Two Sri Lankan Researchers Named Among Australia’s Top FameLab Finalists
Two Sri Lankan researchers have been selected among the 13 national finalists for FameLab Australia 2026, highlighting the growing contribution of Sri Lankan talent to Australia’s STEM sector.
Shanelle Tennekoon, a PhD candidate at Curtin University in Western Australia, and Nirmani Dassanayake, a PhD researcher at the University of Technology Sydney, were chosen from hundreds of applicants across Australia.
The national finalists presented their research at the WA Museum Boola Bardip, with the event attended by senior government and industry representatives, including Stephen Dawson MLC, Minister for Science, Innovation and Digital Economy and Medical Research.
FameLab is an international science communication competition originally established by Cheltenham Festivals in the UK. The competition is now held across more than 40 countries and has involved more than 40,000 scientists worldwide.
Sri Lankan Research Making an Impact
Tennekoon is developing SmartWheel, an AI-powered guidance system designed to assist people using powered wheelchairs.
The technology uses edge computing, allowing the system to operate without relying on cloud services or an internet connection. It is designed to work alongside wheelchair users as a semi-autonomous guidance system.
Dassanayake is developing a strategic framework to help governments improve the way technology is adopted and implemented across healthcare supply chains.
The selection of two Sri Lankan researchers among Australia’s 13 national finalists is being recognised as a significant achievement for the Sri Lankan community in Australia.
Their success highlights the contribution of Sri Lankan researchers to Australia’s growing fields of artificial intelligence, healthcare technology and STEM innovation.
The official FameLab Australia 2026 finalists announcement and competition details are available through the WA Museum.
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