boblme-2013-governance-07 · 2014-06-03 · the workshop started at 8.30 , 11th october 2013....

BOBLME-2013-Governance-07

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal and development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The BOBLME Project encourages the use of this report for study, research, news reporting, criticism or review. Selected passages, tables or diagrams may be reproduced for such purposes provided acknowledgment of the source is included. Major extracts or the entire document may not be reproduced by any process without the written permission of the BOBLME Project Regional Coordinator. Contract: LOA/RAP/2013/19 For bibliographic purposes, please reference this publication as: BOBLME (2013) Report of the SLAFAR-BOBLME communications workshop on scientific writing, 11-14 September 2013, Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka BOBLME-2013-Governance-07

BOBLME–SLAFAR Communications workshop on scientific writing

11-14 September 2013 Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka

Report of the SLAFAR-BOBLME communications workshop on scientific writing

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Table of contents

1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1

2. Objectives ........................................................................................................................................ 1

3. Selection of participants ................................................................................................................. 1

4. Rationale of the workshop .............................................................................................................. 1

5. Working sessions ............................................................................................................................. 2

6. Outcomes of the workshop ............................................................................................................. 4

Appendix I List of participants ........................................................................................................... 6

Appendix II Announcement of the workshop .................................................................................. 16

Table of figures Figure 1: Registration of participants...................................................................................................... 2

Figure 2: Preparation of story-boards ..................................................................................................... 3

Figure 3: Working with facilitators.......................................................................................................... 3

Figure 4: A participant conducting a two minute drill ............................................................................ 3

Figure 5: Constructive comments from facilitators and peers ............................................................... 3

Figure 6: Interactive sessions with participants ...................................................................................... 3

Figure 7: Working sessions ..................................................................................................................... 4


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1. Introduction

The Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (SLAFAR) and Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem Project have jointly organised two workshops on scientific writing and presentation skills development in April and May 2013, respectively. In the original proposal submitted to BOBLME, two scientific writing workshops were proposed. The final workshop was proposed to be conducted in July 2013. However, SLAFAR was unable to organise the final workshop within the given timeframe due to its busy schedule. An extension to the BOBLME-SLAFAR contract was made to accommodate the second scientific workshop.

The second scientific writing workshop was conducted from 11th to 14th September 2013 at Tamarind tree hotel, Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka. It was a four day residential workshop, structurally similar to the first writing workshop. The final manuscripts were to be submitted to the Journal of Aquatic Sciences.

2. Objectives

• Fill the gaps in the knowledge of scientific writing of young scientists in the field of fisheries and aquatic resources.

• Improve the existing knowledge and building confidence of writing scientific publications. • Provide opportunities to share the knowledge and expertise and create a platform to

explore their own writing skill and style by the participants. • Encourage young scientists to give their contribution to the development of fisheries, and

sustainable management of aquatic resources through knowledge dissemination. • Develop interest of publishing research findings in peer reviewed journals.

3. Selection of participants

In the initial proposal, SLAFAR had proposed to invite abstract presenters of the 19th SLAFAR annual scientific session. There were 38 abstracts presented at the 19th annual scientific session and all the presenters were invited for the scientific writing workshop (Appendix II Announcement of the workshop); There were 30 abstract presenters were confirmed their participation at the workshop. They represented six universities in Sri Lanka, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA), and National Dengue Control Unit. The list of participants and their affiliations appears in the Appendix I.

One foreign and five local experts facilitated the workshop. They are listed at the end of Appendix I.

4. Rationale of the workshop

The workshop started at 8.30 a.m., 11th October 2013. President of SLAFAR welcomed all participants, the resource persons and explained the timely importance of conducting this scientific writing workshop in the field of fisheries and aquatic resources. Furthermore, he appreciated the interest of the young scientific community for its willingness to participate in the workshop. Also, he mentioned that SLAFAR is planning to continue such scientific communication workshops in coming years parallel to its Annual scientific Sessions. In addition to that he stated that SLAFAR intends to publish a special volume of the Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences as the main outcome of the


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workshop. He acknowledged BOBLME for the financial support and assistance of science dissemination activities collectively organised with SLAFAR.

Figure 1: Registration of participants

President of SLAFAR passed the message sent by Dr Chris O’Brien Regional Coordinator, BOBLME. In his message Dr Chris O’ Brien highlighted the activities organised by the BOBLME Project in the region, in particular, collaborative activities in Sri Lanka with NARA and SLAFAR. He also expressed his gratitude to the participants for their interest in the workshop, noting that they are representing various institutions, which are key stakeholders in the sector of fisheries and aquatic resources.

