The Humanities, Medicine and Sciences (HUMS) Programme is organising the Yuletide HUMS Symposium on Wednesday, 9 December 2015. The symposium will be held at 09:00 in the Faculty of Arts Library, University of Malta Msida Campus.
Chairs: Prof. Victor Grech, Prof. Clare Vassallo
Programme
09:00 Coffee
09:30 Dr Robert Sciberras - Music and cardiovascular disease
10:00 Dr David C. Magri - Bright Molecules with Sense and Logic
10:30 Ms Vickie Gauci - The journey from Charity to Rights
11:00 Prof. Simon Attard Montalto - Clocks though the ages: from irrelevance to a profound scientific art form
11:30 Dr Daniel Vella - Copy or Authentic? Gold ring from the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, Malta
12:00 Prof. Joseph Cacciottolo - Politics of the Breast
12:30 Seasonal refreshments
The speakers and their presentations
Robert Sciberras
Dr Sciberras is consultant physician at Gozo General Hospital with an interest in cardiology, diabetes, gastroenterology, and medical education. He is a trained and qualified musician, leads a hospital-based musical ensemble, and organises concerts in Gozo.
Music and cardiovascular disease will explore the relationships between music and cardiovascular disorders, addressing matters relating to both prevention and treatment.
David C. Magri
Dr Magri, senior lecturer in analytical chemistry, graduated from the University of Western Ontario, and was a Research Fellow at Queen’s University, Belfast. He lectured at the University of Prince Edward Island, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and Acadia University. His current research interests include the development of luminescent molecular chemosensors and logic gates. He is an Associate Editor of Xjenza Online, coordinator of Science in the House and recipient of the 2014 Malta Science Innovation Award Premju Innovazzjoni.
Bright Molecules with Sense and Logic - Dr Magri's research group designs intelligent molecules that perform logical functions for detecting and measuring analytes in solution. The molecules report their findings by emitting, or not emitting, a bright fluorescence signal. This presentation will highlight the potential application of intelligent molecules for real-life applications in corrosion science, environmental analysis and biomedical diagnostics.
Vickie Gauci
Ms Gauci is an Occupational Therapist by profession and has a Master's degree in neurorehabilitation from Brunel University, London. She is currently reading Social Policy on a Ph.D. programme at the University of Leeds. Her current research interests include assistive technology and universal design.
The journey from Charity to Rights will present the journey of the disabled people's movement across the years, the influences that shaped it and the constructions of disability in today's society.
Simon Attard Montalto
Prof. Attard Montalto is the Head of the Academic Department of Paediatrics at the University of Malta Medical School. His professional background includes general paediatrics, neonatal medicine and clinical teaching. He is an instructor in paediatric resuscitation and National Course Director for EPLS. His other interests include painting, antique clocks, and canoe-polo.
Clocks though the ages: from irrelevance to a profound scientific art form will consider a brief history of time keeping with a focus on clocks as instruments to regulate ever more regimented lifestyles, from crude beginnings in the ancient world to extremely accurate and valuable works of art by the 17th century. The talk will touch on the diversification of timekeeping over the past 3 centuries and the 'worth' (and why) of surviving examples, with an emphasis on antique English clocks.
Daniel Vella
Dr Vella is a lecturer in the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering. His doctoral studies involved the development and testing of conservation-friendly coatings for historical steel surfaces, namely munitions and knight armour from the Palace Armoury in Valletta. He was formerly on the teaching and scientific staff of the Malta Centre for Restoration/ Heritage Malta, where he was also responsible for the Diagnostic Science Laboratory.
Copy or Authentic? Gold ring from the National Museum of Archaeology, Valletta, Malta is a study of a Phoenician finger ring found in the collection of the National Museum of Archaeology, Malta and originally described by Sir Themistocles Zammit in 1925. The ring currently in the collection fits Zammit’s description but differs significantly in weight. The aim of this work was to throw light on the authenticity, or otherwise, of the ring using documentary sources and non-invasive scientific techniques of analysis.
Joseph Cacciottolo
Prof. Cacciottolo has a professional background in clinical respiratory medicine, cardiovascular epidemiology, and medical education. He currently coordinates the Humanities, Medicine and Science Programme at the University of Malta.
Politics of the Breast broadly addresses several historical and cultural perspectives relating to the human female breast. It also addresses medical issues relating to the breast, principally those that have been affected by gender politics.