Rakitha Malewana

Last updated
Rakitha Malewana
Gold Medal at ISPrO 2015.jpg
Born
Nationality Sri Lankan
Education Nalanda College, Colombo,
EmployerDuke Human Vaccine Institute
Known forMedical Research and Social Work

Rakitha Malewana is a Sri Lankan scientist and youth activist. He was awarded the Nalanda Puthra award in 2015 from his alma mater Nalanda College, Colombo and received a presidential medal for innovation and social work from the government of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. In 2016, he was awarded the prestigious Queen's Young Leaders Award by the Royal Commonwealth Society as an honor to his social work on behalf of the HIV positive community. He is one of the youngest honorees of Forbes 30 under 30 Asia 2017.

Contents

Achievements

Malewana does his medical research in collaboration with University of Colombo, Medical Research Institute Sri Lanka, National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, Ministry of Health and Government Analyst's Department Sri Lanka.

He won a gold medal at the International Science Research Olympiad 2015 held in Jakarta, Indonesia in year 2015 [1] and the same year he won another gold medal at the International Environment Sustainability Olympiad 2015, held in The Netherlands [2] [3] [4] becoming the first Sri Lankan to win an Olympiad gold medal at an international competition.

His research on development of novel drug to kill leukemic cells won a bronze medal at the International Science Projects Olympiad 2014 held in Jakarta, Indonesia selected to represent Sri Lanka at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) which is one of the most prestigious science and engineering events in the world calendar for high school students. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

In 2013, he became the national winner of Sri Lanka Science and Engineering Fair (SLSEF) for the second consecutive year for his preliminary study on developing an ayurvedic drug to treat thrombocytopenia and he represented his work at the Intel ISEF 2013 held in Arizona, USA. [10] [11]

Activism

Malewana first started working with HIV/AIDS positive people in 2011 when he visited slum areas to teach sciences to the children of people living with HIV. In 2012, he founded ideanerd Sri Lanka, which encourages school children to get involved in science research and promote an innovation culture. So far, it has helped more than 50,000 students all over the country. In 2015, Rakitha co-founded United Youth Consortium to raise awareness of sexual and reproductive health issues and provide support and counseling to families living with HIV. His movements include fighting with the government to bring justice to HIV positive children who were banned to attend local schools. He is also an advocate for health disparities in developing countries. Malewana collaborate his social work with National STD/AIDS Control Programme Sri Lanka and UNAIDS Sri Lanka. [12] [13] [14]

For his grassroot activism, he was awarded the prestigious Queen's Young Leaders Award in 2016. The Queen's Young Leaders Award is designed to inspire and nurture the talent of exceptional young people from all over the Commonwealth and they can create and lead others towards securing positive changes in communities. The award was presented by her majesty the queen Elizabeth II at the Buckingham Palace. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Science and Engineering Fair</span> Annual science fair in the U.S.

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) is an annual science fair in the United States. It is owned and administered by the Society for Science, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. Each May, more than 1800 students from roughly 75 countries and territories compete in the fair for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prizes, including one $75,000 and two $50,000 college scholarships. All prizes together amount to over $8,000,000. Two major awards ceremonies are the Special Awards Organization Presentation and the Grand Awards Ceremony. The International Science and Engineering Fair was founded in 1950 by Science Service and was sponsored by Intel from 1997 to 2019. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals became the title sponsor for ISEF in 2020, but the event was cancelled that year and replaced with an online version due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 ISEF was a fully virtual event while 2022 was held online and in-person in Atlanta, GA, and 2023 was in person in Dallas, TX. The 2024 ISEF was held in person in Los Angeles, CA. The 2025 ISEF will be held in Columbus, OH.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University High School (Irvine, California)</span> Comprehensive high school in Irvine, California, United States

University High School is one of six public high schools serving grades 9-12 in the city of Irvine, California, United States. It was established in 1970 and is situated on 55 acres (22 ha) of land in the southwestern portion of the city, adjacent to the University of California, Irvine (UCI).

Started in 1962, the Canadian-Wide Science Fair (CWSF) is an annual science fair in Canada coordinated by Youth Science Canada. Finalists qualify from approximately 25,000 competitors at over 100 Youth Science Canada-affiliated regional science fairs in every province and territory, or, in the province of Quebec, the provincial science fair.

The Intel Foundation Achievement Awards are US$5,000 scholarships presented to high school students in recognition of their achievements in the scientific disciplines. Up to 15 are awarded, on selection by a panel of judges, each year at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regional Science High School for Region 1</span> Public high school in La Union, Philippines

Regional Science High School for Region 1 (RSHS) is a Magnet school of the Department of Education (Philippines), established in 1994 by virtue of DECS Order No. 69, s.1993. The school has a curriculum that specializes in science and research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nalanda College, Colombo</span> National school in Colombo, Sri Lanka

Nalanda College is a leading Buddhist school in Sri Lanka where provides primary and secondary education for Sri Lankan boys. The school was established by P. de S. Kularatne as an offshoot of Ananda College Colombo and was registered as a separate school on 1 November 1924.

