THINK - Issue 30 by Think

DECEMBER 2019 • ISSUE 30

ISSN 2306-0735

I D E A S

•

M A LTA

•

R E S E A RC H

•

P E O P L E

•

U N I V E R S I TY

250th Anniversary Commemorative Nickel Coin Place your order at: î&#x201A;? um.edu.mt/commemorativecoin

FIND US ONLINE

To read all our articles featuring some extra content um.edu.mt/think

To follow our daily musings and a look behind the scenes facebook.com/ThinkUM

EDITORIAL

PURPOSE

o what difference does this story make – to you, to the audience, to Malta and beyond? Every writer in THINK answers

To communicate with us and follow the latest in research news twitter.com/thinkuni

this question. Researchers are driven by a purpose to find things

which no one else knows, to build on the passion and knowledge of others. We at THINK are driven to share these stories with you. As we close a year of discussions about home, health, love and,

now, purpose, we distill the compelling drive in our protagonists to

To see our best photos and illustrations instagram.com/thinkuni

do what they do. Purpose differs from the other ideas about quality of life. Having a purpose does not always translate into happiness. As summarised in an excellent web comic, The Oatmeal, it’s not about smiling and feeling positive all the time. ‘I want to be busy and beautiful and brimming with ten-thousand moving parts,’ the comic’s

To view some great videos youtube.com/user/ThinkUni

author wrote over a character nested in a bizarre flower with two light bulbs. It hurts our protagonists to do what they do. From sweating inside a prosthesis (p.22) to coming home exhausted by classroom social issues (p.24), from getting out of bed despite a life-draining condition

To read all our printed magazines online issuu.com/thinkuni

(p.47) to seeing one’s beloved city sacrificed to consumerism (p.34), neither research nor activism nor excellence is an easy ride. Still, purpose is what brings out the best in you, and it’s w orth the trouble. Explaining ikigai, the popular Japanese concept of ‘value in living’, Yukari Mitsuhashi stressed finding a purpose in action throughout daily life. We hope that even if you are swamped in routine, our stories

For our archive from the University of Malta Library um.edu.mt/library/oar

will help you see a purpose in your own life as well, and that purpose will propel you forward.

CONTRIBUTE

Edward Duca EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

edward.duca@um.edu.mt @DwardD

Daiva Repeckaite EDITOR

daiva.repeckaite@um.edu.mt @daiva_hadiva

Are you a student, staff, or researcher at the University of Malta? Would you like to contribute to THINK magazine? If interested, please get in touch to discuss your article on think@um.edu.mt or call +356 2340 3451

COVER STORY

CONTENTS ISSUE 30 � DECEMBER 2019 TOOLKIT

Steam, Ships, and Emissions

4 WITHOUT BORDERS

Where Archaeology, Physics, and Artificial Intelligence Meet

PURPOSE The last in our celestial series, this cover takes you to the stars, which guide travellers just like the focus of this issue – PURPOSE

DESIGN

Discover the other side

PURPOSE FOCUS

They are the champions

Can passion alone sustain our teachers?

Why do we eat?

Moving energetically ahead

Tourism in Valletta: have we gone too far?

Roots over routes

Repurposing economy

Voluntourism: serving your Instagram, your CV, or people in need?

8 OPINION

Lights, camera, activism

Designing success

STUDENTS

Allow yourself to get lost

I, in the Sky

Keep Calm and Factor This

CONTRIBUTORS TOOLKIT Prof. Raymond Ellul Chris Styles WITHOUT BORDERS Dr Marc Tanti DESIGN Emma Clarke OPINION Raisa Galea Daniela Quacinella STUDENT SECTION Maria Elena Galea Andrea Francesca Bellia Malcolm Pace

FOCUS Julian Bajada Marisabelle Bonnici Rodney Bugeja Prof. Joseph Buhagiar Lara Calleja Prof. Sandro Caruana Dr Analisse Cassar Emma Clarke Dr Angele Deguara Dr John Ebejer Antonio Flores Ing. Francarl Galea Prof. Joseph Grima Dominik Kalweit Vladyslava Kravchenko Graziella Mercieca Prof. Joseph Micallef Dr Stefano Moncada

