The latest issue of Xjenza Online, the Malta Chamber of Scientists’ open access science journal, brings you five new insightful articles. Opening with an article by Vella and Camilleri, this issue gives a detailed decomposition method to explain changes in poverty when the poverty line is not fixed and depends on the income distribution.

Following this, an article by Fabri et al. looks into the macroeconomic and socioeconomic determinants of early school leaving (ESL). The results show the convolution of ESL involving nonlinearity, equifinality and asymmetric relations with the key determinants being inequality and parental education.

Cutajar et al. break down the steps towards setting up a valuable and informed mixed method evaluation strategy for science festivals and events taking place on a large scale. Public opinion and protest efficacy are explored by Visanich in the context of the proposed yacht marina in Marsaskala. This study uncovers the underlying factors that resulted in the concerns raised by this proposal. These include the social, environment and economic impacts that would follow such a development, most specifically on the community infrastructure of the locality of this sea-side town.

This issue closes with an article by Borg Muscat et al. concerning the factors affecting the abundance and distribution of feral pigeons in Malta’s urban environments. This study aids in coming up with a tailormade and economical scientific management plan for the controlling of feral pigeons in urban spaces.

Xjenza Online, sponsored by RIDT (Research Trust Malta) and MCST (Malta Council for Science and Technology), continues to explore a broad range of innovative scientific research through its various literature mediums. These include research articles, reviews, research reports and short commentaries. Contributors, including students from any field, are encouraged to submit their articles through our website.