Dr Gayan Pathirana is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Oceanography and Marine Geology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences & Technology, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka. He holds a Master’s degree from the State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), China, and a Ph.D. from the Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea. As an expert in tropical climate research, Dr Pathirana specialises in climate science and his research focuses on tropical air-sea interactions, biophysical interactions, monsoon dynamics and extreme events. He is also the coordinator of several international projects related to ocean and climate science, promoting global collaboration in these fields. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, he has received several awards for research excellence. His work continues to be at the forefront of scientific research and education, advancing the understanding of oceanic and atmospheric processes.