Daiva Repeckaite Oliver Scicluna Adelaide Silva Dr Jonathan Spiteri Shruti Sundaresan Ryan Vella FEATURES Miriam Calleja Rebecca Camilleri Isabelle Cassar Fiott Christabel Cutajar Prof. Brenda Murphy Oliver Scicluna IDEA Prof. Joseph Borg

START UP Jonathan Azzopardi Frantz Marija Camilleri Benjamin Vincenti ALUMNI Teodor Reljic Mark Vella LAB TO LIFE Iren Bencze Gabor Molnar ILLUSTRATIONS Gabriel Izzo Kieran Teschner Jean Paul Vella

PHOTOGRAPHY Marisabelle Bonnici Lara Calleja Dr John Ebejer Carl Farrugia Nathaniel Galea Amanda Hsu Guriana Lozano Joseph Micallef James Moffett Luke Saliba Annabel Zammit Sarah Zammit Jean Claude Vancell WEBSITE Daiva Repeckaite Kieran Teschner

THINK is a quarterly research magazine published by the Marketing, Communications & Alumni Office at the University of Malta. To subscribe to our blog log into um.edu.mt/think/subscribe and fill in your details. For advertising opportunities, please call 2138 2741/7989 4778 or get in touch by email on afarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt

FEATURE

You look just fine – when pain is invisible

FEATURE

We see you

Imagine living with a condition that constantly drains your energy

Comedy creates a welcoming and inclusive space for non-standard couples

IDEA

DNA spacewalk How biologists and astronomers gave bacteria a space-like experience

START-UP

Tying loose knots

52 54

The nightmare of planning a wedding was turned into a business idea by two friends

LAB TO LIFE

Lasers bonding layers

Can lasers help take 3D printing to the next level?

ALUMNI

Living in Maltese A publisher finds an unexpected mission in the world of translation

60 TO-DO LIST

Beat winter blues with our handpicked entertainment suggestions

THINK I D E A S

•

M A LTA

•

R E S E A RC H

•

P E O P L E

•

U N I V E R S I TY

December 2019 - ISSUE 30

EDITORIAL

Edward Duca EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Daiva Repeckaite EDITOR DESIGN

Gabriel Izzo DESIGNER Jean Paul Vella ASSISTANT DESIGNER COPYEDITING

Robert Louis Fenech

ISSN 2306-0735 Copyright © University of Malta, 2019 The right of the University of Malta to be identified as Publisher of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright Act, 2001. University of Malta, Msida, Malta Tel: (356) 2340 2340 Fax: (356) 2340 2342 um.edu.mt All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purpose of research and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. The publisher has used its best endeavours to ensure that the URLs for external websites referred to in this magazine are correct and active at the time of going to press. However the publisher has no responsibility for the websites and can make no guarantee that a site will remain live or that the content is or will remain appropriate. Every effort has been made to trace all copyright holders, but if any have been inadvertently overlooked, the publishers will be pleased to include any necessary credits in any subsequent issues.

PROOFREADING

Robert Louis Fenech PRINTING

Print It, Malta

TOOLKIT

Toolkit

Prof. Raymond Ellul Photo by Jean Claude Vancell

Steam, Ships, and Emissions Author: Chris Styles

n one of the highest spots in Gozo there proudly stands a lighthouse. Built in 1840, it continues to warn

nearby ships away from the shallows. After a long night shift, the lighthouse has another crucial role to play. A team of researchers from the University of Malta, led by Prof. Raymond Ellul, has converted this historic piece of Malta’s heritage into a remote laboratory. It turns out this is the perfect spot for an air monitoring station. North of the island, in the seas between Gozo and Sicily, lies one of the busiest stretches of international waters on Earth, seeing approximately 85,000 cargo ships passing by annually. Each of these vessels constantly belches out masses of harmful gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (NOx), and sulphur dioxide (SOx). High levels of sulphur dioxide are associated with respiratory disease, preterm births, and at very high levels, death. Nitrogen oxides also cause respiratory disease and headaches, reduce appetite, and worsen heart disease,

Mathematical models distinguish pollution sources Photo by Jean Claude Vancell

leading to death. Prevailing winds carry these toxic gases

the volume of gas emissions to significantly increase

towards the Maltese Islands.

