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News
IRI Lab Members Featured in Virginia Tech News for Global Marine Debris Research
Members of the IRI Lab were recently featured in Virginia Tech News for their contributions to groundbreaking research on global marine debris. The article, titled “Students help drive new research on global marine debris,” highlights how student researchers from Virginia Tech are leading efforts to understand the global landscape of marine litter studies.
🔗 Read the full article on Virginia Tech News
The project showcases the dedication of our lab to collaborative, student-driven research addressing critical environmental issues. Lab members played key roles in collecting and analyzing data, identifying research gaps, and contributing to recommendations for more equitable and inclusive approaches to marine pollution studies.
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We are proud of our lab members for their leadership and contribution to this impactful global study. Congratulations to everyone involved for representing the IRI Lab and Virginia Tech on an international stage!
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October, 2025
VT News features Arctic resilience research by IRI lab team
Hannah Garbutt shares fieldwork reflections from Sri Lanka
IRI Lab Featured in ICAT VT Playdate YouTube Livestream
IRI Lab Principal Investigator Eranga K. Galappaththi, assistant professor of geography, was recently featured in VT News for his project “Enhancing Climate-Food-Health Resilience Among Inuit in the Arctic.” Supported by the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment (ISCE) Scholars Program, this research focuses on strengthening community resilience at the intersection of climate, food systems, and health in Pangnirtung, Canada.
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The initiative establishes the groundwork for a large-scale, community-engaged research collaboration co-developed with Inuit communities, academic institutions, and international partners. The team—comprising Markus Wilcke, Gayanthi Ilangarathna, and Sithuni Jayasekara—aims to advance sustainable, locally driven solutions that address the interconnected challenges of climate change, food security, and health in the Arctic.
Read the full VT News article here
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October, 2025
On October 8, IRI Lab member Hannah Garbutt delivered a casual photo presentation titled “Fieldwork Reflections from Sri Lanka” in Wallace 234. During the session, she shared insights and experiences from her summer fieldwork in Sri Lanka, where she collaborated with Indigenous communities to address pressing environmental challenges under the mentorship of IRI Lab PI Eranga K. Galappaththi.
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The presentation offered a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s transformative field research, highlighting the importance of community engagement and sustainable solutions in tackling environmental issues.
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October, 2025
The IRI Lab was recently featured in the ICAT VT Playdate, held on Friday at the CID Building at Virginia Tech. The event was livestreamed on YouTube, and you can watch the full recording here: Watch the livestream.
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During the session, Dr. Eranga Galappaththi presented his ongoing project in Sri Lanka, which focuses on uplifting the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples through technological interventions. This initiative highlights our lab’s commitment to research that creates meaningful social impact and supports marginalized communities.
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September, 2025
IRI Lab Students Featured in VT News for Sri Lankan Fieldwork
This summer, IRI Lab students Hannah Garbutt and Sithuni Mimasha, under the guidance of Eranga Galappaththi, engaged in transformative fieldwork in Sri Lanka, working closely with local communities to tackle pressing environmental challenges. Their groundbreaking efforts were prominently featured in VT News. The team’s research centered on examining the effects of environmental change on public health and developing innovative, sustainable solutions. This initiative is part of a larger project supported by the National Science Foundation and the Belmont Forum, which aims to build resilience in Indigenous communities around the world. For further details, you can access the full news article [here].
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August, 2025
IRI Lab Members Featured in VT News
IRI Lab PI, Eranga Galappaththi, and his students are featured in a recent VT news article about their participation in a global initiative to study the impact of environmental changes on public health. Supported by a nearly $1 million National Science Foundation grant, the research aims to address health challenges in Indigenous communities, who are often the first to experience the consequences of environmental stressors.
In collaboration with international partners, including communities in Uganda, Sri Lanka, India, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, the project will examine how environmental and social factors influence health. Galappaththi’s team is working directly with Indigenous communities to co-create solutions that strengthen local resilience in health and food systems. The research findings will help inform global policies aimed at protecting vulnerable populations and improving public health during environmental emergencies.
For more information, visit the full university news article. (News link)
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August, 2025
Dr. Eranga Galappaththi and his group received NSF Funding for Global Climate-Health Research
Dr. Eranga Galappaththi, Principal Investigator of the IRI Lab, has received funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation for a new project titled "Belmont Forum Collaborative Research: The Indigenous Peoples Observatory Network (IPON): Understanding and Responding to Complex Climate-Health Emergencies" (Award Number: #2537403). This project is in partnership with IPON.
As part of this grant, Dr. Eranga will work with Indigenous communities in Sri Lanka as well as partner countries including Uganda, India, Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina. The project aims to document, understand, and monitor the factors shaping the creation, evolution, and impact of complex climate-health emergencies in Indigenous communities across partner countries. The total award amount is USD 928,000.
