3rd Announcement
Half-day Seminar organised by the Calypso project partners
Adopting new technologies for the control of the trans-boundary maritime space
- A challenge for the shelf area of the Maltese Islands and Southern Sicily

on 28 May 2012 (0900hrs – 1300hrs)
at the Grand Hotel Excelsior, Floriana

The seminar is intended to highlight technological applications for an improved response to marine hazards, better control of the trans-boundary maritime space, and greater efficiency for security and safety at sea. The risk of oil from marine spillages beaching on shores, hitting important infrastructure and causing irreversible environmental damage is a very realistic menace in the stretch of sea between Malta and Sicily. The seminar presents the use of a top-end technology, consisting of an array of High Frequency radars, to monitor in real-time meteo-marine surface conditions.

Keynote speeches and presentations will be delivered by high profile experts such as the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale of Trieste, REMPEC, Oceanography Centre of Cyprus and Guardia Costiera. The seminar will also bring together universities, research institutes, government responsible entities and other stakeholders to ensure optimal exploitation of this applied technology.

Contacts
For any further details kindly contact Prof. Aldo Drago or the Project Secretariat: Ms Marija Attard and Ms Raisa Tarasova.

Click here for full details. [PDF]

The China Cultural Centre in Malta, together with the Confucius Institute at the University of Malta, has invited a renowned Beijing opera performing artist from China to give a lecture on how to appreciate Beijing opera.

Information about different types of roles and their way of singing, costume and makeup will be introduced during the lecture. Demonstration of facial makeup and performance of some famous pieces will be given by the professional Beijing opera actors and actresses. This is a great opportunity to understand the myth of Beijing opera and the quintessence of Chinese culture.

The List of Seminars for 2012 of the Work in Progress in the Social Studies (WIPSS)
under the Auspices of the Mediterranean Institute

Wednesday 18 April
Virginia Monteforte - EHESS, Paris
Remembering the Past: narrative and naming in contemporary Maltese politics

Wednesday 25 April
Prof. Vicki Ann Cremona - University of Malta
Fancy Dress, Rank, and Dignity: power and play in Carnival balls from 1800 to the early 1900s.

Wednesday 9 May
Prof. Mary Darmanin - University of Malta
Changing Religious Identities at the Edge of European Secularity: 'Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.' (Acts 27, 26)

Wednesday 16 May
Andrew Alamango - University of Malta
Malta’s Lost Voices: the phenomenom of recording Maltese music in the interwar period (1931-32)

Wednesday 23 May
Dr Jean-Paul De Lucca - University of Malta
At Loggerheads or in Dovetails? The individual and the state from the early modern jus gentium to contemporary international jurisprudence

Wednesday 30 May
Prof. Tim Cheney - Idaho State University
Supreme but not Final: the role of the Supreme Court in the United States

Monday 4 June
Prof. Rebecca Boden - University of Roehampton, London
and
Prof. Debbie Epstein - Cardiff University
A Flat Earth Society? Imagining academic freedom

Wednesday 13 June
Prof. Paul Clough - University of Malta
Ultimate Moral Experiences: analysing conflict resolution among African immigrants in the light of Emmanual Levinas' moral philosophy
 
All seminars from 9 May will be in Room 122, Mediterranean Institute, at the end of the glass corridor behind HSBC on campus, 1800hrs - 1900hrs followed by discussion. The public is cordially welcome.

The Maltese genome is being sequenced. The information will help to understand human development and identify disease at an earlier stage speeding up cures. Locally, research is also ongoing on the genomes of other organisms that may be of social and economic interest.The May Business and Scientific meeting of the Malta Chamber of Scientists entitled 'Genomes of Malta', held in collaboration with the University of Malta and St James Cavalier Centre for Creativity is being held at 1830hrs, 30 May, at St James Cavalier in Valletta.Professor Alex Felice will chair the meeting with the participation of Dr Gabrielle Zammit, Mr Adrian Bugeja Douglas and Dr Joseph Borg. The contributors shall discuss the Malta Genome Project, the complicated genomes of simple organisms, the genetics of economically valuable organisms, and recent discoveries on the control of haemoglobin genes in development. Science professionals, educators, and students are welcome. After the presentations, a discussion will be held over drinks and nibbles. Membership may be obtained at the door.

Defined as a 'man on a mission', Leo Bormans describes himself as an ambassador of happiness and quality of life. On Friday 1 June, Mr Bormans will be in Malta to deliver a public talk on happiness and how to develop optimistic thinking entitled: 'The Power of Positive Thinking'. The event, including a public debate, will be moderated by Professor Joe Friggieri. It will be held at the Phoenicia Hotel, Floriana and starts at 0830hrs.