since the 1990s, he warns, ‘What is clear is the trend in

Apart from shipping, some of these harmful gases are

temperature which indicates an increase of 3–5 degrees

released by natural processes, such as volcanic eruptions

if projected to 2100. It is not simply a case of pollution

from nearby Mt Etna. Therefore, sophisticated equipment

increasing or decreasing, as the pollutants monitored exhibit

and mathematical modelling help researchers discriminate

very complex patterns [and interactions].’ According to

just how much cargo ships impact our air.

emission expert James Corbett’s (University of Delaware)

When Transport Malta first opened the doors of the lighthouse to researchers in 1996, the team had only three pieces of monitoring equipment. ‘That was all we could

data, 27,000 people in Europe die annually due to the toxic fumes emitted by ships. Having precise data will help the islands keep officials and

borrow from our German friends,’ Ellul recalls. ‘At that time

experts informed on the potential impacts of these fumes

research funding at the University of Malta was practically

and hopefully make proactive changes. The complex system

non-existent.’ Today the laboratory is full of blinking lights

of monitors, sensors, and algorithms that Ellul and his team

and monitors.

are operating in that lighthouse on top of that hill is crucial

Before the station opened, there was very little

for this.

Meanwhile, similar systems had been set up in the Baltic

You can read more about Prof. Ellul’s research in THINK

Sea and proved effective. Although Ellul has not observed

Issues 7 (2013) and 20 (2017).

Toolkit

information on the rate of emissions in the Mediterranean.

WITHOUT

BORDERS Where Archaeology, Physics, and Artificial Intelligence Meet Author: Dr Marc Tanti

ncient Egypt is famous for the

collections, such as the Museum of

A computer can turn hundreds

mummies of Pharaohs, but did you

Grenoble, in order to learn about

of those images into a 3D shape.

know that there are many mummified

their structure. This institute is better

This process is called tomography,

animals? Studying them offers scientists

known for its particle accelerator,

which I used in my research.

a wealth of knowledge on the method

which sets electrons flying at nearly

It turns out that this is a very small

and motivation behind this practice.

the speed of light to understand the

part of the archaeologistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; work. The

But mummies are fragile artefacts,

shape of drugs and other molecules.

bulk of the time is spent recognising

and museum curators don't generally

So, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the link with mummies?

and colouring different parts of the

appreciate archaeologists dissecting

A medical grade X-ray is not powerful enough to obtain high

(the bones, skin, textiles, and so on)

X-rays help researchers peek inside the

resolution radiographs of mummies,

to inspect these parts separately. This

mummies without damaging them.

but a particle accelerator can emit

is where my work on the Automated

intense X-rays that can pierce deep

Segmentation of Microtomography

intelligence, I started working as

into the mummy and create beautiful

Imaging (ASEMI) project comes in.

a research support officer at the

high resolution images. A single

University of Malta on a collaborative

X-ray radiograph is like a shadow

artificial intelligence to automatically

project with archaeologists at the

of the object from one side, and

recognise and colour in the mummy

European Synchrotron Radiation Facility

does not give enough information,

parts. This year-long project will bring

(ESRF), a research institute in France.

but by rotating the object as it is

down the time spent segmenting

These archaeologists are studying

being X-rayed, a radiographer can

objects from a few months to a

animal mummies from museum

get shadows from every angle.

few days or hours. It will allow the

Without Borders

After finishing my Ph.D. in artificial

mummy from the greyscale tomograph

their specimens. To get around this,

In the project, my job is to use

Segmenting a crocodile mummy to reveal textiles, skin, bones, internal organs, and skeleton. Credit: Camille Berruyer and Paul Tafforeau (ESRF)

archaeologists to study populations of animal mummies rather than individuals, which will give us a better understanding of this strange but fascinating practice. The ASEMI project is a collaboration between the University of Malta and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, and has received funding from the ATTRACT project funded by the EC under Grant Agreement 777222. The project is led by Prof. Johann A. Briffa (Department of Communications & Computer Engineering, Faculty of Information & Communication Technology), Data Science Research Platform, University of Malta, and four researchers at the ESRF.

