The Faculty of Computing, University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ), has taken a significant step towards strengthening interdisciplinary research and global academic collaboration by initiating a research dialogue with Dr. Prasad Liyanage, a medical doctor, epidemiologist, and researcher attached to the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), University of Heidelberg. The discussion, held on 4th August 2026, brought together academic staff and researchers from multiple disciplines across USJ, including Computing, Medical Sciences, Technology, Humanities, Engineering, and Applied Sciences, to explore emerging opportunities at the intersection of technology, public health, climate resilience, and data-driven innovation.
With over 15 years of experience as a public health specialist, Dr. Prasad Liyanage has extensive expertise in infectious disease surveillance and control, particularly in low-resource settings, while his current research focuses on climate change adaptation interventions. The discussion explored potential collaborative research opportunities in areas including digital health solutions, integrated surveillance systems, citizen-based approaches, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Edge AI-enabled monitoring systems, and advanced environmental sensing technologies.
This initiative reflects the commitment of the Faculty of Computing, USJ, towards fostering interdisciplinary research and developing innovative, technology-driven solutions to address complex societal challenges. The collaboration is expected to create new opportunities for joint research projects, knowledge exchange, postgraduate research initiatives, and future partnerships between the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the University of Heidelberg.
