The Peradeniya University’s Postgraduate Institute of Science (PGIS) will hold its 12th Annual Research Congress, RESCON, this year, on 7 and 8 November.
Organised by the Board of Study in the Chemical Sciences, it is expected to feature more than 240 research presentations, including both oral and poster sessions, from local and international scientists representing a wide range of disciplines.
The congress will place special emphasis on the physical sciences. Presentations will focus on renewable energy, nanotechnology, photochemistry, quantum science, and analytical chemistry – areas that are increasingly shaping the future of technology, industry, and sustainability.
Researchers are expected to present work on innovative solar cell designs, molecular-level energy conversion, and the development of functional materials.
The congress is chaired by Prof. Manawadavi Ganehenege, under the guidance of the PGIS Director, Prof. Nanda Balasooriya. The inauguration ceremony on 7 November will feature the Senior Principal Investigator at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, the National University of Singapore, Prof. Jayantha Gunaratne, as the chief guest.
The Dean of Canada’s Windsor University’s Science Faculty, Prof. Claudio Verani and the Vice-Chancellor of the ESOFT University, Prof. Veranja Karunaratne will deliver the keynote addresses. Their presentations will provide global perspectives on science education, research innovation, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Dr. Dushyanthi Dissanayake will deliver the plenary lecture, offering insights into emerging research directions and their relevance to sustainable scientific development.
RESCON 2025 will serve as a platform for multidisciplinary research under six broad themes: the life sciences, physical sciences, information and communications technology, mathematics and statistics, artificial intelligence in the natural sciences and industrial aspects, earth and environmental sciences, and science education.