Dr Marc Tanti Photo by James Moffett

Without Borders

and a team of researchers from the

DESIGN

Discover the other side Author: Emma Clarke

eaturing books, comics, graphic novels, movie

of Dracula, from early comic-book depictions to the

posters, and magazines, The Other Side is an

more modern and familiar impersonations by actors like

exhibition that celebrates the bizarre and unearthly. Each

Christopher Lee or Bela Lugosi. A particularly striking

room is dedicated to a genre (sci-fi, horror, or gothic

piece is a French poster from 1958 by artist Guy-Gérard

fiction), particular character, or prominent author.

Noël, advertising Terence Fisher’s first Dracula film.

If you enter the H.P. Lovecraft room, you will find a

Curated by Prof. Saviour Catania, Dr Fabrizio Foni,

thorough documentation of the author’s legacy – from

and Ray Vassallo, and featuring the collection of Carmel

the cheap pulp magazines he published in while he was

Bonnici, the exhibition contains many rare items. Some

alive and virtually unknown, to the graphic posters of

of these treats are the first appearance of Dracula in a

the blockbuster movies inspired by his work. Lovecraft

comic book from 1951, or an aged copy of The Castle of

was a recluse who tended to only leave his house after

Oltranto: A Gothic Story by Horace Walpole, published in

sunset and was never able to support himself through

1765 and considered to be the first example of a Gothic

his writing. He died in poverty at the age of 46. After his

novel. Two oil paintings by Maltese artist Joseph Bugeja

death, his imaginings of the otherworldly – characters

portraying the Valletta vampire add some local flair.

far more surreal than the human-like aliens described

The Other Side is rich in nostalgia and intrigue. It is also

by other sci-fi writers – captured people’s imagination

a thought-provoking demonstration of our fascination

and inspired numerous works, from ‘Day of the Triffids’

with mystery and the possibility that lies in the unknown.

to ‘The Thing’. The graphic art displayed in the collection

Whether it is under the ocean in Atlantis or beyond our

captures the diversity of his bizarre creations.

universe, the exhibition showcases the ideas which have

The arrangement of the collection helps us to follow

captured the imagination of people for generations.

Design

concepts and characters as they appeared in popular

culture and evolved over time in the hands of different

The exhibition is hosted by the Storm Petrel Foundation:

writers and artists. We encounter a variety of incarnations

stormpetrelfoundation.org

Design

The Other Side, Exhibition Photos by Carl Farrugia

Lights, camera, activism Raisa Galea

n 2019, hardly anyone personifies

In order to inspire action in others,

to do our little bit by refusing plastic

activism more conspicuously than

we must first demonstrate it ourselves

and switching to veganism. The

Greta Thunberg. Since August 2018,

and be visible. Thus, irrespective of

anxiety of inaction, reinforced by

the teenager’s solitary calls for climate

the urgency of the cause, activities

policy makers’ and public servants’

action have inspired millions of people

lacking in media coverage are doomed

inertia, breeds a feeling of personal

to follow her example and take to the

not to reach a broader audience,

guilt. Many thus turn to activism for a

streets. The resulting wave of climate

and, consequently, their organisers

comforting escape from this guilt trap.

strikes is every activist’s dream come

would not be seen as activists.

true: inspiring a mass movement to

with media coverage, the action might

one that shifts responsibility to and

of resistance, stirring the power of

not inspire a movement if it does not

demands actions from individuals,

a democratic collective. What can

offer a space for practical involvement.

and the other that exerts political

we learn from this phenomenon?

The latter is decisive because one of the

pressure on decision-makers. To

most attractive sides of participating

alleviate the internalised guilt for the

for years, I have come to a conclusion

in activism is moral satisfaction from

disturbing state of the planet, it could

that activism, at its most basic, is

doing something about the problem.

be tempting to demand individual

Alongside daily dispatches of

action, from advertising ‘conscious’

about being seen doing something. Both

Opinion

The emotional pressure to act can shape two kinds of strategies:

support a cause, passing on the flame

After being involved in voluntary work

On the other hand, even if showered

elements — ‘being seen’ and ‘doing

ecological calamities from the Amazon

consumer choices on social media

something’ — are equally important.

