countries who are participating in Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) Science program. PEER Science is a grant program implemented by the (US) National Academies of Science on behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and in cooperation with the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Details at: http://sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/dsc/peerscience/PGA_071746
21st Century Demons & Public Health in Sri Lanka by Nalaka Gunawardene, 24 se...
21st Century Demons & Public Health in Sri Lanka. Plenary presentation made at the Annual Sessions of the College of Community Physicians Sri Lanka, in Colombo, 24 Sep 2013.
Nalaka Gunawardene - AMS 2013 - Pandemics & Broadcasting workshop opening
Opening remarks to Asian broadcasters workshop on Pandemics & Broadcasting during Asia Media Summit 2013 held in Manado, Indonesia, where I was facilitator and a speaker.
Communicating Climate Change - Session with Panos South Asia Media Fellows - ...
Presentation made by science writer Nalaka Gunawardene to Panos South Asia Climate Change Media Fellows at a regional workshop in Kathmandu, Nepal, from 23 to 25 April 2013.
This is part of a Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) project for enhancing climate change awareness and understanding among journalists in South Asia. The project, which is currently in its second phase, has already produced several quality outputs across the region on Climate change–related issues.
Details at http://www.panossouthasia.org/Left_read.asp?leftStoryId=224&leftSectionId=3
More from Nalaka Gunawardene (20)
Right to Information Matters Most to Citizens - by Nalaka Gunawardene
Right to Information Matters Most to Citizens - by Nalaka Gunawardene
Info Society Rising in Sri Lanka: Are You Ready? by Nalaka Gunawardene, 27 Ja...
Info Society Rising in Sri Lanka: Are You Ready? by Nalaka Gunawardene, 27 Ja...
Crying Wolf in the Global Village: Managing Disaster Early Warnings in the Ag...
Crying Wolf in the Global Village: Managing Disaster Early Warnings in the Ag...
Mass Kidney Failure and Mass Media Failure in Sri Lanka - by Nalaka Gunawarde...
Mass Kidney Failure and Mass Media Failure in Sri Lanka - by Nalaka Gunawarde...
We the People in the Social Media Age – by Nalaka Gunawardene, Yangon - 10 De...
We the People in the Social Media Age – by Nalaka Gunawardene, Yangon - 10 De...
Diplomacy and Foreign Relations in the Social Media Age: By Nalaka Gunawarden...
Diplomacy and Foreign Relations in the Social Media Age: By Nalaka Gunawarden...
Open Data, Open Government & Open Minds - by Nalaka Gunawardene - 15 Oct 2015
Open Data, Open Government & Open Minds - by Nalaka Gunawardene - 15 Oct 2015
Grassroots Journalism in the Digital Age - by Nalaka Gunawardene
Grassroots Journalism in the Digital Age - by Nalaka Gunawardene
Managing Religious and Communal Tensions in the Digital Age - by Nalaka Gunaw...
Managing Religious and Communal Tensions in the Digital Age - by Nalaka Gunaw...
Media Reforms in Sri Lanka - Highlights of a Rapid Assessment by Nalaka Gunaw...
Media Reforms in Sri Lanka - Highlights of a Rapid Assessment by Nalaka Gunaw...
Media Reforms in Sri Lanka - Some Big Picture Ideas by Nalaka Gunawardene
Media Reforms in Sri Lanka - Some Big Picture Ideas by Nalaka Gunawardene
Ride Your Imagination to Space – by Nalaka Gunawardene
Ride Your Imagination to Space – by Nalaka Gunawardene
Public Perceptions of Pesticides & How They Influence Policy - By Nalaka Gun...
Public Perceptions of Pesticides & How They Influence Policy - By Nalaka Gun...
Emerging Digital Democracy? Social Media & Sri Lanka's Presidential Election ...
Emerging Digital Democracy? Social Media & Sri Lanka's Presidential Election ...
Mind the Gap between Perceptions & Reality - Nalaka Gunawardene keynote to He...
