Dr. Ashani S Ranathunga

Profile

I joined the University of Leeds in March 2022 as a Lecturer in the School of Civil Engineering. Prior to my appointment at the University of Leeds, I served as a Lecturer at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka more than four years.

In 2013, I graduated summa cum laude in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. Subsequently, I pursued my PhD at Monash University, Australia, and successfully obtained it in 2017. My doctoral thesis, titled "Investigation of long-term safe Storage of Carbon Dioxide in Deep Coal Seams with Enhanced Methane Recovery," was honoured with the Best PhD Thesis Award by the Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University. Additionally, I received the Postgraduate Publication Award for the candidate with an excellent publication record in the year 2017.

Throughout my early career as a researcher and academic, I have been the recipient of several prestigious awards and grants. In 2023, I had the privilege of being recognized as one of the distinguished Asian Scientists by the Asian Scientist Magazine, ranking among their top 100 list. In 2022, I was honoured with the OWSD (Organization for the Women in Science for the Developing Countries) - Elsevier Foundation Award for Early Career Women Scientists in the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, in 2020, I received the Bright Spark Lecturer Award from the International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE). This award recognized my potential as a promising young geotechnical engineer/academic. As part of this recognition, I had the privilege to present the Bright Spark Lecturer Award keynote at the 20th International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering held in Sydney, Australia in May 2022.

Currently, I am working as a transformative lecturer, actively involved in teaching and scholarship for the "10-year Curriculum Redefined Programme" at the university. This program aims to reshape the educational experience of students, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their background, acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive and make a positive impact in the world.

Responsibilities

• School Academic Lead for Inclusive Pedagogies (SALIP)
• Curriculum Redefined Lecturer

Research interests

My research interests are deeply aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on innovative and sustainable solutions to global challenges through engineering and education.

SDG 4: Quality Education

• Inclusive Teaching & Learning: I develop and implement inclusive teaching strategies that accommodate diverse learning needs, promoting equity and accessibility in education. My work includes creating resources and frameworks that support inclusive pedagogies and enhance student engagement.
• Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): I am committed to embedding sustainability principles into civil engineering curricula, fostering a generation of engineers who are equipped to tackle environmental and societal challenges.
• Transformative Learning for Civil Engineering: My research emphasizes transformative learning approaches that empower students to think critically and creatively about engineering problems, preparing them for real-world challenges.
• Lifelong Learning: I advocate for lifelong learning, ensuring that educational practices evolve to meet the needs of students at all stages of their careers. This includes developing continuous professional development programs and integrating new learning technologies.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Enhanced Coal Bed Methane Recovery: My research focuses on the innovative use of CO₂ to enhance coal bed methane recovery. This technique not only improves the efficiency of methane extraction but also contributes to carbon sequestration, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By injecting CO₂ into coal seams, we can displace methane and store CO₂, providing a dual benefit of energy production and climate change mitigation.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Waste Valorisation for Geotechnical Engineering Applications: I investigate methods to repurpose industrial and agricultural waste for geotechnical applications, contributing to sustainable construction practices and reducing waste. This research focuses on developing new materials and techniques that enhance the performance and sustainability of geotechnical engineering projects.

SDG 13: Climate Action

• Geo-sequestration of Carbon Dioxide: My research includes developing and optimizing techniques for the geo-sequestration of CO2, helping to mitigate climate change. This involves studying the long-term stability and effectiveness of CO2 storage in geological formations.
• Waste Valorisation: I focus on transforming waste materials into valuable resources, supporting sustainable development and reducing the carbon footprint of engineering projects. This includes exploring innovative uses for waste products in construction and other engineering applications.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP)
• PhD in Geotechnical Engineering, Monash University, Australia
• BSc (Hons) in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka (MEng equivalent)

Professional memberships

• FHEA, Fellow in Higher Education Academy
• Member, International Society of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
• Member, British Geotechnical Association (BGA)
• Full Member, Women's Engineering Society (WES)
• Member, Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)
• Graduate Member, Institute of Civil Engineers, UK (ICE)
• Associate Member, Institute of Engineers, Sri Lanka (IESL)

Student education

Over the past eight years, I have taught at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, primarily focusing on geotechnical engineering. My experience includes managing modules and postgraduate degree programs and delivering integrated design project modules. My teaching journey has involved experimenting with inclusive pedagogies to ensure quality education for all. I am committed to pedagogically informed and digitally enhanced strategies for student education, which I have successfully implemented in my classrooms. I use an adaptive teaching style that acknowledges students' diverse needs, and students from various backgrounds have positively received this approach.

Research groups and institutes

• Materials and Structures