Professor
Cyril Ponnamperuma (1923-1994) |
He
was one of the foremost scientists in the world. His
nomination to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences kept
him on par with worldrenowned scientists in mathematical
and scientific fields.
Professor Cyril Ponnamperuma was born in Galle, Southern
Capital of Sri Lanka, on 16th October 1923 to a family
distinguished in the field of education of the day.
Having completed his early education with flying colours
at St. Aloysius College, Galle and subsequently at
St. Joseph's College, Colombo, young Cyril Ponnamperuma
proceeded to India and in 1948 obtained a B A degree
in philosophy from the University of Madras.
This ambitious man motivated by the pursuance of
knowledge landed in the United Kingdom and registered
with Birkbeck College University of London and obtained
a B Sc degree in chemistry in the year 1959.
At the same time he had the opportunity to associate
with Professor J. D. Bernal, a pioneer and well-known
scientist engaged in experiment and research in the
field of the origin of life. After his studies at
the University of London, he proceeded to America
and could receive his doctorate in chemistry from
the University of California, Berkley in 1962 under
the direction of the Nobel Laureate Professor Melvin
Calvin.
According to his colleague Arthur C Clarke and many
others of the same calibre "No other scientist
of Sri Lankan origin was internationally known and
respected as he was. To say the least Professor Ponnamperuma's
academic career was long and so distinguished. He
had completed over 400 publications and had held innumerable
prestigious academic posts during his rather short
lifespan.
In 1962, he was honoured with a National Academy
of Science resident associateship tenable with NASA
at Ames Research Centre and in 1963 he had the opportunity
to join NASa's Exobiology Division and take over the
helm of the Chemical Evolution Division.
His laboratory studies were focused mainly towards
the origin of life but only when he was selected as
a principal investigator for analysis of the moon
dust in the 'Apollo Programme' his name and photo
appeared on the cover-pages of prestigious world class
newspapers and magazines such as 'Time' and 'News
week' this placed his name on the uppermost rung of
the ladder 'fame'.
Thereafter, he closely involved with NASA in the
'Viking' and 'Voyager' programmes and was offered
the membership of both the space science advisory
council and life sciences Advisory Council of NASA.
'Third World Academy of Sciences' (TWAS) based in
Trieste, Italy elected him as its vice president in
1989 and appointed him Chairman of the International
Network of Science Centres in selected developing
Counties and he also contributed immensely to the
Third World Foundation of North America as its Chairman.
He was the first director of the Arthur C Clarke
Centre for Modern Technologies in Sri Lanka, and in
1984 Professor Cyril Ponnamperuma was appointed science
advisor to the President of Sri Lanka by the late
President J. R. Jayewardene. He was so fortunate,
indeed, as to be associated with many universities
in the USA and other countries. He served as a distinguished
Lecturer at the Soviet Academy of Sciences and the
Chinese Academy of Sciences for a considerable period.
The Indian Atomic Energy commission offered him an
assignment as a distinguished visiting Professor in
1967. UNESCO appointed him for a period covering 1970-1971
as its Director of Programme for the development of
basic research in Sri Lanka. After that, in his endeavour
to widen the horizon of knowledge of the fellow human
beings the distinguished Academic apex he selected
was Maryland University in USA. Since 1971 he provided
his yeoman service to that University as the Professor
of Chemistry as well as the Director of the laboratory
of chemical evolution.
His contribution to the development of International
Programmes of that University was acknowledged in
deserved manner in January 1991, the first distinguished
International Service Award was presented to him by
that university. Among the many awards that the Professor
Ponnamperuma had received were the first A. L. Oparin
Gold Medal for the 'Best sustained Programme' on the
origin of life awarded by the International Society
for the study of the origin of life in 1980. In recognition
of his service to Sri Lanka, he was conferred, 'the
Honour of Vidya Jyothy at the 1990 National Day investiture
ceremony by President Ranasinghe Premadasa.
The presence of this great son of Sri Lanka, was
so conspicuous all over the world as to be nominated
to the prestigious Pontical Academy of Sciences, a
body represented by world-renowned scientists who
excelled themselves in the spheres of mathematical
and experimental sciences.
The Academy of Creative Endeavours, Moscow, awarded
him the Harold Urey Prize and the coveted, academy
Medal for his outstanding contribution to the study
of the origin of life.
He is the Sri Lankan scholar best known to the scientific
community in every quarter of the world.
His active participation in the Sri Lankan science
arena began in 1984. When he became the science adviser
to late Sri Lankan President J. R. Jayewardena, on
the invitation of the president and within a matter
of months he was appointed, Director of the Institute
of Fundamental Studies, Mother Lanka was fortunate
to have a son who was a serious researcher with highly
recognized scientific achievements and dedicated himself
for many public causes which were contributory factors
to make a difference and foster the economic, social
and cultural aspects of the ordinary people, for that
matter his organisational abilities and communication
skills have been widely acknowledged.
He passed away soon after suffering a heart attack
at the Laboratory of Chemical Evolution, University
of Maryland USA.
The remains of Professor Cyril Ponnamperuma were
flown to Colombo on January 9, 1995.