Larry Zhixing Hu was awarded minor planet name 18739 Larryhu during the 2003 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Cleveland, Ohio for his grand award-winning computer science team project named "A Liquid-based Thermoelectric Application for Processor Architecture Scalability". The year prior, Larry was a member of the first team to be sent to ISEF from the state of Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayugan National Comprehensive High School</span> Public high school in Agusan del Sur, Philippines

Bayugan National Comprehensive High School (BNCHS) (Filipino:PambansangMataas na Paaralang Komprehinsibo ng Bayugan), popularly known as Compre, is a public, coeducational, comprehensive high school in Bayugan, Agusan del Sur, Philippines.

Central Mindanao University Laboratory High School (CMULHS) is a secondary science laboratory school in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon, Philippines. CMULHS is under the management of the Central Mindanao University–College of Education as a separate department and maintains its own set of administrators Central Mindanao University Laboratory High School (CMULHS) is a secondary school located within the Central Mindanao University campus in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon, Philippines. It is affiliated with Central Mindanao University. CMULHS offers various academic and extracurricular activities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abhaya Induruwa</span>

Abhaya Induruwa is the inaugural Professor V K Samaranayake Endowed Professor of Computing, University of Colombo School of Computing, Sri Lanka. Having served as the Director of Cyber Innovation Hub he recently retired from the Canterbury Christ Church University in the United Kingdom where he researched into security and forensic investigation of Internet of Things (IoT). Currently he is engaged in promoting IoT in digital agriculture as a disruptive technology, primarily in developing countries, leading to smart agriculture resulting in higher yields in food production. Induruwa is considered the father of Internet in Sri Lanka.

Thiago David Olson is a venture capitalist, electrical engineer and entrepreneur. Olson is the co-founder and CEO of Stratos Technologies, Inc., creators of the Stratos Card. As an electrical engineer Olson became known as a teenager for his research in Nuclear Fusion and Neutron Sciences. As a 17-year-old, attending Stoney Creek High School in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Olson created a homemade nuclear fusion reactor. In his article Neutron activation analysis using an inertial electrostatic confinement fusion device he indicated that his apparatus did not produce surplus energy.

Param Jaggi is an American inventor and the CEO of Hatch Technologies. Previously, he was founder and CEO of EcoViate. He is known for building Algae Mobile, a device that converts carbon dioxide emitted from a car into oxygen. Jaggi was featured in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2011 and 2012.

Samuel Wheelhouse is a young British inventor and engineer. His work includes the AutoDock and Man Overboard! systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Al-Bairaq</span>

AL-Bairaq is a non-profit educational outreach program for high school students, allowing them to learn at the research environment in the Center for Advanced Materials (CAM) at Qatar University, in Doha, Qatar. Students engage in scientific activities which aim to enhance their skills and motivation, and guide them in their future career. Students attend modules in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salim Abdool Karim</span> South African medical researcher

Salim S. Abdool Karim, MBChB, MMed, MS(Epi), FFPHM, FFPath (Virol), DipData, PhD, DSc(hc), FRS is a South African public health physician, epidemiologist and virologist who has played a leading role in the AIDS and COVID-19 pandemic. His scientific contributions have impacted the landscape of HIV prevention and treatment, saving thousands of lives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City Science and Engineering Fair</span>

The New York City Science and Engineering Fair (NYCSEF) is an annual science fair contested by around 700 high school students from Queens, Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island, making it the largest high school research competition in New York City. About 150 participants advance to the finals round. Awards include scholarships to study at CUNY's City College of New York and Hunter College, while the finalists win a trip to represent New York City at the International Science and Engineering Fair. Winners represent Team NYC at ISEF and compete for $4,000,000 in awards. The event is sponsored by the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) and the City University of New York (CUNY) Office of Academic Affairs. Other science fairs include the Google Science Fair, Siemens Science Fair, Intel STS and Junior Science and Humanities Symposium.

Arsh Shah Dilbagi is an Indian scientist, inventor and roboticist. He completed his undergraduate at Princeton University studying Operations Research and Financial Engineering. He is the founder of Arido about which very little has been made public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Deans</span> Canadian-British inventor

Alexander Deans is a Canadian-British inventor, engineer, and physician. He became Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Youth Leader for Canada at Buckingham Palace. At age 12, he created the "iAid", a navigation device for the blind which won the Canada-Wide Science Fair in the intermediate category and several awards at the 2014 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

Sentinus is a educational charity based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland that provides educational programs for young people interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Anjali Chadha is an American bioengineer. She is an ambassador for AAAS If/Then. She was named a 2020 Voices Of the Year, by Seventeen magazine.

References

  1. Nalandians Rakitha and Rananjaya win Gold at ISPRO 2015
  2. INESPO Congratulations!! Archived 2015-09-24 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Winners of INESPO 2015
  4. International Environment Sustainability Olympiad
  5. Science Research Project Competition(SRPC) 2013
  6. 4 Lankan kids to attend Intel ISEF competition
  7. Sri Lankan Green Tea as a treatment for Leukeamia
  8. Intel – International Science and Engineering Program
  9. Sri Lankan students achieve success in the Intel - International Science and Engineering Program
  10. Nalanda Students Find a Cure forLeukemia from Green Tea
  11. SRI LANKA SCIENCE & ENGINEERING FAIR (SLSEF)2014
  12. Two Sri Lankans receive Queen’s Young Leader Award
  13. ANC Education supports emerging scientists
  14. Rakitha’s Story
  15. Sri Lanka winners to receive special award from Queen