Mind the Gap between Perceptions & Reality - Nalaka Gunawardene keynote to He...
Long shadow of Pulp Science Fiction: Popular culture for promoting science an...
Long shadow of Pulp Science Fiction: Popular culture for promoting science an...
Nalaka Gunawardene - Belling the Policy Cats - Talk to PEER Science Asia Conf...
Nalaka Gunawardene - Belling the Policy Cats - Talk to PEER Science Asia Conf...
21st Century Demons & Public Health in Sri Lanka by Nalaka Gunawardene, 24 se...
21st Century Demons & Public Health in Sri Lanka by Nalaka Gunawardene, 24 se...
Nalaka Gunawardene - AMS 2013 - Pandemics & Broadcasting workshop opening
Nalaka Gunawardene - AMS 2013 - Pandemics & Broadcasting workshop opening
Communicating Climate Change - Session with Panos South Asia Media Fellows - ...
Communicating Climate Change - Session with Panos South Asia Media Fellows - ...
Recently uploaded
Optimizing Post Remediation Groundwater Performance with Enhanced Microbiolog...
Results of geophysics and pneumatic injection pilot tests during 2003 – 2007 yielded significant positive results for injection delivery design and contaminant mass treatment, resulting in permanent shut-down of an existing groundwater Pump & Treat system.
Accessible source areas were subsequently removed (2011) by soil excavation and treated with the placement of Emulsified Vegetable Oil EVO and zero-valent iron ZVI to accelerate treatment of impacted groundwater in overburden and weathered fractured bedrock. Post pilot test and post remediation groundwater monitoring has included analyses of CVOCs, organic fatty acids, dissolved gases and QuantArray® -Chlor to quantify key microorganisms (e.g., Dehalococcoides, Dehalobacter, etc.) and functional genes (e.g., vinyl chloride reductase, methane monooxygenase, etc.) to assess potential for reductive dechlorination and aerobic cometabolism of CVOCs.
In 2022, the first commercial application of MetaArray™ was performed at the site. MetaArray™ utilizes statistical analysis, such as principal component analysis and multivariate analysis to provide evidence that reductive dechlorination is active or even that it is slowing. This creates actionable data allowing users to save money by making important site management decisions earlier.
The results of the MetaArray™ analysis’ support vector machine (SVM) identified groundwater monitoring wells with a 80% confidence that were characterized as either Limited for Reductive Decholorination or had a High Reductive Reduction Dechlorination potential. The results of MetaArray™ will be used to further optimize the site’s post remediation monitoring program for monitored natural attenuation.
Improving the viability of probiotics by encapsulation methods for developmen...
Improving the viability of probiotics by encapsulation methods for developmen...Open Access Research Paper
The popularity of functional foods among scientists and common people has been increasing day by day. Awareness and modernization make the consumer think better regarding food and nutrition. Now a day’s individual knows very well about the relation between food consumption and disease prevalence. Humans have a diversity of microbes in the gut that together form the gut microflora. Probiotics are the health-promoting live microbial cells improve host health through gut and brain connection and fighting against harmful bacteria. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are the two bacterial genera which are considered to be probiotic. These good bacteria are facing challenges of viability. There are so many factors such as sensitivity to heat, pH, acidity, osmotic effect, mechanical shear, chemical components, freezing and storage time as well which affects the viability of probiotics in the dairy food matrix as well as in the gut. Multiple efforts have been done in the past and ongoing in present for these beneficial microbial population stability until their destination in the gut. One of a useful technique known as microencapsulation makes the probiotic effective in the diversified conditions and maintain these microbe’s community to the optimum level for achieving targeted benefits. Dairy products are found to be an ideal vehicle for probiotic incorporation. It has been seen that the encapsulated microbial cells show higher viability than the free cells in different processing and storage conditions as well as against bile salts in the gut. They make the food functional when incorporated, without affecting the product sensory characteristics.