Organised by LeadingTalks, in collaboration with the University’s Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT) and the Malta Philosophy Society, the talk is open to social workers, businessmen, teachers, academics, NGOs, and government officials.

Leo Bormans challenges the myths about happiness and positivity. A Belgian journalist, inspirator, writer and motivational speaker, he is the chief editor and author of the international bestseller 'The World Book of Happiness' – a collection of 100-odd short essays about happiness. The book has been translated in various languages and has been sent by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy to all leaders of the world as a special New Year’s gift in 2012.

'Mr Bormans supports the international movement for Happiness and Quality of Life. Today, several researchers are encouraging a relatively new discipline of positive psychology. If we have a better understanding of our inner positive potential and look at the bright side of things, then we can make better use of our profound techniques to create happiness around us,' said Patrick Parnis, the mind behind LeadingTalks.

LeadingTalks is an organisation that has for the last year brought over to Malta a number of high-profile speakers from different backgrounds - industry, media, entrepreneurship, who gave public seminars to selected audiences.  LeadingTalks aims to provoke healthy discussions among policy makers and the industry following a presentation by an international speaker.

'RIDT is pleased to associate itself with this initiative as part of its outreach programme. We are working together with a number of cultural and academic events, creating a platform for more awareness about RIDT’s role as the Trust is seeking to attract contributions to further the advancement of research, innovation and development in all areas of tertiary study,' said Wilfred Kenely, CEO of RIDT.

The event is being supported by the European Commission, The Malta Business Weekly, Bank of Valletta p.l.c., Lighthouse & Ashley, Phoenicia Hotel, PSA Insurance, Palumbo Shipyards, Multi Packaging Co. Ltd, John’s Garage and Good Causes Fund.

The World Book of Happiness is available from Agenda Bookshop. Those attending the Public Talk – The Power of Positive Thinking are asked to register in advance by email. Space is limited. Entrance is free of charge.

Leo Bormans, the author of the international bestseller: The World of Happiness will be conducting a Public Talk on Friday 1 June.

The Faculty of Theology

is holding a public lecture by

Dr Andrew Abela

on
'What’s Wrong With Business Ethics?
Can Catholic Morality Help?'

at the M.A. Vassalli Conference Centre - Gateway Building (GW) Hall E, University of Malta, Msida Campus

on Monday 4 June at 1830hrs

Dr Andrew Abela is Chairman of the Department of Business and Economics, and Associate Professor of Marketing, Catholic University of America.

CMC2012 is the Fifth International Concept Mapping Conference which will be hosted in Malta between 17 and 20 September, 2012 under the auspices of the University of Malta along with the collaboration of the Institute for Human Machine & Cognition (IHMC), Florida. This conference is held biennially and counts on an attendance of the world’s leading exponents of Concept Mapping. The primary aim of this conference will be to showcase and promote prevalent research and innovation with the use of Concept Mapping from all over the world.

Concept Maps convey at a glance how learners are developing their understanding. They are a powerful and effective metacognitive tool so as to empower active student participation during the learning process. When working with Concept Maps in the classroom, teachers and students alike will become aware of what the learners know, whether they have any misconceptions and how well they are developing their understanding. In this way, teachers would be in a better position to mentor and coach the development of the learner rather than shape the learner into a one-size-fit all learning environment. Consequently, this would be challenging the transmission model of education and the passive role of learners therefore contributing to learners becoming reflective and creative thinkers. It is also worth mentioning that Concept Maps are not only used in educational settings such as for teaching strategies, a means of evaluation or assessment, a curricular or research design tool but also in organisations and businesses such as decision-making companies, science and technology, medical education, engineering, in military settings, government such as the US Defence Department and even space explorations by NASA. All of these sectors will be represented during the conference. Concept Maps are highly effective in organising knowledge which is necessary for organisations/industry, to capture, manage, create and transfer information and knowledge.

Participants from Malta wishing to attend should send an email.

Click here to download the document with full details.

The 44th EUCEN Conference, entitled 'Border-crossing as a Viable Choice: Collaboration, Dialogue and Access to Higher Education' will be held in Malta between 7-9 November, 2012. Hosted by the University of Malta, the conference will address four themes: border-crossing, collaboration, access and migration issues in Higher Education. Professor Carmel Borg is the academic coordinator of the conference.

EUCEN, the European Association for University Lifelong Learning, is the largest European multidisciplinary Association in University Lifelong Learning.

EUCEN was founded in 1991. It is registered in Belgium as an international non-governmental non-profit making organisation and has 222 members from 43 different countries.