Award of the 15th IOI Elisabeth Mann Borgese Bursary, 2025

The annual Elisabeth Mann Borgese [i] (EMB) Bursary of the IOI was established as a means of demonstrating recognition to the host country of the IOI – Malta – for hosting the IOI Headquarters and for providing facilities for staff and offices at the University of Malta’s Msida Campus. Since its first award in 2010 to today, 15 years later, the Bursary financed through the IOI constitutes a further recognition and acknowledgement of the role of Prof. E. Mann Borgese, founder of IOI, and of her considerable achievements.

The 2025/2026 EMB Bursary was awarded to Ms Antonia Scicluna to carry out an investigation on the artisanal fishery targeting Portunus segnis (Blue Swimmer Crab) and other alien crustaceans in Maltese waters and shall form part of a Masters of Science in Biology (mainly by research) with the Faculty of Science at the University of Malta. The EMB Bursary funds shall be utilised to enhance current research work by supporting the purchase of specialised samples and equipment. 

The 2024 EMB Bursary awarded to Ms Perla Galatolo to carry out an investigation on the state of Posidonia oceanica meadows in Maltese bays subjected to anthropogenic disturbance and pollution has come to a successful conclusion and the research underpins a Master of Science in Cross-Disciplinary Science [Mainly by Research] with the Faculty of Science at the University of Malta. 

The award ceremony for this year’s Bursary was held on the 2nd October at IOI HQ. Present at the Ceremony were Pro-Rector Prof. Joseph Cacciottolo, Prof. Louis Cassar, representing the EMB Bursary Selection Board, Prof. Patrick J Schembri,  IOI Managing Director Antonella Vassallo, Ms Antonia Scicluna (EMB2025 awardee) and Perla Galatolo (EMB2024 awardee) 

For further information about the IOI and its programmes please contact ioihq@ioihq.org.mt or view the IOI HQ website.

[i] Elisabeth Mann Borgese (April 24, 1918 - February 8, 2002), founded the IOI in 1972 as a knowledge-based non-governmental, non-profit international organisation devoted to the sustainable development of the oceans. IOI works to uphold and expand the principles enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for the benefit of humankind as a whole, with particular consideration of the poor.  The mission of the International Ocean Institute is to promote education, training and research to enhance the peaceful uses of ocean space and its resources, their management and regulation as well as the protection and conservation of the marine environment, guided by the principle of the Common Heritage of Mankind.

 Malta is the host country of the International Ocean Institute Headquarters. As an island state straddling the centre of the Mediterranean Sea, it has a long history of dependence on the sea as well as a strong tradition of maritime, fishing and seafaring occupation. Its membership of the European Union confers on it an obligation to adhere to the European maritime and fishing policies as well as conventions and regulations which are global in scope.