May 2013www.um.edu.mt/alumni

U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A L T A A L U M N I N E W S L E T T E R

T H E LUMINARY

Science Students Visit Top Research Facilities in ParisThe Science Students’ Society (S-Cubed) at the Univer-sity of Malta has for the third year running organised an educational trip abroad. Made up of a group of 40 students reading for various degrees within the Faculty of Science, S-Cubed organised a visit to the French cap-ital city, Paris between the 23rd and 27th March 2013. Apart from being a cultural hub, this city also features a great number of state of the art research laborato-ries and institutes which are often administered by, or

operating in close collaboration with, the French Na-tional Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). Some of the facilities visited during their four day stay include the Laboratoire de Photonique et de Nanostructures (LPN), Institute des Hautes Études Scientifiques (IHES), Soleil Synchrotron, Institut d’Imagerie Biomédicale, Institut Curie and the École Normale Supérieure which boasts three Physics Nobel laureates, the latest being awarded in 2012 to Serge Haroche.

Insects, Fitter People, 3D maps and DiamondsManhattan, Chicago and San Francisco are mapped in gorgeous 3D, now Malta has joined their ranks. Dr Saviour Formosa has coordinated a €4.4 million EU-funded ERDF project to map Malta like never before, freely available this June. The project can help Malta develop better disaster relief plans to save lives.

This story is covered in the research magazine Think, of the University of Malta, now available at all newsagents. Other stories cover how University graduates are excelling in Bahrain and how a 100-word idea might change Malta.

Researchers are also trying to answer: how can economics make us fitter and happier? Turning peoples’ assumptions on their head, a new field in economics is attempting to understand how people make choices. By using this information to rebuild consumer trust, citizens should spend more responsibly which will help dampen future financial crises and might solve the obesity epidemic.

Locally, most people speak Maltese and English. Past fears indicated that bilingualism could confuse children and that they wouldn’t speak properly. Overwhelming evidence is showing how bilingualism could be giving our children an advantage for the rest of their lives.

University academics talk about challenges in IVF, continuing the discussion from previous issues. While others discuss new services that women need to compete fairly in academia. On the other hand, students are researching earthquake monitoring in Xemxija and how diamonds might be used in computers.

The magazine also covers local research into insects. Some are loved while others, like the Asian Tiger mosquito, are feared. Over 6,000 insect species could inhabit Malta.

Think may be picked up free in newsagents around Malta and Gozo and in Agenda bookstores, viewed on Issuu http://bit.ly/ThinkUoM04, followed on Twitter @ThinkUoM or liked on Facebook.

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THINK RESEARCH

C arnival revellers (male and female) recently plastered their faces with lipstick, mascara, facepaint, nail polish, and dozens of oth-er cosmetic products. Few of these wondered about the extensive re-search needed to overcome the pack-aging challenges behind these beauty- enhancing devices.Challenges are numerous and diverse: how can a make-up cosmetic case mini-mize the chances of the customer open-ing a dry and flaked product? How can a lipstick container be designed in an elegant and smooth way that opens si-lently? What functions can make a cos-metic case more useful, secure, and light in a handbag? How can a cosmetic case’s button be improved to prevent broken nails?

A company like Toly Ltd (based in Malta) needs these questions answered to provide a world-class product. To remain competitive and innovative, re-search and development need support. Chairman and CEO, Andy Gatesy strove to meet these challenges head on by working with the University of Mal-ta (UoM). Toly has forged a long-term joint research collaboration with UoM,

in particular the Department of In-dustrial & Manufacturing Engineering (DIME). Through this collaboration, many undergraduate students had the possibility of applying their theoreti-cal background to real world problems, which results in win-win-win scenarios, for Toly, the student, and DIME. Toly also partnered with DIME and other University Departments in na-tionally funded research initiatives such as the MCST R&I Automate project. This concerned industrial automation and two ERDF projects — one of them intended to amplify innovation in the manufacturing industry and another one on improving energy efficiency in manufacturing. Toly’s belief in the research poten-tial of the UoM is reflected in regular-ly sponsored projects. It recruits UoM graduates to help it remain innovative and competitive. It also allows an As-sociate Professor to spend time from his sabbatical period to follow product development. “We cannot predict the future but we can create it”, said Mr Gatesy. Experience has shown that joint research with UoM is essential for Toly to develop its future growth towards a global market. •

