Buddhika Madurapperuma
Research Associate
I am enthusiastic and passionate about learning new techniques and research methodologies, which I can integrate to my research and teaching endeavors. After getting my Bachelor degree, I worked for several universities and leading research institutions in Sri Lanka and the Unites States to gain sound knowledge to build my career in academia. I like attending scientific conferences, networking with scientific community and partnership with local communities to address the environmental issues. I conduct multidisciplinary research in two broad topics: (i) understanding multi-scaled land-use/cover dynamics and urbanization trends on regional and national scale, (ii) Mapping distribution patterns of invasive species in arboreal ecosystems using hyperspectral data and LiDAR derives vegetation matrices. In addition, I conduct research on forest silviculture, carbon sequestration, and ethnobotany. My teaching philosophy is ‘active hybrid’ approach with rudiments with active content learning and service learning. I believe learning concepts through real life situations are useful to enhance learner’s interest on the subjects that I teach. I like Humboldt since it has friendly teaching environment, and is also located in a beautiful environment with fabulous beaches and redwood forests.
Education
Ph.D. North Dakota State University, Environmental and Conservation Science
M.Phil. University of Peradeniya, Plant Sciences
B.S. University of Kelaniya, Botany
Courses Taught
FOR 131 - Forest Ecology
GSP 270 - Introduction to GIS
GSP 236 - Intermediate Remote Sensing
Publications
Madurapperuma, B.D., Rozario, P.F., Oduor, P.G. and Kotchman, L.A. 2015. Land-use and land-cover change detection in Pipestem Creek watershed, North Dakota. International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences, 5:416-426
Madurapperuma, B.D. and Kuruppuarachchi and K.A.J.M. 2014. Detecting land-cover change using mappable vegetation related indices: A case study from the Sinharaja Man and the Biosphere Reserve. Journal of Tropical Forestry and Environment, 4(1): 50-58.
Oduor, P.G., Armstrong, M., Kotchman, L., Kangas, M., Maddurapperuma, B., Forward, K., Wijeyaratne, P., Santos, X., Nakamura, A. and Leidholm K. 2014. Designing an online geospatial system for forestry resource management. Journal of Geographic Information System. 6: 185-208.
Nakandalage, H.A., Kuruppuarachchi, K. A. J. M. and Madurapperuma, B. D. 2014. Balancing beams of psychological distress amongst first-year students of university of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Indian Journal of Research in Management, Business and Social Sciences, 2(1), 27-33.
Madurapperuma, B.D., Amarasinghe, M.D. and Oduor, P.G. 2013. Salient ecological functions of a tropical freshwater wetland. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research and Management, 18: 45-51.
Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.J.M., Seneviratne, G. and Madurapperuma, B.D. 2013. Drought induced fine root growth and canopy green-up of tropical dry zone vegetations in Sri Lanka. Journal of Tropical Forestry and Environment, 2(2): 13-19.
Madurapperuma B.D., Oduor, P.G. and Kotchman, L.A. 2013. Detecting land-cover change using stochastic simulation models and multivariate analysis of multi-temporal landsat data for Cass County, North Dakota. Environment and Natural Resources Research, 3(4): 78-91.
Madurapperuma, B.D., Oduor, P.G., Kuruppuarachchi, K.A.J.M., Wijayawardene, D.N.N. and Munasinghe, J.U. 2013. Comparing floristic diversity between a silviculturally managed arboretum and a natural forest reserve in Dambulla, Sri Lanka. Journal of Tropical Forestry and Environment, 3:(2), 11-22.
Madurapperuma B.D., Oduor, P.G., Anar, M.J. and Kotchman, L.A. 2012. Understanding Factors that Correlate or Contribute to Exotic Russian Olive Invasion at a Wildland-Urban Interface Ecosystem. Invasive Plant Science and Management, 6: 130-139.