to Siberia, we are regularly encouraged

to picking up rubbish. Individualised

activism brings moral satisfaction and

flaws of plastic manufacturing, and the

behind consumer activism or

boosts egos with public admiration,

market mechanisms that enable it.

cleanups, system-level actions

and absolves governing bodies. Cleanups are perhaps the starkest

Pressure group Moviment Graffitti leads a different, political, kind of activism in Malta. The movement’s

require persistence and trust in the power of a democratic collective. The true social value of activism

example of the escapist kind of

direct actions have succeeded in

is not in the instant gratification

activism; politically impotent, yet

drawing public support and are

it may offer to private individuals.

widespread. Moving rubbish away

creating a space for a broader

It rests in its power to inspire a

from visible spaces to landfills —

democratic participation. Regardless

movement for a common goal that

out of sight, out of mind — ticks

of shared elements with the

puts pressure on decision-makers

all the boxes: it attracts media

individualised kind of cleanup activism

to act in the common interest.

coverage, creates space for practical

— visibility and action — it differs from

Eventually, this movement may

involvement, and offers moral

the latter in one aspect: it offers no

even lead to more radical demands,

satisfaction from ‘doing something

immediate moral gratification from

such as ‘system change not climate

about the problem’. Although it brings

witnessing the results of the action.

change’. The most praiseworthy

visible (yet temporary) improvement

Authorities don’t accept demands

effect of activism is to help us

— cleaner beaches and pavements —

for policy change and challenges to

experience our collective power —

this kind of activism rarely addresses

the developers’ power right away.

just as Greta Thunberg’s inspiring

the causes of pollution, the intrinsic

Instead of the personal glorification

example has successfully proven.

OPINIONS

but fails to challenge the status quo

Designing success Daniela Quacinella

icture the following. You are a museum director or

art event, the first step of this process requires research

curator who wants more locals in your space. You

and an understanding of the local context, by observing

are confident that your next art event will attract them: a

and interviewing people to figure out their needs.

prestigious artist from London, a series of exciting talks...

Another basic principle of the design process is

You are certain it will be a success, because your passion

the ongoing experimentation by externalising ideas

and knowledge are behind this activity. On the day, as you

in brainstorming sessions and adopting a hands-on

stand near the entrance with excitement tingling across

approach in prototyping and testing. One of the most

your fingertips, you slowly begin to despair. Despite a

challenging and exciting things I do is teaching design. It

great marketing campaign, the local residents congregate

is a mindset and a practice that can’t be acquired through

anywhere but the museum. What went wrong?

theory and books. You can easily memorise the design

Ask a design researcher, and you’ll find out that the first

are not travelling? So I asked my students to conduct a

your passion. The designer would ask: Why should people

research project on re-imagining the future of education

care about your museum? Contemporary design practice

in 2050 with the use of emerging technologies.

requires you to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes. I’ve been applying a design approach to meetings

Opinion

Learning to be an innovative designer requires tapping into your own motivation, personal interests, and values.

and workshops: making thoughts and ideas tangible

Giving students a future-oriented project encourages

in a visual way. It’s a powerful communication tool,

them to critically reflect on future needs, challenges, and

and it is really useful for making collective, complex

opportunities for education in 2050 to bring forward

decisions. I draw inspiration from emerging design

and envision preferable futures. Embracing this learning

practices like design for social innovation, transition

method can be daunting for students who are used to

design, and strategic design, as the focus moves away

memorising concepts to pass exams. My role is to guide

from objects towards ‘ways of thinking and doing’.

them in the process, providing different design frameworks,

In undergoing this shift, design becomes a means to

tools, and methods that support them in building their

tackle social, environmental, and political problems.

creative confidence and leading them to be comfortable

Designers’ ‘magic formula’ is ‘design thinking’: it is

thinking process, but what’s the use of a compass if you

misstep was to assume your target audience would share

with the ambiguity and uncertainty of the ‘not yet’.

an evidence-based, solution-focused iterative process

Back to the museum, if you are a director and want

with a clear set of steps that aims to make sense of the

the community around you to rush through the door in

mysterious process of creativity. Let’s go back to the

anticipation of the latest exhibition opening, step outside

museum. Rather than starting from your impossible-to-fail

and look at the world as if you’ve never seen it before.