Congratulations to Dr. Eranga and the IPON team!
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June, 2025
Gayanthi begins PhD journey at UIUC
Congratulations to Gayanthi on receiving an offer to pursue her PhD in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, under the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences.
In recognition of her outstanding academic credentials, Gayanthi has also been awarded the prestigious Jonathan Baldwin Turner Fellowship.
Wishing you continued success and all the best on this exciting new journey, Gayanthi!
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May, 2025
Fieldwork with Vedda communities in Sri Lanka, 2025
IRI Lab members Hannah Garbutt and Sithuni M. Jayasekara, together with Prof. Eranga Galappaththi, conducted fieldwork this year in six Sri Lankan Indigenous (Vedda) villages: Dambana, Henanigala, Dalukana, Wakarei, Pollebadda, and Rathugala. The team strengthened relationships with the communities while conducting over 200 interviews, gathering valuable insights into the lives and traditional knowledge of Vedda people.
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May -June, 2025
New publication on Indigenous Entrepreneurship
On May 15, 2025, IRI lab member Indunil Dharmasiri celebrated a major academic milestone with the publication of her co-authored paper, “From Roots to Resilience: Exploring the Drivers of Indigenous Entrepreneurship for Climate Adaptation” in Sustainability journal. Collaborating with Dr. Eranga Galappaththi, Dr. Timothy Baird, Dr. Anamaria Bukvic, and Dr. Santosh Rijal, the study investigates how Indigenous entrepreneurship serves as a catalyst for community-driven climate adaptation. The paper emphasizes how traditional knowledge and entrepreneurial strategies work hand in hand in adapting to climate challenges. This publication adds valuable insights to the growing discourse on climate adaptation and Indigenous entrepreneurship (link)
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May, 2025
Gayanthi’s successful MSc defense
Congratulations to Gayanthi Ilangarathna on successfully defending her MSc in Geography at Virginia Tech! Her research, “Identifying impacts of non-climatic factors on food security of Indigenous Peoples in the pan-Arctic region,” sheds light on critical issues in Arctic food security.
Well done Gayanthi!
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April 24, 2025
Sithuni presents GIS research at OGIS symposium
IRI Lab member Sithuni M. Jayasekara presented a poster of her proposed study titled “Analyzing the Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Sri Lankan Indigenous Villages Using GIS and Remote Sensing” at the 2025 Virginia Tech Office of GIS (OGIS) Research Symposium.
Congratulations, Sithuni, on this presentation!
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April 11, 2025
Sithuni honored as outstanding TA
We are proud to announce that IRI Lab member Sithuni M. Jayasekara has received the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award from the Department of Geography. In the photo (from left): Charlie Holguin, recipient of the overall Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award for the college and the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation; Sithuni M. Jayasekara, representing the Department of Geography; and Austin Holloway, honored by the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. Congratulations, Sithuni, on this well-deserved recognition!
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March 27, 2025
Chrishma receives Outstanding Master’s Student Award
Many congratulations to Chrishma Perera, an IRI lab member, on winning the H.E. Burkhart Outstanding Master’s Student Award, 2024 from the College of Natural Resources and Environment, Virginia Tech.
“CNRE presented three graduate students H.E. Burkhart Outstanding Master’s Student Awards at the college’s annual awards celebration. They are (from left): Kalin Ferguson, from the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation; Chrishma Perera, from the Department of Geography; and Caroline Vickery from the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation. Chrishma was awarded the overall CNRE award as the top master’s student.
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March 27, 2025
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Fieldwork in the Peruvian Amazon
IRI Lab member Chrishma Perera spent three weeks in February 2025 conducting fieldwork in the Peruvian Amazon, exploring how Indigenous communities respond to health risks driven by climate change. This research was supported by a grant from the Soulsby Foundation for One Health (UK) and carried out in collaboration with the Indigenous Peoples’ Observatory Network. Congratulations to Chrishma for conducting such an impactful fieldwork!!!
​News Link: Geography graduate student explores Indigenous health in Peru | Virginia Tech News | Virginia Tech
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February, 2025
Chrishma Perera selected as Community Scholar
We’re thrilled to share that IRI Lab member Chrishma Perera has been selected as one of three Community Scholars by the Virginia Tech Graduate School, 2025! As part of this prestigious recognition, Chrishma will be presenting her impactful project at the 2025 Community Scholars Showcase during Graduate Education Week. Congratulations, Chrishma, on this well-deserved honour
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March 27, 2025
Sithuni begins PhD journey
We are pleased to share that IRI Lab member Sithuni M. Jayasekara has begun her PhD in Geospatial and Environmental Analysis at the Department of Geography, Virginia Tech, under the guidance of Prof. Eranga Galappaththi. Sithuni will continue her research work with Indigenous peoples. Congratulations on this remarkable achievement, Sithuni!
