Home > News > A man ahead of his times
June 30th, 2007
A man ahead of his times
Abstract:
The nation mourned the death of Dr. Amith Munindradasa last month. While the portrayal of him as a ‘top defence expert' was exaggerated to a point of controversy, Dr. Munindradasa was certainly not a run-of-the mill individual who could be stereotyped.
He was a practical engineer; an amazing theorist; skilful technician; wildlife enthusiast; ardent philanthropist; eccentric inventor; well-read scientist; passionate photographer; remarkable cook.; creative teacher; dutiful family man; humble soul and truly independent being.
From 2003-2006, he was the head of the Electronics and Telecommunication Department at the University of Moratuwa Faculty of Engineering. While being a frequent lecturer at the Institute of Engineers and the Arthur C. Clarke Centre, he was one of the pioneers who worked on the initiative of establishing a Nanotechnology centre in Sri Lanka. He was also one of the few academics in the country who had his work published in the internationally renowned science journal "Nature". He was a member of two committees in the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, while playing an active advisory role for the Wildlife Conservation Department.
Even as an engineer, he could not be categorized into one specific field. He was well versed in the fields of nanotechnology, power electronics, mechatronics, astronomy and quantum electronics. This cross blend of expertise and the ability to benchmark his knowledge across technical and non-technical platforms made him an extraordinary engineer and an amazing human being. For example he combined his knowledge of electronics and acoustics with his enthusiasm for nature and pursued a completely different field of "Wildlife Electronics".
Source:
sundaytimes.lk
Bookmark:
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals
3-D printing could lead to tiny medical implants, electronics, robots, more June 18th, 2013
Pioneering breakthrough of chemical nanoengineering to design drugs controlled by light June 18th, 2013
New Method to Synthesize Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles with High Catalytic Activity June 18th, 2013
An Innovative material for the Green Earth: Simple and inexpensive process to make a material for CO2 adsorption June 17th, 2013
Human Interest/Art
Yes, nanoscience can enhance humans – but ethical guidelines must be agreed: People 'enhanced' into spider-climbing individuals with hugely projected breasts and Einstein-brains… Where will it stop? June 5th, 2013
Heinrich Rohrer dies at 79; a father of nanotechnology: With IBM colleague Gerd Binnig, Rohrer invented the scanning tunneling microscope, which can show individual atoms on a surface and move them around May 23rd, 2013
Oh, Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree: A nano end for Christmas tree needles January 2nd, 2013
INIC Inks MoU to Apply Nanotechnology in Iran's Carpet Industry December 18th, 2012