Peatland Management in Indonesia, Science to Policy and Knowledge Education
Peatland Management in Indonesia, Science to Policy and Knowledge EducationGlobal Landscapes Forum (GLF)
Presented by Feri Johana at GLF Peatlands 2024 - 360 Degree Approach to Improving Capacity of Multiple Stakeholders to Manage Peatland SustainablyOverview of the Global Peatlands Assessment
Presented by Patrick Scheel at GLF Peatlands 2024 - The Global Peatlands Assessment: Mapping, Policy, and Action
Enhanced action and stakeholder engagement for sustainable peatland management
Enhanced action and stakeholder engagement for sustainable peatland managementGlobal Landscapes Forum (GLF)
Presented by Jan Peters at GLF Peatlands 2024 - The Global Peatlands Assessment: Mapping, Policy, and Action在线办理(lboro毕业证书)拉夫堡大学毕业证学历证书一模一样
学校原件一模一样【微信：741003700 】《(lboro毕业证书)拉夫堡大学毕业证学历证书》【微信：741003700 】学位证，留信认证（真实可查，永久存档）原件一模一样纸张工艺/offer、雅思、外壳等材料/诚信可靠,可直接看成品样本，帮您解决无法毕业带来的各种难题！外壳，原版制作，诚信可靠，可直接看成品样本。行业标杆！精益求精，诚心合作，真诚制作！多年品质 ,按需精细制作，24小时接单,全套进口原装设备。十五年致力于帮助留学生解决难题，包您满意。
本公司拥有海外各大学样板无数，能完美还原。
1:1完美还原海外各大学毕业材料上的工艺：水印，阴影底纹，钢印LOGO烫金烫银，LOGO烫金烫银复合重叠。文字图案浮雕、激光镭射、紫外荧光、温感、复印防伪等防伪工艺。材料咨询办理、认证咨询办理请加学历顾问Q/微741003700
【主营项目】
一.毕业证【q微741003700】成绩单、使馆认证、教育部认证、雅思托福成绩单、学生卡等！
二.真实使馆公证(即留学回国人员证明,不成功不收费)
三.真实教育部学历学位认证（教育部存档！教育部留服网站永久可查）
四.办理各国各大学文凭(一对一专业服务,可全程监控跟踪进度)
如果您处于以下几种情况：
◇在校期间，因各种原因未能顺利毕业……拿不到官方毕业证【q/微741003700】
◇面对父母的压力，希望尽快拿到；
◇不清楚认证流程以及材料该如何准备；
◇回国时间很长，忘记办理；
◇回国马上就要找工作，办给用人单位看；
◇企事业单位必须要求办理的
◇需要报考公务员、购买免税车、落转户口
◇申请留学生创业基金
留信网认证的作用:
1:该专业认证可证明留学生真实身份
2:同时对留学生所学专业登记给予评定
3:国家专业人才认证中心颁发入库证书
4:这个认证书并且可以归档倒地方
5:凡事获得留信网入网的信息将会逐步更新到个人身份内，将在公安局网内查询个人身份证信息后，同步读取人才网入库信息
6:个人职称评审加20分
7:个人信誉贷款加10分
8:在国家人才网主办的国家网络招聘大会中纳入资料，供国家高端企业选择人才
Promoting Multilateral Cooperation for Sustainable Peatland management
Presented by Agus Julianto on GLF Peatlands 2024 - 360 Degree Approach to Improving Capacity of Multiple Stakeholders to Manage Peatland Sustainably
Global Peatlands Map and Hotspot Explanation Atlas
Presented by Alexandra Barthelmes at GLF Peatlands 2024 - The Global Peatlands Assessment: Mapping, Policy, and Action
Wildlife-AnIntroduction.pdf so that you know more about our environment
All about wildlife, if you are fond of animals and wildlife then do follow us for more content like this
Microbial characterisation and identification, and potability of River Kuywa ...