January 21, 2025
Gayanthi awarded a college level Fellowship
Congratulations to Gayanthi for receiving the George E. and Hester B. Aker Fellowship from the College of Natural Resources and Environment! Awarded in recognition of the significance of her MSc research, the fellowship includes a $12,000 stipend and a tuition scholarship for Spring 2025. A well-deserved honor congrats, Gayanthi!
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December 11, 2024
Sithuni graduates with MSc in Geography
We are delighted to share that IRI Lab member, Sithuni M. Jayasekara, has graduated with a Master of Science in Geography from the Department of Geography at Virginia Tech. The commencement ceremony took place on December 20, 2024. Warm congratulations on this wonderful achievement, Sithuni!
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December 20, 2024
Sithuni’s successful MSc defense
We are happy to announce that IRI Lab member Sithuni M. Jayasekara has successfully defended her master’s thesis, “Governing Indigenous Food Systems: Global Practices and Local Realities in Sri Lanka,” on December 2, 2024. Her research included a systematic literature review and a multi-sited case study with Sri Lankan Indigenous peoples, Vedda. Congratulations on your success, Sithuni!
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December 2, 2024
Eranga and Sithuni participated in the IPON workshop in Peru
Sithuni M. Jayasekara recently visited Peru with Prof. Eranga Galappaththi to participate in a five-day workshop organized by the Indigenous Peoples’ Observatories Network (IPON). During the visit, they had the opportunity to meet with two Asháninka Indigenous groups in the Central Amazon and gain valuable insights into the climate–food–health systems of the region.
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October 19-24, 2024
IRI Lab members present at SEDAAG, 2024
We are incredibly proud of IRI Lab members Gayanthi Ilangarathna, Hannah Garbutt, Chrishma Perera, and Sithuni Jayasekara for presenting their research at the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers (SEDAAG), held in Greenville, South Carolina, from November 23–25. Each presentation was well received, reflecting their passion, dedication, and hard work in their research. Congratulations to our brilliant team!!!
News Link: Facebook
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November 25, 2024
Fieldwork with Vedda communities in Sri Lanka, 2024
As part of their ongoing partnerships with Sri Lankan Indigenous villages, Sithuni M. Jayasekara and Prof. Eranga Galappaththi conducted a month-long fieldwork in 2024 across six Indigenous villages: Dambana, Henanigala, Dalukana, Wakarei, Pollebadda, and Rathugala. The research focused on exploring ways to improve the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples through technological interventions. This work, funded by the Institute of Creativity, Arts and Technology (ICAT), Virginia Tech, played an important role in strengthening trust with Indigenous communities following their initial visit.
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July-August, 2024
Chrishma selected as Soulsby One Health Fellow
We’re thrilled to share that Chrishma Perera, a master’s student in the IRI Lab, has been named a Soulsby Fellow by the prestigious Soulsby Foundation for One Health, United Kingdom!!! This international fellowship supports Chrishma’s research in Peru, where she works with Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon. Her project explores how Indigenous communities’ connection to rainforests helps them respond to disease spread. Chrishma plans to travel to Peru in early 2025 to conduct this fieldwork. Congratulations, Chrishma, on this remarkable global honour!
Soulsby Press Relies: The Fellows - The Soulsby Foundation for One Health
College Facebook Page: Facebook
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​News Link: Geography graduate student explores Indigenous health in Peru | Virginia Tech News | Virginia Tech
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June, 2024
Chrishma honored as Outstanding TA
Big Congratulations to Chrishma Perera! Chrishma a member of the IRI Lab, has been recognized as the Outstanding Teaching Assistant of the Department of Geography 2023. Chrishma was nominated for this well-deserved recognition by Dr. Tim Baird, in appreciation of her exceptional contributions to the Seeking Sustainability I & II courses. Chrishma was honored at the Annual Spring Awards Ceremony hosted by the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech. Your dedication, passion, and excellence in teaching truly shine.
We’re so proud of you! Congratulations, Chrishma!
News Link: Facebook
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March 27, 2024
Indunil receives Outstanding Master’s student award
On March 27, 2024, IRI lab member Indunil Dharmasiri was honored with the H.E. Burkhart Outstanding Master’s Student Award at the college level by the College of Natural Resources and Environment, Virginia Tech. This award recognized her outstanding academic performance, research excellence, and service contributions in the field of Geography.
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March 27, 2024
ICAT Grant awarded to IRI Lab for Indigenous Livelihoods Project
Exciting News from the IRI Lab!
