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.

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.

Faculty of Arts Dean’s List Awards, sponsored by Bank of Valletta

The Dean’s List awards for the University of Malta’s Faculty of Arts were presented by the Dean of The Faculty, Professor Dominic Fenech, on 2 May.

This year, three students qualified for the Dean’s List. They are Mr Glen Bonnici (B.A. Honours Italian), Ms Yanika Bugeja (B.A. Honours Philosophy) and Ms Giulia Privitelli (B.A. Honours History of Art). These students will be graduating in November 2013.

Presenting the awards Professor Fenech explained that, with at least two-thirds of the credits of the first two years obtained at Grade ‘A’ or higher, only the very top students, about one in hundred, qualified to have their name included in the Dean’s List.  Congratulating the students, he noted with satisfaction that all three of them hailed from what some call the south of Malta, an area where student enrolment into university courses was relatively low. He wished them the very best in their future studies and careers.

The Dean also warmly thanked Bank of Valletta for their sponsorship, noting that this was the sixteenth year that the Bank acted as the sole sponsor of this prestigious academic award.

Representing the sponsors, Ms Vanessa Macdonald, Head of Media and Community Relations, explained that Bank of Valletta was happy to support academic excellence among students in general, and in particular was delighted to be the sole sponsor of the Faculty of Arts Dean’s List. Bank of Valletta believed that good academic preparation was the foundation to a successful career for students and a support for the country’s social and economic progress. She added her congratulations and presented the students with cash prizes. 

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SHUTCM) and the University of Malta (UoM). Through this agreement, the two parties have expressed an interest in establishing bilateral cooperation in the setting up of an education programme leading to a Master Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Culture.   Vice President Professor Liu Ping signed the agreement on behalf of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, while Rector Professor Juanito Camilleri signed on behalf of University of Malta. This meeting has been facilitated by Mr Reno Calleja the President of the Malta China Friendship Society and by Professors from both universities. His Excellency The Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China was present at the signing ceremony.

The parties will endeavour to sign a Specific Framework Agreement within a year, while both parties shall be exploring the possibilities of other forms of academic and clinical cooperation in the field of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine.

Junior College student Janice Valentina Bonnici, placed first in the national 2012 Juvenes Translatores contest, a translation competition organised annually by the European Commission. Janice, a student of French and Maltese at Advanced level, was invited for the awards  ceremony in Brussels which took place on the 11 April 2013. She was accompanied by Ms Claudine Borg, lecturer within the French Department at the Junior College who coordinates the competition and coaches the students. The Junior College has won this contest twice, in 2008 and in 2012. Two other Junior College students, Claudianne Camilleri and Maria Zammit have also earned a special mention for exceptional translation skills.

A group of Junior College students currently participating in The Art of Living – a Comenius project dealing with sustainable lifestyles - attended a session at the Gaia Foundation.

The visit aimed at giving a first-hand experience of local initiatives and at introducing students to the concepts of Project Gaia, which focus on a holistic approach of coastal zone management, the protection of coastal zones in the Maltese islands, as well as local biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.

The students visited the Centre located in Għajn Tuffieħa and were given tips on how to become Eco-Citizens. They were shown how olive trees are grown organically and also had the opportunity to sample organic extra virgin olive oil produced through the foundation’s efforts. Gaia caters for over 300 olive trees and through its project initiative Athene, supports the re-establishing of olive growth and agro forestry in Malta.

There are 194 students studying at the University of Malta Gozo Campus, following degree or diploma courses in a wide variety of subjects, including arts, commerce, criminology, educational leadership and inclusive education.  Courses in clinical nursing practice, public accounting and Master of Science in Sustainable Energy are offered via video conferencing.

383 Gozitan students following courses at the University of Malta Msida Campus have been given the opportunity to sit for their May/June session of examinations in Gozo.  Approximately 250 examinations will be held in Gozo at the end of the present semester.

The Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences is offering short courses open to the general public and students in the following areas:

• Introduction to Editorial Design
• Introduction to Digital Photographic Post Processing
• Introduction to Screenwriting
• Art Photography

The 1st Lifelong Learning, Erasmus Intensive Programme (IP) entitled 'Predictive Modelling and Risk Assessment' was successfully hosted at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Food Studies and Environmental Health.

Participating Universities and Teachers:
University College Dublin - Dr Enda Cummins
University of Malta - Dr Vasilis Valdramidis
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven - Prof. Jan Van Impe, Dr Filip Logist
Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l’alimentation Nantes Atlantique - Dr Jeanne-Marie Membré, Mrs. Laure Pujol
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki - Prof. Kostas Koutsoumanis
The University of Birmingham - Dr Serafim Bakalis

More information is available here.  

 

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