Microbial characterisation and identification, and potability of River Kuywa ...Open Access Research Paper
Water contamination is one of the major causes of water borne diseases worldwide. In Kenya, approximately 43% of people lack access to potable water due to human contamination. River Kuywa water is currently experiencing contamination due to human activities. Its water is widely used for domestic, agricultural, industrial and recreational purposes. This study aimed at characterizing bacteria and fungi in river Kuywa water. Water samples were randomly collected from four sites of the river: site A (Matisi), site B (Ngwelo), site C (Nzoia water pump) and site D (Chalicha), during the dry season (January-March 2018) and wet season (April-July 2018) and were transported to Maseno University Microbiology and plant pathology laboratory for analysis. The characterization and identification of bacteria and fungi were carried out using standard microbiological techniques. Nine bacterial genera and three fungi were identified from Kuywa river water. Clostridium spp., Staphylococcus spp., Enterobacter spp., Streptococcus spp., E. coli, Klebsiella spp., Shigella spp., Proteus spp. and Salmonella spp. Fungi were Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus flavus complex and Penicillium species. Wet season recorded highest bacterial and fungal counts (6.61-7.66 and 3.83-6.75cfu/ml) respectively. The results indicated that the river Kuywa water is polluted and therefore unsafe for human consumption before treatment. It is therefore recommended that the communities to ensure that they boil water especially for drinking.
Environment Conservation Rules 2023 (ECR)-2023.pptx
Bangladesh Environment Conservation Rules 2023 (ECR-2023).
Evolving Lifecycles with High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC) and 3-D...
The incorporation of a 3DCSM and completion of HRSC provided a tool for enhanced, data-driven, decisions to support a change in remediation closure strategies. Currently, an approved pilot study has been obtained to shut-down the remediation systems (ISCO, P&T) and conduct a hydraulic study under non-pumping conditions. A separate micro-biological bench scale treatability study was competed that yielded positive results for an emerging innovative technology. As a result, a field pilot study has commenced with results expected in nine-twelve months. With the results of the hydraulic study, field pilot studies and an updated risk assessment leading site monitoring optimization cost lifecycle savings upwards of $15MM towards an alternatively evolved best available technology remediation closure strategy.
Improving the Management of Peatlands and the Capacities of Stakeholders in I...
Improving the Management of Peatlands and the Capacities of Stakeholders in I...Global Landscapes Forum (GLF)
Presented by Sonya Dewi at GLF Peatlands 2024 - 360 Degree Approach to Improving Capacity of Multiple Stakeholders to Manage Peatland SustainablyKinetic studies on malachite green dye adsorption from aqueous solutions by A...
Kinetic studies on malachite green dye adsorption from aqueous solutions by A...Open Access Research Paper
Water polluted by dyestuffs compounds is a global threat to health and the environment; accordingly, we prepared a green novel sorbent chemical and Physical system from an algae, chitosan and chitosan nanoparticle and impregnated with algae with chitosan nanocomposite for the sorption of Malachite green dye from water. The algae with chitosan nanocomposite by a simple method and used as a recyclable and effective adsorbent for the removal of malachite green dye from aqueous solutions. Algae, chitosan, chitosan nanoparticle and algae with chitosan nanocomposite were characterized using different physicochemical methods. The functional groups and chemical compounds found in algae, chitosan, chitosan algae, chitosan nanoparticle, and chitosan nanoparticle with algae were identified using FTIR, SEM, and TGADTA/DTG techniques. The optimal adsorption conditions, different dosages, pH and Temperature the amount of algae with chitosan nanocomposite were determined. At optimized conditions and the batch equilibrium studies more than 99% of the dye was removed. The adsorption process data matched well kinetics showed that the reaction order for dye varied with pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order. Furthermore, the maximum adsorption capacity of the algae with chitosan nanocomposite toward malachite green dye reached as high as 15.5mg/g, respectively. Finally, multiple times reusing of algae with chitosan nanocomposite and removing dye from a real wastewater has made it a promising and attractive option for further practical applications.
