Professional Member Spotlight
Sureka Thiruchittampalam
Written by: Madeleine Dawson, Content and Design Staff for IEEE GRSS
Sureka Thiruchittampalam is a mining engineer and lecturer at the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Resources Engineering from the University of Moratuwa and recently earned her PhD in September 2024 from the School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering at UNSW Sydney, Australia. She currently serves as the chapter head of the newly formed IEEE GRSS Sri Lanka Chapter and has been an IEEE GRSS member since 2023.
Introduce yourself and give us a short background of who you are and what you do?
I am a mining engineer, and my Ph.D. research focused on image-based automated characterization of mine waste materials. My work spanned multiple disciplines, including mining, remote sensing, image processing, and computer vision. Within the IEEE GRSS, I serve as the Sri Lanka Chapter Chair liason.
How long have you been a member? Tell us about your GRSS journey.
I have been a member of GRSS since 2023. At the IGARSS 2023 conference, I presented a paper and had a conversation with Mariko Burgin, who was the GRSS president at that time. During our discussion, I highlighted the lack of opportunities like this in Sri Lanka and shared my interests in accessibility. That conversation marked the beginning of it all, and Mariko played a pivotal role in supporting the formation of GRSS Sri Lanka.
What made you decide to join GRSS?
I was initially drawn to GRSS through membership to attend the 2023 IGARSS conference in Pasadena, California.
How has GRSS helped you professionally?
As a mining engineer, remote sensing is a relatively new domain for me. While I studied a few related modules during my undergraduate program, I felt the need to incorporate the latest advancements in my field into my PhD research. This is where GRSS proved to be invaluable. At IGARSS, I attended summer school, where I had the opportunity to meet other PhD students who shared similar challenges and experiences. Many of those connections have endured, and I remain in touch with them today. One notable connection was Riyaaz, whom I met during the GRSS summer school. Riyaaz later contributed as a resource person for GRSS Sri Lanka last year. Engaging with GRSS has helped me stay informed about advancements in my field, connect with the global community, and explore new directions in research.
Academically, I’ve been expanding my network. My involvement in IEEE has provided a platform to connect with individuals interested in multidisciplinary research. Through this, I’ve been able to engage with other societies, such as the IEEE Industrial Association Society (IAS). Exploring these areas has broadened my perspective, fostered collaborations, and enhanced my understanding of how others approach similar challenges.
What message or advice can you give to individuals who want to join the community?
Be prepared to collaborate and make the most of the resources available! Start as a mentee, and work toward becoming a mentor in the future. The mentoring I received from Mariko has been invaluable in helping me involve others and develop the qualities of a good mentor.
What has your experience been like as the chapter head of a new GRSS chapter?
It has been quite a learning curve for me. Initially, I was filled with excitement, but I had to navigate through a process that, at times, felt daunting. Engaging volunteers and motivating them to get involved was particularly challenging. However, once I overcame that hurdle, things began to improve significantly. The experience has truly tested my patience and taught me valuable lessons about leadership. Although it hasn’t been easy, the effort is now yielding positive results for all of us.
Why do you think it is important to create a chapter in your region?
Sri Lanka is home to many universities and institutions that focus on remote sensing. Despite this, the field remains broad, encompassing geosciences and various other disciplines, yet there is a lack of a dedicated platform for connection and collaboration. While there are countless individuals interested in remote sensing, they currently lack a centralized network or community. This gap highlights a significant need for such a platform.
During IGARSS, I noticed that several local chapters from other regions were sharing their brochures. This inspired me to think – why not establish a similar initiative in Sri Lanka? Interestingly, I observed only two or three Sri Lankans at IGARSS, all of whom were PhD students studying abroad. This further solidified my motivation to create a platform within Sri Lanka that could promote collaboration, support local talent, and connect the growing interest in remote sensing.
What are the plans your chapter has set moving forward?
We are actively collaborating with different regions to strengthen our network. Recently, we hosted a collaborative webinar with an Indian student branch chapter, IEEE GRSS BIT Mesra student branch chapter. Looking ahead, Sri Lanka will host the International Young Professionals (YP) Summit in October 2025. This will be the first in-person summit, a recognition of the outstanding contributions made by our local volunteers. This event will attract more participants and introduce our country and its opportunities to new regions, promoting meaningful connections.
Additionally, as the DEIAB liaison, I am planning several initiatives to enhance awareness and accessibility of GRSS across Sri Lanka. We aim to make GRSS knowledge widely known and accessible, targeting the entire island. To achieve this, we are organizing district-level events for school children, ensuring our outreach impacts communities at the grassroots level.
What is your vision for the future of your chapter?
The GRSS network we are building aims to address region-specific challenges by leveraging global expertise. Our goal is to create a more collaborative environment that promotes meaningful connections and solutions. Looking ahead, we envision a future where volunteers are motivated to lead GRSS initiatives out of genuine interest and dedication. This vision serves as our main focus for now. Currently, we have around 30 members actively engaged, and we are working diligently on membership development to expand our reach and impact.
Do you have anything else to add?
As part of the formation of the GRSS Sri Lanka Chapter, I would like to express my gratitude to a few individuals whose invaluable contributions made this process possible. One such individual is Paola Valdez, who provided immense support during the petition process. This journey was challenging for us, given the insufficient GRSS membership within Sri Lanka and the numerous entry barriers we encountered. Despite these difficulties, Paola guided us throughout the months of this demanding process. Additionally, I wish to acknowledge Tianlin Wang, the chapter coordinator, for his active involvement and dedication during this initiative. His commitment greatly contributed to the successful establishment of our chapter.
Finally, we are open to collaboration and eager to share the lessons we’ve learned throughout this journey with others seeking to start their own chapter. We have provided our contact and social channels below.
Email for Sureka: s.thiruchittampalam@ieee.org
Sri Lanka Chapter Social Channels:
www.linkedin.com/company/ieee-grss-srilanka/
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