Dr Anton Bartolo, Director of the KTO, outlined some exciting develop-ment for the University of Malta and its future role. “Through the ESF project we are creating a network of all stakeholders involved in the Knowledge Transfer and Entrepreneurship ecosystem: entrepre-neurs, businesses, academics, investors, students, lawyers, accountants, and members of related entities including the Malta Chamber of Commerce, En-terprise and Industry, Malta Enterprise, MCST, and MITA. By the end of the year we hope that all Knowledge Trans-fer and Entrepreneurship activities will be housed in the newly built Faculty of ICT building. This will include the of-fices of the KTO and CEBI staff and a brand new Business Incubator for Uni-versity spin-outs and other start-ups, in-cluding, we hope, those seeded through the ITP course."Without the proper support for re-search, none of these developments that can improve Malta’s future would be needed. Research generates new knowl-edge and innovations, and this is the only fuel that can keep times bubbling. •

Cosmetic Research?

Photo by Jean Claude Vancell

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RESEARCH

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U niversities are places from where leaders and entrepre-neurs emerge. From here, new knowledge originates and students are forged to face the real world. While retaining these traditional roles, modern universities must embrace new ones by pushing the social and economic progress of a country.Stronger relations with industry to cre-ate and transfer new knowledge and new technologies are the primary drivers of this change. This new business model requires new funding streams. Investment needs to come from the corporate sector and phil-anthropic organisations. The Research, In-novation and Development Trust (RIDT) of the University of Malta has, since 2011 when it was set up, attracted an encouraging number of donors — companies, public in-stitutions, foundations, individuals, alumni, and students — who have generously donat-ed funds or equipment. On the knowledge creation front, the University Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO) recently won a European Social Fund (ESF) project entitled ‘Creating a Knowledge Transfer Framework and Technol-

ogy Entrepreneurship Training Programme’. KTO expects to use the project to perform a giant leap and propel the University of Malta towards becoming an Entrepreneur-ial University. University will become more entrepreneurial by inducing a more buisness orientated culture in its alumni, faculties, students, and staff by collaborating with private companies, government entities, and business networks. The approach will pro-mote entrepreneurship at a national level for Malta’s socio-economic benefit.

All big words and noble goals, but the ap-proach must be practical and down to earth. The first step has involved an audit of the current situation. Based on this information, the KTO hammered out a realistic future

goal for Malta and the framework needed to achieve it. The result is a roadmap to struc-ture the office around four activities. First, to encourage collaboration between busi-ness and University. University can support business by providing research, innovation, and skills. Second, to provide consultancy services that link academics and University departments with buisnesses. Third, to sup-port academics by protecting and commer-cialising intellectual property, and use this, through licensing and start-up activities, to promote innovation and stimulate economic activity. Fourth, to setup a business incuba-tor on campus to support graduates and aca-demics to launch then grow start-ups.One immediate target which will be launched shortly, is the University’s new Centre for Entrepreneurship and Business Incubation (CEBI). This academic centre will be responsible for entrepreneurship training at the University. The Centre will launch a new Intensive Training Programme (ITP) in Entrepreneurship for graduates in Engineering, ICT, Sciences, Media, and Creatives. The goal is to equip graduates with the necessary tools to convert their ideas into successful start-ups.

A new business model for University

“University can support business by providing research, innovation and skills”

THINK FEATURE

FEATURE

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Dr Saviour Formosa

FUTURE-SAFE

MALTAThe emergency forces have been inundated with

calls for help and have few plans to operate a

workable rescue effort. Key personnel were lost

at home or while rushing to the scene, since the

infrastructure has been knocked out, paralysing the

island. Power surges or power cuts have caused

fires all over the Islands creating an apocalyptic

scenario. With the storm still raging, the lack of a

back-end ICT network has rendered communication

near impossible.