原版制作(Newcastle毕业证书)纽卡斯尔大学毕业证在读证明一模一样
学校原件一模一样【微信：741003700 】《(Newcastle毕业证书)纽卡斯尔大学毕业证》【微信：741003700 】学位证，留信认证（真实可查，永久存档）原件一模一样纸张工艺/offer、雅思、外壳等材料/诚信可靠,可直接看成品样本，帮您解决无法毕业带来的各种难题！外壳，原版制作，诚信可靠，可直接看成品样本。行业标杆！精益求精，诚心合作，真诚制作！多年品质 ,按需精细制作，24小时接单,全套进口原装设备。十五年致力于帮助留学生解决难题，包您满意。
本公司拥有海外各大学样板无数，能完美还原。
1:1完美还原海外各大学毕业材料上的工艺：水印，阴影底纹，钢印LOGO烫金烫银，LOGO烫金烫银复合重叠。文字图案浮雕、激光镭射、紫外荧光、温感、复印防伪等防伪工艺。材料咨询办理、认证咨询办理请加学历顾问Q/微741003700
【主营项目】
一.毕业证【q微741003700】成绩单、使馆认证、教育部认证、雅思托福成绩单、学生卡等！
二.真实使馆公证(即留学回国人员证明,不成功不收费)
三.真实教育部学历学位认证（教育部存档！教育部留服网站永久可查）
四.办理各国各大学文凭(一对一专业服务,可全程监控跟踪进度)
如果您处于以下几种情况：
◇在校期间，因各种原因未能顺利毕业……拿不到官方毕业证【q/微741003700】
◇面对父母的压力，希望尽快拿到；
◇不清楚认证流程以及材料该如何准备；
◇回国时间很长，忘记办理；
◇回国马上就要找工作，办给用人单位看；
◇企事业单位必须要求办理的
◇需要报考公务员、购买免税车、落转户口
◇申请留学生创业基金
留信网认证的作用:
1:该专业认证可证明留学生真实身份
2:同时对留学生所学专业登记给予评定
3:国家专业人才认证中心颁发入库证书
4:这个认证书并且可以归档倒地方
5:凡事获得留信网入网的信息将会逐步更新到个人身份内，将在公安局网内查询个人身份证信息后，同步读取人才网入库信息
6:个人职称评审加20分
7:个人信誉贷款加10分
8:在国家人才网主办的国家网络招聘大会中纳入资料，供国家高端企业选择人才
Peatlands of Latin America and the Caribbean
Presented by The Global Peatlands Assessment: Mapping, Policy, and Action at GLF Peatlands 2024 - The Global Peatlands Assessment: Mapping, Policy, and Action
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances, which is also known as t...
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances, which is also known as the Directive 2002/95/EC. It includes the restrictions for the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment. RoHS is a WEEE (Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment).