STUDENTS Datsuzoku mobile application interface

Allow yourself to get lost Maria Elena Galea

n the fast-paced world of today, the word ‘slow’ often

challenges and achieving badges, the app allows the user

conjures negative feelings. When on holiday, many people

to add their personal Instagram handle, so that users

rush attractions, taking snapshots to create proof of their visit for social media. In Malta, popular tourist apps guide

can connect and make friends through Instagram. After graduating with this project, I went on to spend

visitors to overcrowded beaches, while there are a lot of

three weeks volunteering in Cairo, Egypt. Deciding

small villages that tourists never discover. As a passionate

to embark on such an experience with the University

traveller, I chose to integrate the concept of slow living

Chaplaincy was something that fit well with Datsuzoku’s

into my dissertation and explore how user interface design

vision. As a group of 13 volunteers, we lived simply,

can help people appreciate the place they are visiting.

excluding all non-essentials. This tranquil experience

Supervised by Malcolm Bonello, I created an interface for a

stimulated connectedness, calmness, and harmony within

mobile application that can offer a different travel experience

the group, giving us a sense of family and belonging.

to individuals desiring to discover less visited places in a

I feel that this has helped me grow as a person.

leisurely manner. I decided to name my mobile app Datsuzoku,

Back in Malta, I am planning to take this application

which means ‘escaping routine’ in Japanese. It combines

further. I have several offers from various software

travel inspiration and documentation in one application. This

developers, including the University of Malta itself.

is done by following the principles of Zen while connecting

Many people have encouraged me to make it work

with the world, ourselves, and the people around us.

so that they can use it in their daily lives. These

When the interface is further developed, the app will send a daily reminder to the user with a suggestion to

comments give me the energy and determination I need to make slow travel a reality for others.

time, the community of users will generate challenges

Maria Elena Galea is a recent graduate of the Bachelor of

and suggestions for each other. The use of social media

Fine Arts in Digital Arts (Faculty of Media and Knowledge

through the app is minimal. After completing several

Sciences) course.

STUDENTS

spend some time outdoors, escaping the routine. Over

I, in the Sky Andrea Francesca Bellia

his summer, I was fortunate to experience the rigorous

perspective enabled me to see things that I would have

process of academic research and publishing. Under

missed. Another lesson is that in science, you don't just

the supervision of Dr Sandro Lanfranco, I examined the efficiency of using a drone to obtain large-scale vegetation

do what’s asked; you always do just that little bit more! While working on this project, I’ve learnt how to recognise

maps, which resulted in a paper in the journal Xjenza

patterns and interpret them, to query everything and ask

Online. The study shows how influential technology has

the correct questions; ones that are actually impactful

become, even in traditionally ‘low-tech’ fields like ecology.

and relevant to the world today. But most importantly,

Without drones, vegetation maps would normally require

I’ve grasped the beauty of science, which definitely isn’t

a large team, and several days or weeks of surveying. The use

memorising and regurgitating what we’ve been taught;

of drones has enabled us to cut costs, time, and resources.

it’s the exhilaration of discovery. Science is an attitude

This allowed us to image and analyse vast expanses of land

as well as a lifestyle, not something you can just go into

in a fraction of the time. I learnt how to pilot the drone

half-heartedly — never be afraid to ask ‘why?’

and navigate its software. I also acquired skills such as photographic imaging, image analysis, and flight physics

This research was carried out in the Department of Biology

throughout the study – sometimes by trial and error.

(Faculty of Science).

