The University of Malta’s Dean of Science Awards for outstanding students was started by the Faculty of Science in 1995 and is now an established tradition. The awardees and their immediate relatives were invited to the ceremony held recently at the Msida campus. A welcome address by the Dean, Professor Charles V. Sammut, was followed by that of the Hon. Minister for Education and Employment, Mr Evarist Bartolo, and that of the Hon. Parliamentary Secretary, Dr Stefan Buontempo. A musical performance by the Stringers Trio, consisting of Michelle K. Paris (Irish Celtic Harp), Glenn Paul Pace (Guitar) and Elaine Mercieca (Keyboard) followed.

All the speakers congratulated the students and Professor Sammut also addressed their relatives saying that the support they offered was crucial for the students' success and that of the Faculty.  He emphasised the importance of scientific research as the source of sustained innovation. The Faculty of Science at present has 51 Research Master and 30 Ph.D. students, which together constitute just over 17% of the student population in the Faculty. The number of scientific publications in international peer-reviewed journals, books and conferences is steadily increasing.

The Minister thanked Professor Sammut for the invitation to the event, and praised the students and the Faculty on their achievements. He promised continued support to the development of science education and to finding ways of providing research opportunities for science graduates. However, he said that more effort of strategic importance to the country was needed to popularise science and to help younger students achieve better performance in pre-university education in literacy, mathematics and science.
 
Following the award presentation, the Dean congratulated the Science Students Society, S-cubed, for their enthusiasm and hard work and presented the Council members with a commemorative plaque on the tenth anniversary of this organisation. He said that S-cubed had become a very important part of the Faculty.

In his concluding address, the Parliamentary Secretary encouraged the students to channel their knowledge and enthusiasm into scientific research. He emphasised the government's commitment in support of research, as evidenced by his specific portfolio. This was a priority for the country, as research promoted competitiveness and created high value job opportunities.

Professor Sammut thanked the Faculty administrative staff, especially Ms Claire Saliba, who coordinated the event. He also thanked the sponsors, BoV, Technoline Ltd, Malta Communications Authority, Vodafone and Agenda Ltd.

This year’s award winners were:

Year I
Chetcuti Janet (Mathematics & Statistics & Operations Research)
Farrugia Glen (Mathematics & Statistics & Operations Research)
Sultana Maria (Mathematics & Physics)

Year II
Brincat Aaron (Biology & Chemistry)
Bugeja Glorianne (Physics & Statistics & Operations Research)
Fenech Kurt (Mathematics & Physics)

Year III
Bajada Mark (Chemistry & Physics)
Cassar Sarah (Computer Science & AI & Mathematics)   
Pace Daniel (Mathematics & Statistics & Operations Research)           

Year IV
Farrugia Josianne (Banking & Finance & Statistics & Operations Research)
Magri Byron (Mathematics & Physics)
Micallef Glorianne (Biology & Chemistry)
                  
The BOV Prize for Science was awarded to Mr John Gabarretta, who thanked the Faculty for a highly profitable experience during the three years of his B.Sc. (Hons) course.

Bike to Work Day was recently celebrated as part of the University's Green Travel Plan (GTP). A small group of University employees together with the GTP Coordinator teamed up to cycle from their home destination to the Msida Campus.

Bike to Work Month and Bike to Work Day, celebrated on May 8, demonstrate that there are many cycling enthusiasts. There is also safety in numbers. When the amount of cyclists increases on the road, car drivers get used to them and accident figures usually go down. The safer people feel, the more they will cycle. Recently cycling facilities such as bicycle racks, showers and lockers were installed at the University of Malta to accommodate staff and students who make use of this sustainable mode of transport.

Cyclists can travel safely by observing all traffic regulations, installing bicycle lights and wearing reflective and protective clothing.

For a 'Bicycle Facilities Map' and any other travel information access the website or send an email.

Food belongs at the heart of our culture and access to convenient, nutritionally beneficial, high quality food is today a major issue for consumers.

The University of Malta’s Faculty of Health Sciences is offering a three year course leading to a B.Sc. (Hons.) degree in Applied Food and Nutritional Sciences. The full-time programme consists of a multidisciplinary study of food, nutrition and dietetics, drawing knowledge from a range of disciplines including chemistry, biology, physics, psychology, geography and even business. It addresses key issues concerning both producers and consumers, including aspects of manufacture and marketing, legislation, labelling and retail.
Study topics include Food Technology, Food Safety, Food Composition, Analysis and Production, Food Policy and Microbiology, and a thorough understanding of Human Metabolism and Nutrition Science, with a focus on Health & Disease.

There are varied potential career paths after graduation due to the   training and experience   acquired during the three year programme. By taking on the option of an additional year at postgraduate level, one finds there are varied options which include training in a clinical environment to become a locally registered Dietitan.

Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on
'Tsunamis Awareness, Mitigation and Preparedness for
Tourism sector, Marina & Yacht clubs, Schools and Communities in Malta'
23-24 May 2013

The International Ocean Institute (IOI) and their partners are co-organising a Stakeholder Consultation Workshop entitled 'Tsunami Awareness, Mitigation and Preparedness for Tourism sector, Marina & Yacht clubs, Schools and Communities in Malta'. The event is scheduled during 23-24 May 2013 at the University of Malta.

The Republic of Malta is located in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea and is densely populated especially at coastal areas. The Mediterranean Sea is seismically active with large earthquakes in Greece, Italy, and Turkey; principally as the result of the collision of Eurasian and African plates. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami has raised a number of urgent issues regarding tsunami, and has pointed out the lack of a clear international strategy of how to deal with these mega-events. These questions have to be faced also in the Mediterranean Region.

The Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami Early Warning and Mitigation System (TWS) in the North-eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean and connected seas (ICG/NEAMTWS) was created under IOC/UNESCO in June 2005, in response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami with the clear mandate of take the lead for the implementation of the TWS in the NEAM Region.

The IOI organised a previous Workshop (October 2012) to assist NEAMTWS in the implementation of a Tsunami Early Warning System for the Maltese Islands.

The Civil Protection department as Tsunami Focal Point (TFP) for Malta, with the collaboration of the IOI, participated in the first Tsunami Exercise in the NEAM Region (December 2013) organised by the ICG/NEAMTWS to assess the national and local warning dissemination and response mechanisms.

The Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on 'Tsunamis Awareness, Mitigation and Preparedness for Tourism sector, Marina & Yacht clubs, Schools and Communities in Malta' organised by IOI in collaboration with the Institute of Earth System (IES), University of Malta, the Civil Protection Department of Malta (CPD), the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security and the Ministry of Education and Employment, with financial support from the IOI and the Middlesea Insurance p.L.c; is the second stakeholder workshop organised for a better understanding of and capacity improvement, preparedness and awareness of the Maltese Islands against tsunami events.

International and national experts, stakeholders and representatives of the Civil Protection Department (CPD), Ministry for Education and Employment, Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), St Jonh Recue Corps, MCAST Maritime Institute, University of Malta, local councils, schools and private companies will be attending the Workshop.

The aim of the workshop is to provide stakeholders with an overview of the Northeast Atlantic, Mediterranean and Connected Seas Tsunami Warning System (NEAMTWS), cases studies, and relevant development of end-to-end tsunami early warning and mitigation systems and to plan and discuss ways to implement tsunami awareness, mitigation and preparedness for schools and communities, the tourism sector and marina & yacht clubs in Malta. This is to meet the ultimate goal of protecting life and property of the Maltese people and foreign visitors living on the Maltese Islands.

During the Workshop, a number of distinguished experts will present a holistic picture on tsunami early warning and mitigation system, the role of NEAMTWS, case study of Thailand, tsunami simulation and risk mapping, community awareness and preparedness, education, prevention and mitigation measures. The Workshop will make a major contribution to discuss and to identify level of readiness and plan of actions on end-to-end tsunami early warning and mitigation systems for public safety in Malta.

This will be used as precedent for next steps towards involvement of Malta in establishment and development of the national tsunami warning center and related activities in the future.

Kids on Campus Summer Brochure and Registration Forms are available online.

Late applications are being accepted.

The Institute for Sustainable Development of the University of Malta in collaboration with the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering of University College London (UCL) is pleased to announce the Sixth International Summer School on Geographic Information Systems between 22 and 26 July 2013. The objectives of the Summer School are to provide mid-career professionals, undergraduate students and graduates with the skills necessary to handle Geographic Information in various formats and how they integrate into Geographic Information Systems. This year the Summer School will focus on the creation and collection of geographic information, data management and handling on the web and within various GIS software. Hands-on sessions will complement the lecture-based sessions, with participants using GPS, Open Street Map, ArcGIS and open source software.

The Summer School will run for a period of five days and participants will be engaged in lectures and practical sessions for six hours a day at the main University Campus in Msida. The Summer School will not require participants to have previous knowledge of GIS, however they are expected to have basic computer knowledge. The teaching faculty this year will consist of Dr Maria Attard (University of Malta), Dr Helena Titheridge (University College London), and Ms Thérèse Bajada (University of Malta).

More information on the Summer School can be obtained from the website or directly from the Institute for Sustainable Development on email or telephone +356 2340 3403. Enrolment in the Summer School is on a first come first serve basis. The registration deadline is 31 May 2013.

The Master of Arts in Contemporary Western Philosophy offers responses from various strands of thought or movements in contemporary philosophy to questions raised not only within branches that are traditionally within the remit of philosophy (ethics, logic and metaphysics) but also with the newer branches of philosophy (artificial intelligence, surveillance, communication).

The programme explores themes and motifs that circulate within the discourses of contemporary western philosophy. In this respect, the Master of Arts in Contemporary Western Philosophy goes beyond the outdated analytic-continental divide, proposing an eclectic approach that finds a virtue in the cross fertilization of movements and ideas. However, despite the emphasis on the contemporary this programme is not suggesting a tension with or disavowal of the past, of the tradition within which contemporary philosophy is embedded. Rather, this programme conceptualizes itself as both a re-invigoration and broadening of the tradition of western philosophy.

Click here for full details. 

The University of Malta is pleased to announce that it will be offering five summer schools in June 2013.

Caravaggio: Art and Knighthood

Military Architecture in Baroque Malta

Near Eastern Studies

Underwater Archaeology

The Mediterranean Coast - Threats and Opportunities

Each summer school will be of two to three weeks duration. Sessions will be provided by distinguished speakers and lecturers from Malta and overseas. Visiting lecturers will come from Italy, Israel, United
Kingdom, United States and Slovenia.

All sessions will be held at the Valletta Campus, University of Malta, St Paul Street, Valletta

For further details please visit the website or contact Mr Mario Cassar
Valletta Campus
University of Malta
Tel: +356 2340 7501/2

www.um.edu.mt/imp

 

20 May 2013
http://www.um.edu.mt/newsoncampus/features