5. Working sessions

The workshop was conducted in interactive sessions including presentations, discussion sessions, and writing sessions facilitated by mentors. Combinations of different activities maintained the interest of participants and kept an active momentum throughout the four days. Participants were each assigned a facilitator based on their area of the study. Lectures and working sessions were arranged according to following topics:

• Types of scientific publications and their differences • Selection of a journal for publishing the manuscript • Organizing the available data, information gathered and creating the skeleton of the

manuscript • Development of an appropriate title for the manuscript • Writing the abstract • Identification of key words • Contents in the introduction and writing • Organizing methodology • Data analysing and writing • Writing discussion and conclusions • Different methods of reference citation • Correct process of forwarding a manuscript to a journal

Each working session of the workshop started with a briefing of theory and the activities expected to be conducted. As an icebreaking event, participants sketched out (drew) their affiliation, family information and research interests on a paper and the person opposite to him/her narrated the information in the drawing. Each and every participant was assigned a buddy and buddies were supposed to give their comments on their colleague’s work. Working sessions started with introduction to two-minute drill. First, the participants prepared their story boards to identify the basic structure of the manuscript. Once they prepared the story-boards, they improved it based on


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the comments of their mentors and peers (Figure 2: Preparation of story-boards). Based on the prepared layout, a two minute presentation was made by each participant (Figure 3 and Figure 4). They have further developed their manuscript based on the comments given by the facilitators and peers (Figure 5 and Figure 6). Figure 7 indicates two working sessions of the workshop.

Figure 2: Preparation of story-boards

Figure 3: Working with facilitators

Figure 4: A participant conducting a two minute drill

Figure 5: Constructive comments from facilitators and peers

Figure 6: Interactive sessions with participants


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Figure 7: Working sessions

6. Outcomes of the workshop

The final focus was to submit the manuscript to the Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences. This Journal has been published annually for eighteen years by the Sri Lanka Association for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. The authors’ guidelines of the Journal were given to the participants at the beginning of workshop. Out of the 26 participants, 15 submitted their final draft of the manuscript to the Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences. List of manuscripts formally submitted to the chief editor of the journal are in Table 1.

Table 1: Submitted manuscripts

No. Title and authors

1. Sediment management to improve the shrimp farm sustainability: Chemical characteristics of sediments in Northwestern Sri Lanka

Arshad Ali A, Gunarathna, T.V.N.M, Jayasinghe J.M.P.K

2. Analysis of proximate composition and consumer preference of three reef fish species

Edirisinghe, D.M.A., Cumaranatunga, P.R.T., Radampola, K., Kirindearachchige,P.T.

3. Interventions for shrimp farms sustainability in the Eastern province

A.L. Inamul Hassan and J.M.P.K. Jayasinghe

4. Patterns and effects of small-scale mangrove cuttings in Rekawa Lagoon, Sri Lanka

Dayarathne V.T.K and Kumara M.P.

5. The effects of heavy metal concentration on bio-accumulation, productivity and pigment content of two species of marine macro algae.

W.A.A.D.Lanka Wickramasinghe, Valentine K. MUBIANA, Ronny BLUST


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6. Abundance of marlins in relation to sea surface temperature in Sri Lankan ocean

E.T.S. Madhubhashini, N. Alahakoon, P.B.T.P. Kumara

7. Water quality in relation to the macro-benthos diversity of a stream habitat at Dediyagala, Matara

H.M.T.C. Madhushankha, H.B. Asanthi and R.A. Maithreepala

8. Possibilities of expanding the socio-economic status of stilt fishery in Southern Sri Lanka

Rajapaksha M. P., Dushani S. N.

9. Suitable growing substrate for ornamental aquatic plant Cryptocoryne wendtii

B.V.A.S.Manori Bambaranda and Shiyani Edusooriya Peiris

10. Water pollution assessment near the sea mouth of Wellawatta Canal, Sri Lanka

N.D. Hettige, K.A.W.S. Weerasekara S.A.M. Azmy, C. Wickramaratne, and A.A.D Amarathunga

11. Water pollution and associated health impacts in Sri Lanka - A mini review

Rajapaksha R.W.P.M and Vivehananthan K.

12. Plankton diversity as a bio-indicator of water quality in Bolgoda Lake, Sri Lanka

M.D.S Janaki Swarna Piyasiri

13. Effect of high water temperature and different concentrations of 17α - Methyl testosterone on sex inversion of hatchery reared Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus population

Athauda A.R.S.B. and Kumara D.M.C.R.

