What's new - or just round the corner? Join me on Malima to find out!
Malima is the Sinhala term for a compass. Malima is also the name of a new TV series on science, technology innovation that I am hosting from this month on Rupavahini, Sri Lanka’s national TV channel.
The show premiered on 12 January 2012. It will be broadcast every other Thursday at 17:30 Sri Lanka time.
Malima is a half-hour show in magazine style. Each episode will have several short segments:
- compact interviews introducing accomplished Lankan inventors (with patents, awards, etc.)
- profiles of school children and/or youth who have come up with innovative devices or concepts
- interviews with leading scientists and engineers on frontiers of technology
- vignettes on traditional knowledge and Lankan technological heritage
- news from other countries on interesting new innovations or scientific insights
This is the latest step in my continuing journey nurturing and profiling innovation in Sri Lanka — both technological and social. I consider myself a ‘critical cheer-leader’ for innovators.
I’m building on my quarter century of experience in promoting innovation through the print, broadcast and online media: profiling relevant individuals, policies, institutions and challenges.
However, I’m only the more visible front-end of a team effort: the real heroes are the producers of the new series who work long and hard to line-up the stories, studio set, graphics, video editing and all other elements that go into making a TV show.
Special thanks to the indefatigable producer, Suminda Thilakasena and graphics team.
Dr Wijaya Godakumbura being interviewed by Nalaka Gunawardene on Malima
The first episode features:
• An interview with Dr Wijaya Godakumbura, inventor and promoter of the multi award winning Sudeepa safe bottle lamp that saves hundreds of lives
• German aircraft company e-volo has built the world’s first electric multicopter, a new kind of flying machine
• Ancient Lankan technology of extracting medicinal essence from plant products
• Interview with child inventor Sajini Jayanetti, 15, about two of her inventions: Automatic Fixed Amount Liquid Chemical Adder; and a new method to prevent drunken driving
Here’s the first episode (in Sinhala), now on my Vimeo channel:
Malima (New Directions in Innovation): Episode 1 from Nalaka Gunawardene on Vimeo.
