International Library Ambassador: Dr. Athukorala brings knowledge to Sri Lanka!

International Library Ambassador: Dr. Athukorala brings knowledge to Sri Lanka!

On June 12, 2025, Dr. Wathsala Athukorala, a 51-year-old library scientist from Sri Lanka, the University Library of the FernUniversität in Hagen after 18 months. Her stay was part of a program run by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, which aims to bring researchers from all over the world to Germany. Prof. Dr. Eric Steinhauer, who runs the library, was convinced by her application and made it possible for her to be invited.

Athukorala is the deputy head of the University Library in Colombo and head of the library at the Sri Palee Campus. She holds a master's degree in sociology and library science and received her doctorate in Wuhan, China. Her research interests during her stay in Germany included the topic of “Social Media Library Marketing”, which was intended to provide insights into different access to libraries.

Experiences in Germany

In her home country of Sri Lanka, university libraries are often only accessible to students and employees. In Germany, says Athukorala, everyone is invited to use the libraries. She was particularly impressed by the European approach to open science and the need to digitize old palm leaf manuscripts in Sri Lanka. She plans to promote this knowledge transfer after her return to Sri Lanka.

During her stay she traveled through various European cities and won the Best Paper Award at a specialist conference in Istanbul. These experiences, coupled with a personal challenge, had an impact on her time in Germany. Athukorala battled a life-threatening illness but received extensive support from both her team and medical care in Germany. Her family, consisting of her husband and her nine-year-old son, only visited her once for three months, which made the separation particularly difficult.

Nevertheless, Athukorala quickly found a kind of home in Hagen. She discovered spices in a Turkish shop that made it easier for her to maintain her usual cuisine. After her return, she plans to bring the concepts she acquired in Germany about the open and user-oriented attitude of German libraries back home. Prof. Dr. Eric Steinhauer described her as an international ambassador and bridge of friendship between Germany and Sri Lanka.

New commitment through the Alexander von Humboldt scholarship

Parallel to Athukorala's success story, Dr. Patricia Marques de Farias from Ceará, Brazil, who received an Alexander von Humboldt scholarship. Her stay as a visiting scientist at the SPI, the Institute for Applied Research (IAF) and the Sustainable Packaging Institute (SPI) will take place over a period of two years, from February 1, 2025 to January 31, 2027. Previously, she worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Nutrition Institute of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) and at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO).

De Farias' research focus is on the development of plastic-free and bio-based films and coatings. Their goal is to contribute to the development of sustainable packaging solutions for a circular bioeconomy. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, founded in 1953, promotes scientific collaborations between foreign and German researchers by offering research grants and prizes. The main sponsor is the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

By awarding research scholarships, the foundation enables international scientists to undertake important research stays in Germany. In addition, alumni networks and collaboration with German scientists create lasting connections to the German science system, which promotes the exchange of knowledge and cultural perspectives.