Story behind the research: Meet Miyuru Gunathilake!

Miyuru is currently conducting his doctoral research at the University of Oulu while working in collaboration with the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research. For him, societal impact is the key as part of his doctoral studies, but also the collaborative initiatives between research institutions and Global South regions. Join us to get to know Miyuru and what he has to tell us about his experience.

Hello there! My name is Miyuru Gunathilake, I am from Sri Lanka. I am currently pursuing my doctoral degree in Water, Energy, and Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Technology in the University of Oulu while employed at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research. I know that being employed in Norway and studying in Finland at the same time might sound strange, but it actually makes me better appreciate the collaboration between both countries and their institutes.

Going through a doctoral degree can be a challenging endeavor and sometimes one can feel lonely when not in the company of fellow researchers. That’s why I felt delighted to learn about UniPID DocNet during a seminar presentation I attended at the University of Oulu. I believe networking and peer support are key aspects during the PhD journey and I hope UniPID can be a channel in strengthening collaboration and knowledge sharing within Doctoral researchers.

So, a quick one about what I am doing now and why I chose this path. Since my early career I have been attracted to the thoughts of leading change in climate action and in protecting the environment. For that reason, after studying and gaining working experience in civil engineering, I started seeking study opportunities that would allow me to contribute to water and environmental sustainability. That is how I ended up enrolling in this PhD program at the University of Oulu.

My PhD focuses on assessing the hydrologic variations in drained peatlands of Norway. In this sense, I aim to develop a hydrologic model and predict water levels in four peatland sites across the country. I am passionate about this research, because aside from being field experience, it is a great way to learn about the environment and take long walks away from the walls of administrative buildings or lecture halls. A fair balance in essence.

For me, the learning experience is achieved both in the university but also outside the buildings. If I could make a suggestion to young scholars, I would strongly recommend attending conferences and taking the opportunity to join networking events. In that sense, they can learn about current issues, co-share knowledge, experiences, and find means to contribute to the wider society.

“I believe research should go beyond publishing papers. It might also go towards real societal impact. It would be nice to see some of the environmental research projects we are doing integrated into the national policies back home”.

About my life in the Nordic region, I can say that I admire its technological advancement and it makes me constantly reflect on different ways to implement these advancement achievements in my home country and in the Global South in general. On the not-so-good side, I must say that living abroad sometimes might seem very challenging. I miss my family, my home, food, and culture from Sri Lanka, and it turns even more difficult during the festive periods when I wish to be there. But I am very glad of having this study opportunity and I am pretty sure that I will be able to contribute not just to my career but also to climate change actions.

Now, I am learning Norwegian and exploring ways to contribute more to society, while still adapting to the Nordic culture. Interestingly, I am learning fast, getting familiar with new things, and hoping to grow new hobbies here.

You can follow Miyuru on LinkedIn and get in touch with his job.

What’s next? If you are a PhD researcher and have not joined us yet, do not hesitate to register as a DocNet member here. Get ready to participate in our NDDS-UniPID DocShop 2023 "What are – or what can be – the new emerging directions of development studies". Register here by 11 August 2023. Make sure you hear the latest news via our social media channels (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn), website, and mailing list.

Photo credits: Malin K, 2017 on UnSplash.