IEEE UNIVERSITY OF MORATUWA STUDENT BRANCH [SRI LANKA SECTION]

Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon) 2020

Awishka Thuduwage, Secretary for IEEE University of Moratuwa Student Branch

MERCon 2020 is the sixth edition of the international engineering research conference organized by the Engineering Research Unit (ERU) of University of Moratuwa in collaboration with the IEEE University of Moratuwa Student Branch. Due to the unprecedented condition caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, MERCon 2020 had to be reorganized as a fully virtual conference with the aim of achieving its objectives as usual. The conference was held from 28th to 30th July 2020.

More than 100 papers from nearly all disciplines of engineering were accepted and presented fully at the conference. The conference proceedings will be submitted for publication to IEEEXplore soon. The keynotes of the event were delivered by Prof. Suranga Nanayakkara (The University of Auckland, New Zealand), Prof. Soumyajit Mandal (University sof Florida, USA) and Prof. Dzung Viet Dao (Griffith School of Engineering, Australia).

First Ever PELS Movement in Sri Lanka with Prof. Frede Blaabjerg

Kasuni Wanninayake, Secretary for IEEE University of Moratuwa PELS Student Chapter

IEEE University of Moratuwa Power Electronics Society (PELS) Student Chapter is the first ever PELS Organizational Unit in Sri Lanka which was established on 18th May 2020. The founding Executive Committee for the term 2020/2021 was appointed in the initial General Meeting. Further a Webinar on “Climbing the ladder of leadership with IEEE PELS” was organized on 20th June 2020 under PELS Day Celebrations, with 45 participants. During the Webinar, the President of IEEE Power Electronics Society, Prof. Frede Blaabjerg, conducted an informative session to build awareness about leadership paths in PELS. Next, the first Quarter Review Meeting was held to discuss the upcoming events as well as novel suggestions to deliver better outputs through PELS. An orientation program was also held to introduce the opportunities and tasks for the Supportive Committee. On a final note, the IEEE PELS Student Chapter of University of Moratuwa stands as a strong pillar to lead, empower and sustain the future.

FESTx – An awareness session on IEEE Women in Engineering

Dinithi Amarasinghe, Secretary for IEEE University of Moratuwa WIE AG

FESTx was an online session organized to create awareness on Women in Engineering among the undergraduates of University of Moratuwa. It was held on 16th August 2020, with 70 participants. The event lineup included an inspirational introductory speech by Miss Shakyani Jayasiriwardena, the former chair of IEEE University of Moratuwa WIE AG, and a discussion session with the following women who have excelled in their WIE careers: Dr. Rasara Samarasinghe, Vice Chair of IEEE WIE Sri Lanka; Mrs. Dilrukshi Gamage, member of IEEE R10 Membership & Student Development Committee; Miss Yasumi Wickramasinghe, Country Lead for IEEExtreme 12.0; and Miss Ayomi Gunasekara, Event Chair for IEEE Techno Meetup 19/20. We believe this event was successful in creating awareness and inspiring young engineers to work with WIE, in the journey of creating opportunities and platforms for women engineers to learn and grow in the technology arena.