A fleet of small aerial drones is monitoring the

disaster. The authorities are using them to identify

the hardest hit areas and map out corridors that

allow access on the ground. Emergency vehicles are

being deployed safely. Services will be redeployed

after safety assessments and clearing of the main

infrastructure. Paramedics, NGO rescue teams, and

armed forces help move people to safer grounds and

carry out rescue operations. Community buildings

on higher ground are converted into temporary

shelters. In turn, decision-makers are kept informed

using an Emergency Room for effective relief.

SCENARIO 1

AN UNPREPARED ISLAND

SCENARIO 2

THE IDEAL SCENARIO

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The above cutout could become reality if a Category 3 storm lashes Malta with

178 to 208 km per hour winds. The chances are minimal but too probable to

ignore, since in 1995 a similar storm formed close to the Maltese Islands followed

by others in 1996, 2006, and 2011. Below are two scenarios that compare Malta

as it currently stands against an island with a solid disaster management plan.

THINK FEATURE

FEATURE

Prof. Helen Grech

Stick to one language! Was the old maxim. Otherwise,

you’ll risk confusing your kids and they will never learn

to speak properly. Research by Prof. Helen Grech and

her team shows that this is not true: bilinguals usually

do better. Teaching your child two languages at a go

might delay them initially but helps them in the long

run. Words by The Editor

EXPE

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ALTA

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THE LUMINARY MAY 2013 2

Professor Eugène Buttigieg, holder of a Jean Monnet Chair of European Law at the University of Malta and Judge at the General Court of the European Union has just published the book Rights and Remedies for the Consumer in the European Union. The book, the third in the series of Rights and Remedies Conference publications, contains contributions by distinguished scholars in the field of consumer law: Dr Christine Riefa (University of Brunel), Professor Christopher Willet & Dr Youseph Farah (University of Essex), Professor Christian Twigg-Flesner (University of Hull), Professor Geraint Howells & Jonathan Watson (University of Manchester & University of Münster, respectively), Professor Christopher Hodges, (University of Oxford & Erasmus University of Rotterdam), Professor Dr Udo Reifner (University of Hamburg) and Professor Dr Klaus Tonner (University of Rostock, Germany and Judge at the Oberlandesgericht Rostock),

The volume that benefited from financial support from the European Commission discusses the rights

of consumers shopping on online auction platforms; remedies and enforcement in respect of unfair contract terms; remedies for faulty goods and the balancing of the interests of consumers, traders and coherence of the law in this respect; redress for consumers in respect of unfair commercial practices; alternative dispute resolution as a new mode of redress for consumers; financial services and consumer protection; and passenger rights and rights and remedies in the context of package travel.

The book should be of particular interest to members of the legal profession, academics, consultants, advisors, regulators, public officers, business and industry, non-governmental organisations and students.

More information about the book is available on http://www.um.edu.mt/laws/notices/newbookeditedbyeugenebuttigieg and copies of the book may be purchased from the Law Faculty Office, Room 217 (Mr James Bonnici, tel 23403460, email jm.conference@um.edu.mt) or by accessing the abovementioned site.

Rights And Remedies For The Consumer In The European Union

International Trade Finance Course launchedThe University of Malta has joined forces with the International Factors Group (IFG) and FIMBank p.l.c. to launch the Certificate of Finance in International Trade. The pro-gramme aims to introduce participants to the world of international trade, logistics, trade supply chain management, asset based lending and trade finance. It also in-corporates the IFG Academy Week, which is the only truly international comprehen-sive and integrated course on the theory and practice of factoring and commercial finance. The six-week curriculum which will be held in Malta is designed to provide par-ticipants with a wide range of competen-cies that will enable them to further their career in the corporate world. Professor Joseph Falzon, Head of the Department of Banking & Finance, and Dean of the Fac-ulty of Economics, Management and Ac-countancy at the University of Malta stat-ed that: “We are proud to be associated with the IFG and FIMBank. This certificate programme will provide a sound frame-work for those wishing to pursue further

The students were re-ceived with great hospi-tality by each of the in-stitutes and were given detailed explanations of the research being done there followed by an extensive tour around their facilities. S-Cubed also visited Cité des Sci-ences et de l’Industrie which is the biggest Science museum in Eu-rope.

