“Instant” Professor

When I visited Sri Lanka in 2007, I mentioned that I am thinking of returning and doing some productive work to Prof. Buddhi Marambe, Dean of Agriculture, who was my counterpart in Peradeniya University – UC Davis Cooperation Project. He said that the Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture has three visiting professorships open, talked to the director and put me the list of potentials. This was when the civil war was intense. There were only two applicants, including me. I was the only one to accept the offer and actually assume duties. This is how I became an ‘Instant’ (Visiting) Professor, without ever being an assistant professor or assistant lecturer!

I enjoy the job and the beautiful campus. I conducted a new course on renewable energy systems last semester and also started several research projects. Some of these projects are based on concepts developed through my long association with agro-processing industries in Sri Lanka in the distant past and involve; recovery oil from desiccated coconut mill effluent, new tea dryer, curing and storage of onions, vacuum assisted soaking of paddy and protein concentrate from refuse tea.

The process of starting new research projects is slow, and these projects are all at initial stages at present. Hopefully, these projects will develop into viable new technologies.

I am very grateful to all the friends and colleagues in the University for making me feel more than welcome and to old-Davisites who have become a part of our extended family.