During her tenure with the University of Peradeniya\u2019s Geology Department, she taught classes and facilitated two proposal writing workshops tailored for geology and physics majors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, she had the unexpected opportunity to delve into research areas of \u201cgreat personal interest\u201d by mentoring and collaborating with two undergraduate students on their research projects focusing on water quality and microplastics in soils. The results from their water quality project have been submitted for publication, and their study on microplastics remains ongoing with promising developments.<\/p>\n<\/div> <\/p>\n\n\n\n But what Gamage describes as a standout moment is when she discovered Sri Lanka\u2019s wealth of critical mineral resources, namely graphite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGiven graphite’s pivotal role in electric vehicle (EV) batteries and its global demand, I recognized a potential for Sri Lanka to serve as a supplier to the U.S. market. Engaging in informal discussions with colleagues who are experts in mining and minerals at my host institution, this idea took shape.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon sharing her insight with the executive director of the Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, he facilitated a connection with the economic officer at the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka, which led to discussions on Sri Lanka’s graphite industry and prospects for collaborative research and development with the United States. Subsequently, the U.S. economic officer visited the Geology Department at Peradeniya, where key stakeholders \u2014 including the deputy vice chancellor, key graphite researchers, geology and physics faculty, and industry partners \u2014 convened to explore potential partnerships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis experience has been a profound journey of connecting different organizations and nations for mutual benefit, marking a significant step into uncharted territory for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to learning international diplomacy skills, Gamage also returns with lessons that she will bring into the classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing she realized is the importance of honing communication skills early in a student\u2019s undergraduate career.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile teaching students from freshmen to seniors at the host institution, I noticed that those who lacked presentation skills were often those who had taken online courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. These students had limited opportunities to master oral communication. At ACC, I am teaching online courses and am concerned about how this might be affecting students’ oral communication skills. Now I’m exploring ways to address this issue, especially in the asynchronous courses I teach.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While Gamage has always advocated for research in the first two years of one\u2019s undergraduate career, her experience made her realize its importance, even if resources are scarce. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter observing how impactful research can be \u2014 even those projects done with limited resources at the host institution \u2014 I was inspired to explore out-of-the-box options for ACC students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that she has returned from nearly halfway around the world, one of Gamage\u2019s goals is to inspire the community college population to apply for the Fulbright program. Since 1986, about a dozen ACC faculty members have received a Fulbright Award, including Gamage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThese opportunities have the potential to significantly impact not just their careers but also their livelihoods. I am deeply grateful to the Fulbright program for enabling this transformative experience, which has instilled in me a commitment to pursue meaningful initiatives that strengthen relationships between the U.S. and Sri Lanka.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fulbright is a program of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government, and operates in more than 160 countries. Over 800 individuals teach or conduct research abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/students.austincc.edu\/infohub\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2024\/08\/unnamed-1.png\")
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