NASTEC

14th YSF Annual Research Symposium 2026 of the Young Scientists Forum (YSF)

The Young Scientists Forum (YSF) of Sri Lanka is hosted by the National Science & Technology Commission (NASTEC) as a consultative forum of the institute. The YSF Research Symposium which was initiated in 2012 has become a popular event with the main objective of providing a platform for young scientists to promote collaborative research by sharing research findings and research interests in different fields while creating a space for networking.

NASTEC has organized its 14th YSF Research Symposium on 30th January 2026 from 9.00 a.m. onward as a one day event at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo 07.

The symposium was initiated with an Inauguration Ceremony and Prof. Rohan Fernando, Chairman of NASTEC welcomed the gathering which consisted of Ministry of Science and Technology officials, Heads of S&T Institutes under Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as authors of the papers to be presented at the symposium and YSF members. Prof. Amila Sandaruwan Ratnayake, Dean & Professor in Geology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Uva Wellassa University, and also the winner of the NASTEC Young Scientist Award for Research 2025, presented the Keynote Address under the title “Earth Science for a Changing Planet: Lessons from a Young Scientist’s Journey”.

The E-Proceedings of the 14th YSF Symposium, YSF Thematic Chapter E-Publication under the title ‘Multidisciplinary Approaches for National Development in Sri Lanka through Advances in Science and Green Technology’, and the 1st Issue of YSF E-Magazine ‘Science and Technology Letters’, were also launched at the inauguration ceremony by the Chief Editors, Dr. Sumudu Mapa, Dr. Upanith Liyanaarachchi, and Dr. Asanka Rajapaksha, respectively.

The 60 research presented in seven parallel technical sessions were published in extended abstract and full paper format in the E-Proceedings of the symposium.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the YSF was also held on 30th January 2026 and a new 15 member steering committee for YSF for the year 2026 was elected to coordinate future YSF activities.

14th YSF Annual Research Symposium 2026 of the Young Scientists Forum (YSF) Photos