The National Science Foundation (NSF) has recognized schoolchildren, teachers, scientists and media professionals who have contributed to science education and the popularization of science in Sri Lanka.
Science is not developed only inside laboratories.
It begins with curiosity—a question asked by a child, an experiment conducted in a classroom, a teacher who encourages students to investigate, or a scientist who finds new ways to communicate complex ideas to the public.
Recognizing this wider role of science education and communication, the National Science Foundation (NSF) held its NSF Award Ceremony on Science Popularization 2026 on 18 September 2026 at the Main Hall of the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), Colombo.
This year's ceremony was conducted under the theme “AI for Safety and Resilience”, highlighting the growing importance of artificial intelligence and its potential role in building safer and more resilient societies.
A Celebration of Science and Scientific Curiosity
The NSF has conducted its annual science popularization awards ceremony since 2002.
The event recognizes outstanding achievements in competitions and programmes conducted by the NSF, while also acknowledging individuals who have contributed to science education, scientific communication and the popularization of science in Sri Lanka.
The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest, while Professor Chrishantha Abeysena, Minister of Science and Technology, participated as the Guest of Honour.
Among the other distinguished invitees were senior officials representing institutions functioning under the Ministry of Science and Technology, together with NSF officials including Dr. Sudath Samaraweera, Chairman of the NSF; Professor Shiromi Perera, Director General; and Dr. G. G. Shanthasiri, Additional Director.
From School Science to National Recognition
One of the most significant aspects of the NSF's work is its focus on encouraging scientific thinking from an early age.
The organization supports a range of programmes designed to help schoolchildren develop more than textbook knowledge. Through research projects, competitions, science societies and creative activities, students are given opportunities to explore questions, investigate problems and communicate their ideas.
This approach is particularly important in an era when scientific and technological developments are transforming everyday life.
Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, climate science, space exploration and digital technologies are increasingly influencing society. Preparing the next generation therefore requires not only knowledge of science, but also curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and research skills.
“Science for All”
The NSF traces its institutional origins to 1968 and today functions under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Under Act of Parliament No. 11 of 1994, the NSF has a mandate to promote and popularize science and technology and foster science education in Sri Lanka.
Its work is guided by the principle of “Science for All.”
This reflects an important idea: scientific knowledge should not remain limited to universities, laboratories or specialist communities.
Students, teachers, families and the wider public all need access to understandable and reliable scientific information.
Through science communication and outreach programmes, the NSF works to build connections between scientific knowledge and the wider community.
Encouraging STEAM Education
Another important area of the NSF's work is the promotion of STEAM education—Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
The inclusion of Arts alongside the traditional STEM disciplines recognizes that innovation is not simply about technical knowledge. Creativity, communication, design and the ability to present ideas effectively can also play important roles in scientific and technological innovation.
The NSF supports this approach through initiatives such as grassroots-level school science societies, national competitions and science communication programmes.
Among these is the Science Research Projects Competition (SRPC), which provides students with opportunities to engage in research and develop their scientific thinking.
Recognizing Achievements from 2025 and 2026
The 2026 award ceremony recognized winners and outstanding performers from several NSF programmes and competitions conducted during 2025 and 2026.
These included:
- Science Research Projects Competition 2025
- Kid Naturalist Programme 2025
- School Science Competitions 2026
- Best-Performing School Science Societies – Star Ratings 2026
- Science Popularization Awards
- Science Popularization Awards for Scientists 2026
- Science Popularization Awards for Media Personnel 2026
- Science Popularization Awards for Teachers 2026
The awards therefore extended beyond students, recognizing the wider community that contributes to science education and public understanding.
A Look at the Awards
Among the awards presented at the ceremony were:
| Award Category | Number of Awards |
|---|---|
| Kid Naturalist Programme | 61 |
| Science Fiction and Digital Storytelling | 33 |
| Role Play, Viridu and Drama | 9 |
| Science Research Projects Competition | 10 |
| Scientist Lifetime Award | 1 |
| Media Lifetime Award | 1 |
| Media Commendations | 2 |
| Teacher Awards | 3 |
| Star Ratings | 3 |
The Teacher Awards consisted of one commendation and two appreciation awards.
Meanwhile, the Star Ratings recognized one five-star school science society and two four-star school science societies.
The large number of awards in programmes such as the Kid Naturalist Programme and Science Fiction and Digital Storytelling also demonstrates the range of approaches being used to encourage young people to engage with science.
Why Science Popularization Matters
Scientific discoveries have little social impact if people cannot understand their significance.
A new medical discovery, climate finding, technological development or artificial intelligence system can affect millions of people. Public understanding therefore becomes increasingly important as science becomes more deeply connected with everyday life.
Science popularization can help people:
- understand scientific evidence;
- distinguish evidence from misinformation;
- develop critical-thinking skills;
- appreciate scientific research;
- understand emerging technologies;
- make better-informed decisions about science-related issues; and
- encourage young people to consider careers in science and technology.
For schoolchildren in particular, competitions and recognition can provide an important bridge between classroom learning and real-world scientific inquiry.
AI for Safety and Resilience
The theme of this year's ceremony—“AI for Safety and Resilience”—is particularly relevant to the rapidly changing technological environment.
Artificial intelligence is already being explored and used in areas such as disaster management, environmental monitoring, healthcare, cybersecurity, transportation and emergency response.
At the same time, AI introduces new questions concerning reliability, privacy, misinformation, security and responsible use.
This makes scientific literacy increasingly important.
Young people who learn not only how technologies work, but also how to question, evaluate and use them responsibly, will be better prepared to participate in a technology-driven society.
Beyond the Awards
An award ceremony is ultimately only one part of science popularization.
The more important question is what happens afterwards.
A student who receives recognition for a research project may continue investigating scientific questions. A school science society may inspire more students to experiment and explore. A teacher may introduce new approaches to science education. A media professional may find new ways to make scientific knowledge accessible to the public.
In that sense, the real impact of science popularization may not be measured by the number of trophies presented on a particular day.
It may instead be seen years later—in the researchers, engineers, educators, innovators and scientifically informed citizens who were inspired to ask questions when they were still schoolchildren.
Building a Scientific Culture
Sri Lanka's future scientific capacity depends not only on laboratories and research funding, but also on developing a culture in which asking questions is encouraged, evidence is valued and curiosity is respected.
Programmes that connect students with research, nature, technology and creative communication can contribute to that culture.
The NSF Award Ceremony on Science Popularization 2026 therefore represents more than an annual awards event. It is a recognition of the many people working to bring science closer to Sri Lankan society—from schoolchildren conducting their first research projects to teachers, scientists and communicators helping others understand the world through science.
And perhaps the most important achievement is not simply celebrating today's winners, but encouraging the next generation to keep asking one fundamental question:
“Why?”
Because that question is often where science begins.
Sources & Further Reading
- National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka — Official information on science education, research and science popularization programmes.
- National Science Foundation Act, No. 11 of 1994 — Legislative framework governing the NSF.
- National Science Foundation — Information on school science programmes and competitions.
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