The Institute of Earth Systems' Award for Academic Excellence is presented annually to qualifying students in recognition of outstanding academic achievement in their undergraduate studies.

In order to qualify for the Award for Academic Excellence, students must consistently obtain the highest results, including a minimum of 80 ECTS at grade A or better and a further 20 ECTS at grade B or better, during the first two years of the B.Sc. (Hons) in Earth Systems course.

The 2026 Award was presented to Ms Julia Borg, Mr Daniel Calleja, Ms Sofia Carpinato and Ms Nicola Farrugia  by the Institute's Director, Professor Everaldo Attard together with Professor Elisabeth Conrad, Head of the Institute's Environmental Management and Planning Division, during the eighth Earth Systems Graduate Launchpad event held on campus on 26 June 2026. The Award was sponsored by APS Bank, who kindly provided the small monetary prize presented to each of the four students. The Coordinator of the B.Sc. (Hons) in Earth Systems, Dr Mark Scerri, was among the UM staff members present, together with practitioners, regulators, civil society activists and other professionals in the environmental sector.

Since its inception in 2014, the Institute’s Award for Academic Excellence has been awarded to the following students:

2026: Ms Julia Borg, Mr Daniel Calleja, Ms Sofia Carpinato and Ms Nicola Farrugia

2023: Ms Julianna Ostrowska and Mr Gareth Craig Darmanin

2022: Ms Shirley Muscat and Mr Jérèmie Tranchant 

2021:  Mr Luca Laudi 

2020:  Ms Nadya Buga

2019:  Ms Mandy Balzan and Ms Michaela Borg

2016:  Ms Marta Falzon

2015:  Mr Paul Galea

2014:  Mr Martin Austad, Ms Cecilia Camilleri, and Mr Luca Pisani