原版制作(Manitoba毕业证书)曼尼托巴大学毕业证学位证一模一样
学校原件一模一样【微信：741003700 】《(Manitoba毕业证书)曼尼托巴大学毕业证学位证》【微信：741003700 】学位证，留信认证（真实可查，永久存档）原件一模一样纸张工艺/offer、雅思、外壳等材料/诚信可靠,可直接看成品样本，帮您解决无法毕业带来的各种难题！外壳，原版制作，诚信可靠，可直接看成品样本。行业标杆！精益求精，诚心合作，真诚制作！多年品质 ,按需精细制作，24小时接单,全套进口原装设备。十五年致力于帮助留学生解决难题，包您满意。
本公司拥有海外各大学样板无数，能完美还原。
1:1完美还原海外各大学毕业材料上的工艺：水印，阴影底纹，钢印LOGO烫金烫银，LOGO烫金烫银复合重叠。文字图案浮雕、激光镭射、紫外荧光、温感、复印防伪等防伪工艺。材料咨询办理、认证咨询办理请加学历顾问Q/微741003700
【主营项目】
一.毕业证【q微741003700】成绩单、使馆认证、教育部认证、雅思托福成绩单、学生卡等！
二.真实使馆公证(即留学回国人员证明,不成功不收费)
三.真实教育部学历学位认证（教育部存档！教育部留服网站永久可查）
四.办理各国各大学文凭(一对一专业服务,可全程监控跟踪进度)
如果您处于以下几种情况：
◇在校期间，因各种原因未能顺利毕业……拿不到官方毕业证【q/微741003700】
◇面对父母的压力，希望尽快拿到；
◇不清楚认证流程以及材料该如何准备；
◇回国时间很长，忘记办理；
◇回国马上就要找工作，办给用人单位看；
◇企事业单位必须要求办理的
◇需要报考公务员、购买免税车、落转户口
◇申请留学生创业基金
留信网认证的作用:
1:该专业认证可证明留学生真实身份
2:同时对留学生所学专业登记给予评定
3:国家专业人才认证中心颁发入库证书
4:这个认证书并且可以归档倒地方
5:凡事获得留信网入网的信息将会逐步更新到个人身份内，将在公安局网内查询个人身份证信息后，同步读取人才网入库信息
6:个人职称评审加20分
7:个人信誉贷款加10分
8:在国家人才网主办的国家网络招聘大会中纳入资料，供国家高端企业选择人才
Epcon is One of the World's leading Manufacturing Companies.
Epcon is One of the World's leading Manufacturing Companies. With over 4000 installations worldwide, EPCON has been pioneering new techniques since 1977 that have become industry standards now. Founded in 1977, Epcon has grown from a one-man operation to a global leader in developing and manufacturing innovative air pollution control technology and industrial heating equipment.
Recently uploaded (20)
Optimizing Post Remediation Groundwater Performance with Enhanced Microbiolog...
Optimizing Post Remediation Groundwater Performance with Enhanced Microbiolog...
Improving the viability of probiotics by encapsulation methods for developmen...
Improving the viability of probiotics by encapsulation methods for developmen...
Peatland Management in Indonesia, Science to Policy and Knowledge Education
Peatland Management in Indonesia, Science to Policy and Knowledge Education
Enhanced action and stakeholder engagement for sustainable peatland management
Enhanced action and stakeholder engagement for sustainable peatland management
Promoting Multilateral Cooperation for Sustainable Peatland management
Promoting Multilateral Cooperation for Sustainable Peatland management
Global Peatlands Map and Hotspot Explanation Atlas
Global Peatlands Map and Hotspot Explanation Atlas
Wildlife-AnIntroduction.pdf so that you know more about our environment
Wildlife-AnIntroduction.pdf so that you know more about our environment
Microbial characterisation and identification, and potability of River Kuywa ...
Microbial characterisation and identification, and potability of River Kuywa ...
Environment Conservation Rules 2023 (ECR)-2023.pptx
Environment Conservation Rules 2023 (ECR)-2023.pptx
world-environment-day-2024-240601103559-14f4c0b4.pptx
world-environment-day-2024-240601103559-14f4c0b4.pptx
Evolving Lifecycles with High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC) and 3-D...
Evolving Lifecycles with High Resolution Site Characterization (HRSC) and 3-D...
Improving the Management of Peatlands and the Capacities of Stakeholders in I...
Improving the Management of Peatlands and the Capacities of Stakeholders in I...
Kinetic studies on malachite green dye adsorption from aqueous solutions by A...
Kinetic studies on malachite green dye adsorption from aqueous solutions by A...
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances, which is also known as t...
RoHS stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances, which is also known as t...
Epcon is One of the World's leading Manufacturing Companies.
Epcon is One of the World's leading Manufacturing Companies.
Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019): Good Journalism, Epitomised!