Our final product, which was eventually published after several unnerving weeks of peer-review, was the culmination

Further reading:

STUDENTS

of a long but worthwhile learning process. Although

publication gave a short lived sense of accomplishment, this

Bellia, A. F., & Lanfranco, S. (2019). A preliminary

was quickly replaced by the anticipation of further questions

assessment of the efficiency of using drones in land

we wanted to answer. After spending hours in the sky, I’ve

cover mapping. Xjenza, 7(1): 18-27. DOI:10.7423/

also realised that looking at familiar situations from a new

XJENZA.2019.1.02

Keep Calm and Factor This Malcolm Pace

eople suffering from haemophilia, an inherited disorder,

whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called the Factor VIII database, and 1,095 unique

will bleed for much longer after an injury, bruise easily,

DNA variants in the Factor IX gene â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both are stored by

and risk internal bleeding in joints or brain. This is a widely

the University College London for scientists and health

studied condition with unique variations in the disorder

care professionals to study to develop new cures.

to Malta. While pursuing an M.Sc. in Applied Biomedical

I performed extensive DNA sequencing not just for

Science, I have profiled and found the contributing genes in

this study but for future studies on more patients to find

all Maltese patients and compared them to patients abroad.

out if some carry a rare disease without being aware of it.

The genes that code for important clotting factors in

Patients worldwide are starting to have their DNA analysed

blood are located on human sex chromosome X. This

by Next Generation Sequencing, a cheaper, faster way

means that a woman will be ill only if she receives it from

to read large amounts of DNA. However, the practice

both parents, explaining the much higher manifestations

is not routine. Once it is, it can greatly improve patient

of the disorder among men (men only inherit one X

management. If we continue testing these methods in

chromosome). In Malta, both factor deficiencies are rare:

the lab, medical practitioners will eventually be able to

around 30 to 40 patients by either Haemophilia A or B.

identify more individuals at risk of being carriers and refer

There are two types of the disease (factor VIII and IX), and

them to a genetic counsellor to discuss the risks.

their DNA variations are known and documented. But My research (supervised by consultant haematologist

The study was supported by the Endeavour Scholarship Scheme from the Ministry for Education and Employment.

Prof. Alex Gatt, and molecular geneticist Prof. Joseph Borg)

I would like to thank the Molecular Diagnostics

in haemophilia needed an interdisciplinary effort. There

team led by Dr Graziella Zahra (Mater Dei Hospital)

are currently over 1,300 unique DNA variants listed in

for use of Next Generation Sequencing tools.

STUDENTS

this study uniquely mapped both types of haemophilia.

Focus

PURPOSE and numerous other protagonists driven by

to others. It unfolds when an individual

a clear sense of purpose towards incredible

finds allies and overcomes obstacles.

achievements. But someone’s PURPOSE

Research gives back to the community. In this

can harm others. Read our stories of urban

FOCUS, we meet athletes aspiring for excellence,

development, infrastructural planning,

engineers making institutions energy-efficient,

and do-good intentions gone sour.

They are the champions Local parathletes dream global

Can passion alone sustain our teachers? Without appropriate resources, teachers struggle with additional duties

Why do we eat? Food is more than nutrition, but what is it, culturally?

Moving energetically ahead How the University of Malta generates some of its energy from the Sun

Tourism in Valletta: have we gone too far? Has the city gained the world, but lost its soul?

Roots over routes Moving mature trees is not like moving furniture

Repurposing economy The extract-produce-consume-dispose model doesn’t work. What could replace it?

Voluntourism: serving your Instagram, your CV, or people in need? Tourist volunteers want to help, but sometimes they do harm instead

44 FOCUS

inding one’s PURPOSE means giving

THEY ARE THE CHAMPIONS Parathletes challenge expectations and break boundaries. Some of them reach their peak performance relatively late in life. Strong-willed individuals also defy diagnoses and social norms, as members of Malta’s paralympic movement and para-sport experts tell Daiva Repeckaite and Shruti Sundaresan.

sk anyone who knows me – losing is not

your country, and the pinacle is the Paralympic

in my dictionary,’ para swimmer Julian

Games. They show that there is no physical limit.’

Bajada smiles. Various twists and turns

In Disability in the Global Sport Arena, a book she

in his life have only inspired him to take

edited, Canadian anthropologist Jill M. Le Clair wrote

up new sporting challenges. Born with a

how reforms in the paralympic movement in the 1980s

rare condition affecting his limbs, teen Bajada couldn’t

transformed its classification from disability-based to

resist playing football with his mates between numerous

sport-based. This allowed athletes with different abilities

surgeries. When he grew up to become a lawyer and

to participate in the Games as members of one national

athlete, he completed the Gozo-to-Malta challenge (a

team and shed stigmas prevalent in their societies —

6km swim) as a member of the National Maltese Para-

paralympians identify as high-performance athletes with

Swimming Team, and took up rowing when he studied in

disabilities, who exhibit exceptional physical strength.

