Category Archives: Public information
When Worlds Collide #113: Outpacing Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean: Are we ready?
Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today newspaper on 4 July 2014 Timely warnings about on-coming disasters can literally save lives – provided the word reaches those at risk. And they know what to do, and … Continue reading
When Worlds Collide #112: Social Media ‘Candles’ for Mainstream Media Blackouts
Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today newspaper on 20 June 2014 What is the best way to manage public information in times of national crises – whether disasters, epidemics or conflict? All governments face this … Continue reading
When Worlds Collide #111: Science Journalism for Better Governance
Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today newspaper on 13 June 2014 Years ago, as a young science journalist working for Asia Technology magazine of Hong Kong, I was shown around Pakistan’s space agency SUPARCO premises … Continue reading
When Worlds Collide #72: Open Science and Closed Societies: Can it work?
Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday broadsheet newspaper on 30 June 2013 “Let us drink to the success of our hopeless endeavour,” was a favourite toast of old Soviet dissidents. As things turned out, … Continue reading
When Worlds Collide #12: Of Tsunami Waves and Twitter Ripples…
Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 22 April 2012 To warn or not to warn — that was the question. On 11 April 2012, following a powerful undersea earthquake, government officials in … Continue reading
When Worlds Collide #2: Get used to the ‘Idiot Box’, folks!
Text of my ‘When Worlds Collide’ column published in Ceylon Today Sunday newspaper on 12 Feb 2012 Question: What was gifted to Sri Lanka’s Children of ’77 in 1979, was properly unpacked three years later, and over the next three … Continue reading
When Worlds Collide, by Nalaka Gunawardene 