14. Assessment of current water pollution status in Uma Oya Stream, Sri Lanka

K. A. W. S. Weerasekara, A. A. D. Amarathunga, R.R.A.R. Shirantha,

N .Sureshkumar and S. A. M. Azmy

15. Diversity and distribution of cetaceans off Mirissa in the southern coast of Sri Lanka

E.P.D.N. Thilakarathne, P.B. Terney Pradeep Kumara and R.M.G.N. Thilakarathna


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Appendix I List of participants participants

No. Name Affiliation

1. R.M.G.M. Thilakarathne

Dept. of Oceanography and Marine Geology

Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, University of Ruhuna, Wllamadama, Mathara. [email protected]

2. E.T.S. Madubashini



3. H.M.T.C.Madhushankha

Dept. of Limnology


mailto:[email protected]




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4. E.P.D.N Thilakarathne


Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, University of Ruhuna

Wllamadama, Mathara. [email protected]

5. Mr T.W.S. Warnasuriya




6. D.M. Anusha Edirisinghe

Dept. of Fisheries and Aquaculture



7. Mr A.L. Inamul Hassan

Dept. of Aquaculture and Fisheries

Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition

Wayamba University of Sri Lanka

Gonawila, Makandura. [email protected]






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8. Ms K. Poornima




Gonawila, Makandura. [email protected]

9. Mr S. Sivanthan




Makandura, Gonawila. [email protected]

10. Ms R.W.P.M. Rajapakshe




Makandura, Gonawila. [email protected]

11. Mr V.T.K.Dayarathna

Fisheries and Marine Science Division

Ocean University, Higher Education, Mahawela Road

Tangalle. [email protected]






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12. W. A. A. D. Lanka Wickramasinghe


Higher Education, Ocean University, Mahawela Road


13. Ms R.A. Manoga Panchamee


Higher education, Ocean University, Mahawela Road


14. Mr W. A. R. K. Senaarachchi

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science

University of Ruhuna. [email protected]

15. Mr K. M. S. Ruvinda

Department of Zoology

Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya

Dalugama, Kelaniya. [email protected]






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16. Mr Janith De Silva

Department of Zoology

University of Kelaniya, Dalugama, Kelaniya

[email protected]

17. Dr A.R.S.B. Athauda

Department of Animal Science

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya

[email protected]

18. Ms B.V.A.S.M. Bambaranda

Department of Aquatic Resources Technology

Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture

Uwa Wellassa University of Sri Lanka

Passara Road, Badulla. [email protected]

19. Ms K.A.W. Shyamali Weerasekara

Environmental Studies Devision

National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, Crow Island, Colombo. 15

[email protected]





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20. Ms N.D.Hettige

Environmental Studies Division


[email protected]

21. Ms Pradeepa Shayamali Jayasinghe

Institute of Post-harvest Technology


[email protected]

22. Ms W. N. C. Priyadharshani

National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency, National Institute of Oceanography and Marine Sciences, Crow Island, Colombo. 15

[email protected]





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23. Ms Madusha Mihirani Subasinghe

Marine Environmental Protection Authority

No. 758, 2nd Flor Basline Road, Colombo 09

[email protected]

24. Mr J. A. Athula

National Aquaculture Development Authority

No 1/41, New Parliament Road, Plawatta, Battaramulla

[email protected]

25. Mr A. Arshard Ali

Shrimp Farm Monitoring And Extension Unite National Aquaculture Development Authority, Battulu Oya




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26. M.D. Sakunthala Janaki

National Dengue Control Unite

No. 555/5, Public health Complex, Colombo 05.

[email protected]



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Resource persons

Dr (Ms) J.A.D.S.S. Jayakody

Senior Lecturer, Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.

Prof. E. Vivekanandan

Professor Emiritus, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Madras, India

Prof. J.M.P.K. Jayasinghe

Senior Professor, Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.


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Dr M.D.S.T. de Croos

enior Lecturer, Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Faculty of Livestock, Fisheries and Nutrition, Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.

Prof. E.I.L Silva

Water Resources Science and Technology, 77/2Hettiyawatta, Elapitiwela, Ragama

Prof. J. Katupotha

University of Sri Jayawardhanapura Nugegoda


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Appendix II Announcement of the workshop


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boblme-2013-governance-07 · 2014-06-03 · the workshop started at 8.30 , 11th october 2013....

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