The Sri Lanka Association of Science Communicators (SLASC) is an organization that represents journalists, academics, researchers, students and citizens who are engaged in science communication in various ways. SLASC held its inaugural annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday, 10th October 2019 at the auditorium of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science, Colombo 7. The initial steps to form this association were taken at a special journalist training program held at Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC) in November 2018. Since then, a dedicated group of science communicators, with the help of prominent mentors in Sri Lanka, have kept the momentum going, culminating in SLASC becoming officially active at this AGM.
This association is an independent organization functioning on its own, with the guidance and supervision of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS). Mr. Sisira Kumara, an editor from the Sri Lankan Scientist Magazine acts as the Founding President of SLASC while senior science communicators including Mr. Nalaka Gunawardena, Dr. Jayantha Waththawidana, Prof. Manuj Krishantha, Prof. Sanath Hettiarachchi, and Mr. Thilina Kiringoda serve as the advisory committee of the association.
During the inaugural AGM of SLASC, Mr. Nalaka Gunawardena, a renowned senior science writer, delivered the guest speech of the event. In his speech he talked about how science communicators in the past fought against pseudo-scientific myths that arises from within n the Sri Lankan Society from time to time. He specially recalled the contributions of late Prof. Carlo Fonseka as a good science communicator to the Sri Lankan society.
Members of the association, media personnel, scientists, university students and other science communicators participated the meeting. SLASC invites all people in Sri Lanka who are engaged in science communication to join the association and actively take part in its efforts to uplift the science communication in Sri Lanka.
