Outreach programs of the Department of Biotechnology aim to disseminate knowledge and promote biotechnology to audiences within and outside the university community. The department is highly committed to offering outreach activities for schools to demonstrate the practical applications of biotechnology. These events take place at the department or at schools upon request. The department provides direct hands-on experience to prospective students and organizes age-appropriate laboratory experiments for younger students.

The Biotechnology Society of the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka (BitSoc) organizes most of these events, with active participation from both students and staff. Every year, the department hosts a “Biotechnology Day” to present its work to the university community. Additionally, the society and the department publish news and activities biannually in the e-circulated BitSoc Newsletter.

Outreach activities that we regularly offer include:

• Seminars and guest lectures on biotechnology-related topics by recognized experts, such as the “BitSoc Annual Seminar”.
• Demonstrations and workshops in collaboration with biotechnology industries during “Biotechnology Day”.
• Laboratory learning sessions for school students of all ages, conducted in the biotechnology laboratory or at schools upon request.
• Providing expertise through exhibition stalls, science popularization seminars, guest lectures, teacher training, and media publications.

A few outreach activities previously organized by the department include:

• The BitSoc Hackathon (October 2024): Launched the first biotechnology-focused hackathon in Sri Lanka, engaging both higher education institutions and schools island-wide, including participants from Harangala Secondary School and Girls’ High School, Kandy.
• Biotechnology Day 2025 (October 2025): Organized industrial awareness sessions and real-world research-to-practice transition workshops in collaboration with Avon Pharmo Chem (Pvt) Ltd.
• Public Webinar Series (2022–2025): Conducted open-access virtual educational programs featuring industry and clinical experts, including “The Promise of Vaccines in a Pandemic Era” and “Undergraduate Research Skill Development.”
• Community Welfare & Social Responsibility (December 2024): Organized a community outreach and almsgiving program at the Shripati Lama Piyasa children’s home alongside student financial aid initiatives.