Kirthi Tennakone

}} Kirthi Tennakone is a Sri Lankan scientist with an assortment of research interests in theoretical and experimental physics, chemistry and biological systems. He has authored over 350 publications covering a diverse variety of disciplines. He is the former Director of Institute of Fundamental Studies, Sri Lanka (now named as National Institute of Fundamental Studies) and the first Professor of Physics at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. He pursued studies leading to a doctoral degree in Theoretical Physics at the University of Hawaiʻi under supervision of Sandip Pakvasa. Pakvasa and Tennakone were the first to suggest that neutrinos may be massive and to consider the astrophysical implications. In condensed matter physics, Tennakone pioneered the studies on semiconducting properties copper(I) thiocyanate, a rare example of a transparent p-type semiconductor, currently adopted in many devices and developed techniques of its deposition as thin films. He was the first to introduce the concept of the dye-sensitized solid state solar cell and demonstrate a working prototype of the same. Sri Lanka Government recognized his contribution to research and education and awarded National Honors on two occasions. He was one of the Union of Concerned Scientists who signed to the document presented to world leaders in 1992 about environmental degradation that threatens global life support systems on this planet. Provided by Wikipedia