Shortlisted Entries 2021

WICKED

Ashubodha Gurusighe

University of Moratuwa | Sri Lanka

to build or not to build?

Wicked problems are complex, inflexible, open ended and unpredictable groups of problems which are mostly proliferating such as, global warming, drug abuse, child protection and natural disasters that directly affect the human and other living beings. The ill-definition and intractability of these problems highlight the need of identification and simplification to enhance the ability of dealing with them for a better future.The complexity of the problem may change according to the dimension which the problem controls; the problem itself and the stakeholder involvement in the relevant problem. 

Why is the waste crisis wicked in Sri Lanka? 

Waste crisis can be identified as a place specific wicked problem in Sri Lanka. Due to numerous attributes which control the complexity of the problem affecting numerous ways, the solutions that are given are not the best sort of solutions. These solutions may lead to another complex problem in future affecting another ways. Landfill urbanism is one of the key effects due to the waste crisis in Sri Lanka.