- 1. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) Good Journalism, Epitomised By Nalaka Gunawardene Science writer, Sri Lanka GreenAccord International Online Seminar: 5 August 2020
- 2. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Twitter: 10:38 AM · 17 March 2019
- 3. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Darryl as a trail-blazer: inspired us all! “Darryl led by example in reporting, analysis, public speaking…and also in having fun doing all that. “He showed us that even in times of turbulence for the media, it is still possible to aspire to the highest professional standards…” At GreenAccord International Forum 2013
- 4. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Darryl: He walked his talk! • He was the Elder Statesman of Environmental Journalism in South Asia and beyond. • In 30 years I knew him, I learnt so much -- by being in his company, listening to him, and reading his thoughtful and prolific output. • For all of this and more, I am deeply grateful…
- 5. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised 5 key lessons I learnt from Darryl: #1: Good journalism needs no other labels Time-honoured basic values: Accuracy Balance Credibility Darryl also added: Diversity (of sources, perspectives) Empathy (caring for humans, nature)
- 6. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised #2: Connect Big Picture & micro insights • Good Journalism: trying to make sense of our complex world • Context matters – both local and global + now & how we got here • Reflective journalism needs adequate research: field investigations + reading scientific studies + interviews
- 7. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Keeping an eye on changing media trends “Even if the big media is neglecting its role to comfort the afflicted, the baton will quickly be picked up, given the rapid advance of information technology, by the citizen journalist. With growing evidence of climate change throughout Asia…the citizen journalist can only play a bigger role…on reporting the situation on the ground…” – Darryl D’Monte, in Overview of Asia Media Report 2009 he edited
- 8. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised #3: Probe unlikely issues/stories Example: Billions still don’t have toilets! South Asian Conclave on Sanitation: SACOSAN IV Colombo, Sri Lanka. December 2009
- 9. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Shit matters! “He was the first to tell us you could write about toilets and manual scavenging; we spent a day talking about nothing but shit…” - Keya Acharya, at Memorial for Darryl at Mumbai Press Club
- 10. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised #4: Question everything, including all experts…
- 11. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Example: Politics of Climate Change “The idea that developing countries like India and China must share the blame for heating up the earth and destablising its climate, as espoused in a recent study published in the United States by the WRI in collaboration with the UN, is an excellent example of environmental colonialism.” - Anil Agarwal & Sunita Narain, 1991 http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/conte nt/253824/global-warming-in-an-unequal-world- a-case-of-environmental-colonialism/
- 12. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Darryl helped explain & amplify CSE’s analysis • This was the first time the issue of equity was raised in the context of global warming. • Darryl called it “an exceptional occasion when a South Asian journalist [Anil Agarwal] changed a global development paradigm.”
- 13. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Science and Politics of Climate Change “Climate change is as much politics as it is science, and Anil [Agarwal] was well aware of that. He entered all debates well armed with statistics, analysis and a clear southern perspective -- which is also the Down to Earth magazine’s editorial approach to issues...” - Darryl D’Monte speaking at Greenaccord 2013 Forum, accepting award on behalf of Down to Earth magazine
- 14. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised #5: Journalism fraternity matters: network! • Journalism as a global enterprise: no borders! • We must help each other to do stories + publish each other + cheer others • GreenAccord International (photo from 2006 Forum) • International Federation of Environmental Journalists • COMPlus Alliance
- 15. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised
- 16. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Goodbye Darryl: it was an honour to have been your friend + to have shared your time & space… Between 2002 and 2012, Darryl joined Kunda Dixit of Nepal (left) and Nalaka Gunawardene of Sri Lanka (right) in training many journalists across Asia on ozone depletion and climate issues on behalf of UN Environment (UNEP)
- 17. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Waiting at the entrance of Paradise? The Maldives, 11 May 2011
- 18. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised Many fond memories; Never a dull moment!
- 19. Saluting Darryl D’Monte (1944-2019) – Good Journalism, Epitomised “There is never a good time for anyone to go, but this was not a good time for Darryl to go. His sane voice is needed today more than ever before…” – Kalpana Sharma, senior journalist and mutual friend