S-Cubed would like to take this opportunity to thank the CNRS office for the Mediterranean in Malta and French Em-bassy in Malta for their support in making this trip possible. This trip was also recognised by the Degree Plus Scheme.

study or seek a career in the field of trade finance. Jointly with our partners, who will provide additional international lecturers and trade finance bankers, the programme will offer a unique educational experience - both theoretical and practical.” The Certificate of Finance in Internation-al Trade has been jointly developed by the partners in order to meet the demands of the commercial world and offer a platform from which participants can increase their understanding of all aspects of interna-tional trade, the import and export busi-ness, logistics and trade finance. The prin-cipal objective of the course is to deliver a competitive, industry-focused educational programme that will provide the tools needed to achieve professional develop-ment goals in international trade finance. The emphasis throughout will be on the practical aspect of real life international trade scenarios The support of this train-ing programme is being effected through the University’s Research Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT).

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This newletter is published by the Communications and Alumni Relations Office within the University of Malta. All Rights Reserved 2013

THE LUMINARY MAY 2013 3

The Master of Arts in Con-temporary Western Phi-losophy offers responses from various strands of thought or movements in contemporary philosophy to questions raised not only within branches that are traditionally within the remit of philosophy (ethics, logic and meta-physics) but also with the newer branches of phi-losophy (artificial intel-

MA in Contemporary Western Philosophy

Party Politics in a Fortress ColonyA third edition of this book by Prof. Henry Frendo, first published in 1979, has just come out from Midsea, up-dated to 2012. Available from all leading book-shops in Malta, it is be-ing launched, together with his other recent volume, ‘Europe and Empire’ (Midsea, 2012), at Senate House, Lon-don University, on 20 May, at the conclusion of the lecture series on ‘The Legacy of Empire,’ in which the University of Malta is being repre-sented by Prof. Frendo.

ligence, surveillance, communication).

The programme ex-plores themes and mo-tifs that circulate within the discourses of con-temporary western phi-losophy. In this respect, the Master of Arts in Contemporary Western Philosophy goes be-yond the outdated ana-lytic-continental divide. More.

EIP AT FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

The 1st Lifelong Learning, Erasmus Intensive Programme (IP) entitled ‘Predictive Modelling and Risk Assessment’ was successfully hosted at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Food Studies and Environmental Health. The course was held in March and April of this year and eight teachers and 22 students from five different Universities participated.

International Journal of Emotional Education

The latest issue of the International Journal of Emotional Education (IJEE) has been published by the Euro Centre for Educational Resilience and Socio-Emotional Health at the University of Malta.

The issue focuses on the training of teachers in social and emotional learning, with one paper by a group of researchers from Sweden, and another by Sue Roffey and Florence McCarthey in Australia. Another paper by a team of researchers from Australia reviews the literature on the training in emotional intelligence as applied to various contexts such as education, business, mental health and sports. Another interesting paper from Hong Kong/UK explores the current interest amongst young people in negative affect in relation to the history of melancholy and theories of identity formation.

The IJEE is a biennial, peer-reviewed, international, electronic journal, indexed in PsycINFO, and supported by an international board of reviewers with high level expertise in the field. It is an open access journal and as from this edition all editions, including the journal archive, are open to the public.

CRC Public Lecture

Professor Carmel Vas-sallo, Head of the Depart-ment of Spanish and Latin American Studies, Faculty of Arts and Coordinator of the Mediterranean Mari-time History Network will be giving a public lecture entitled “18th Century Cot-tonera: a vibrant ‘Smart City’ open to the world” on Friday, 10 May 2013 at the Cottonera Resource Centre, St Edward Street, Vittoriosa (ex-Lorenzo Gafà Boys’ Secondary School at 7 pm.This is one of the first ac-tivities of the newly estab-lished Cottonera Resource Centre set up to act as a hub between uni and the inner harbour area.