Dr. Eranga Galappaththi, Principal Investigator of the IRI Lab, has been awarded Institute of Creativity, Arts and Technology (ICAT), Virginia Tech Major Seed Grant for his project titled “Uplifting Livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples in Sri Lanka.” This award-winning project has two objectives: i) to collect preliminary data exploring how Indigenous Peoples in Sri Lanka can benefit from internet technology, ii) to co-develop a large-scale grant proposal in collaboration with Sri Lankan Indigenous communities to submit to the National Science Foundation. Graduate student Sithuni Mimasha will travel to Sri Lanka alongside Dr. Galappaththi for fieldwork, while Chrishma Perera will contribute data transcription and analysis.
Congratulations to Eranga and the IRI Lab team on this incredible achievement and meaningful work!
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April, 2024
Chrishma selected as a VT Diversity Scholar
Chrishma Perera, a second-year master’s student at the IRI Lab, has been selected as one of the five Diversity Scholars of the Virginia Tech Graduate School 2024. She will present her Diversity Scholar project at the “Diversity Scholar Showcase” during Education Week. Her project integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion into Virginia Tech’s climate action commitments.
Congratulations to Chrishma on this recognition!
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March, 2024
Paper presentation at SEDAAG conference
On November 20, 2023, IRI lab member Indunil Dharmasiri presented a research paper titled “Entrepreneurship-based factors to foster climate adaptations among Indigenous peoples” at the 78th annual meeting of the Southeastern Division of the Association of American Geographers (SEDAAG) in Norfolk, Virginia. The presentation sparked engaging discussions on how Indigenous knowledge and entrepreneurial approaches can strengthen climate adaptation strategies
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November 20, 2023
Dr. Eranga and Gayanthi head to the Arctic
The IRI Lab team, including Gayanthi Ilangarathna and Prof. Eranga Galappaththi, recently conducted a field visit to the Inuit community in Pangnirtung, Nunavut, Canada. The team facilitated community workshops, radio programs, and key knowledge holder discussions to co-develop a research proposal. This visit marks a meaningful step in deepening community collaboration and fostering respectful, reciprocal research partnerships in the Arctic.
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November 15-24, 2023
Eranga Galappaththi awarded ISCE grant for Indigenous Food Security Research
Dr. Eranga Galappaththi, Principal Investigator of the IRI Lab, has received funding from the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment at Virginia Tech to collect preliminary data on how Indigenous Peoples in Sri Lanka experience food insecurity. Dr. Galappaththi plans to visit Sri Lanka in May 2023. Graduate students Indunil Dharmasiri, Chrishma Perera, and Sithuni Mimasha also contribute to this important project. Congratulations to Eranga and the team!
News Link: ISCE Scholars | Institute for Society, Culture and Environment | Virginia Tech
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April, 2023
Chrishma selected as a Rachel Carson Fellow
Chrishma Perera, a first-year master’s student at the IRI Lab, has been selected as a Rachel Carson Council Fellow for Virginia Tech by the Rachel Carson Council in Washington, D.C. Her fellowship project focuses on enhancing student engagement in Virginia Tech’s climate action commitments. Chrishma will collaborate with the Virginia Tech Sustainability Office to carry out this initiative. Congratulations to Chrishma on this important recognition!
News link: 2023-2024 Rachel Carson Campus Fellows - Rachel Carson Council
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May, 2023
Fieldwork with Vedda communities begins in Sri Lanka
Prof. Eranga Galappaththi and Sithuni M. Jayasekara recently conducted (May -June, 2023) fieldwork with Sri Lankan Indigenous villages (Vedda communities). This was the first initiative aimed at building partnerships with nine Indigenous villages in Sri Lanka: Dambana, Henanigala, Dalukana, Wakarei, Pollebadda, Rathugala, Verugal Tikkana, Santhoshapuram, and Neenarkerni. The fieldwork focused on collecting preliminary data on how Indigenous peoples experience food security in Sri Lanka. The team also visited the Divisional Secretariats of each village to obtain additional statistical information. This month-long fieldwork was supported by the Institute for Society, Culture, and Environment (ISCE) at Virginia Tech Scholar Fund. The research team included Indunil Dharmasiri and Chrishma Perera, who assisted in transcribing the collected data.
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May-June, 2023
COVID Observatories workshop, India
From March 19 to 21, 2023, IRI lab members, Dr. Eranga Galappaththi and Indunil Dharmasiri, co-organized and participated in the COVID Observatories in-person workshop in Kotagiri, India, hosted in collaboration with the Keystone Foundation. After more than two years of virtual meetups, this workshop finally brought together researchers and decision-makers from nine countries. Over three days, participants shared research findings and examined the socio-environmental impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous communities. The workshop provided a valuable platform for cross-learning, exchanging interdisciplinary perspectives, and developing collaborative research approaches
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March 19 - 21, 2023