Knowledge and progress is a direct result of research. Underestimating its importance is akin to shunning the role of the sun in our solar system. At the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Ispra, Italy, Europe’s brightest minds are working relentlessly to provide independent evidence to support policies being developed by the European Union––policies that have a direct impact on people’s lives.
With the support of the Executive Chairman of the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST), Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, five Maltese scientists from the University of Malta (UM) travelled to this hub of European research after winning the JRC’s Young Scientist Award.
The awardees Dr James Carlo, Sephora Sammut, Joanna Vella, Dr Shawn Baldacchino and Dr Vanessa Petroni come from different fields; air and climate, water and marine resources, and health in society respectively. While there, they shadowed leading scientists in their areas who gave them an exclusive inside look into the work carried out at the JRC and an avenue to find out more about potential contributions they themselves could make to the Centre.
The climax of the visit was a poster presentation during which the five scientists pitched their research projects to a crowd of high level professionals that included the JRC’s board of governors and Director General Vladimir Šucha.
Prof. Emmanuel Sinagra, the Maltese member of the Board of Governors, was present at the event. He stated that ‘Malta has now pioneered this event which will be taking place in the EU country hosting the Presidency, enabling the introduction of young scientists to the work of the JRC.’ Prof. Sinagra also commended the JRC National Contact Point Dr Melchior Cini from MCST, also present at the event, who produced a selection process that will now serve as a template for subsequent events of this nature.
The Young Scientist Award is a great opportunity for UM’s up-and-coming researchers to raise awareness around the valuable work being carried out at the University, share their own ideas and create links with peers in the rest of Europe.
The ultimate result will be for young Maltese researchers to join the team at the JRC, representing Malta as they contribute directly to the effort to inform policy at the European level.
The JRC Malta Young Scientist Award Visit was funded by JRC as part of the rotating country of the Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The climax of the visit was a poster presentation during which the five scientists pitched their research projects to a crowd of high level professionals that included the JRC’s board of governors and Director General Vladimir Šucha.
Prof. Emmanuel Sinagra, the Maltese member of the Board of Governors, was present at the event. He stated that ‘Malta has now pioneered this event which will be taking place in the EU country hosting the Presidency, enabling the introduction of young scientists to the work of the JRC.’ Prof. Sinagra also commended the JRC National Contact Point Dr Melchior Cini from MCST, also present at the event, who produced a selection process that will now serve as a template for subsequent events of this nature.
The Young Scientist Award is a great opportunity for UM’s up-and-coming researchers to raise awareness around the valuable work being carried out at the University, share their own ideas and create links with peers in the rest of Europe.
The ultimate result will be for young Maltese researchers to join the team at the JRC, representing Malta as they contribute directly to the effort to inform policy at the European level.
The JRC Malta Young Scientist Award Visit was funded by JRC as part of the rotating country of the Presidency of the Council of the EU.