Cambridge. His story resonates with those of numerous

on a professional level, this will give them a new

ambitions with demanding training schedules.

dimension to their professional lives. The emphasis

‘Inclusion meets Excellence,’ proclaims the motto of

Focus

is on the professional aspect. They can aim high and

Malta Paralympic Committee (MPC), — a new para-

have dreams to succeed in a world that is so beautiful

sport structure officially affiliated with the International

— which is sport,’ says University of Malta’s chemistry

Paralympic Committee since 2018. ‘It’s fine if people

professor Joseph Grima, who presides over the MPC.

with disabilities only engage in sports as a hobby,’ says

‘When [people with disabilities] embark on a sport

local and international parathletes, who juggle professional

Malta has been participating in Paralympic Games ever

Bajada, the committee’s secretary-general, emphasising

since they started in 1960. The first entry was also Malta’s

the benefits sport has for health and self-confidence.

most successful. Over the years, Malta’s participation was

Yet for him, these two concepts are essentially the

intermittent, but its parathletes have brought home two

same thing. ‘The primary purpose of every parathlete is

silver and five bronze medals. In 2008, Malta returned

seeking excellence — competitions abroad, representing

to the Games with runner Antonio Flores, supported by

physiotherapist Nathan Farrugia and sports coordinator Adelaide Silva, both working at Inspire. Inspire is a non-profit that provides discounted rates to fitness enthusiasts with disabilities. ‘In Malta it wasn’t that common to see persons [with disabilities] involved in sport. Special Olympics caters for [those with intellectual disability] very well, but for physical disabilities there was a question mark. So people used to come here and ask to become involved in sport in an informal way,’ Silva remembers. After Flores, teenager Matthew Sultana competed in para-swimming, and four years later, Vladyslava Kravchenko represented Malta as its first female para-swimmer. According to Silva, para-sport enthusiasts permanent committee to support parathletes between competitions.

Julian Bajada Photo by Annabel Zammit

Focus

decided that it’s time to convene a

The Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with

chances at winning. Yet these instances from hyper-

Disability, who initiated setting up of the new MPC,

competitive environments feel distant to our interviewees

stresses the importance of movement and sport. He

in the tightly knit local paralympic movement. Currently,

praises the Flexi Training Scheme, also known as the

Maltese parathletes must be classified abroad.

20/20 scheme, which allows elite athletes to take time

The next challenge for MPC is to iron out the mechanism

off work to strive for results. But much more needs to

for recruiting and supporting parathletes as they train

be done to make sure that athletes receive consistent

and go through international classification. Commissioner

and tailor-made support. Training coaches is particularly

Scicluna emphasises that the next step will be to recruit

urgent. ‘Who would leave his or her job as a lawyer

professionals for MPC administration, as reliance on

or accountant to take up coaching?’ Scicluna asks.

volunteers risks burning them out. ‘We are here to

In its first year of operations, the MPC selected four

create the infrastructure,’ Grima says. He emphasises

para sport disciplines: swimming, athletics, archery, and

that supporting parathletes is about excellence and not

wheelchair basketball. In their efforts to direct aspiring

charity: ‘These are real, very vigorous competitions with

athletes to the right competitions for them, they will also

the same setup and infrastructure as the Olympic Games.’

have to guide them through the complex classification

Bajada concludes the committee’s vision: ‘We

system that parathletes must adhere to. A qualified team

want to double the number of active parathletes

assigns categories to all participants: ten different classes

every year.’ Meanwhile, the current torchbearers of

of physical impairment, plus visual impairment, and learning

the para-sport movement are striving for personal

difficulty. This is for the sake of fairness, says Bajada: ‘A

records — and radiating love for sport every day.

practical example is a double blade runner vs single blade

How it all began

The Stoke Mandeville Games grew to 60 competitors and added a new competition – javelin (a type of spear) throw.

Focus

Malta at Paralympics 20

Competitors from Holland joined the Games. By 1954, the Stoke Mandeville Games had hosted 14 nations.

The first international Paralympic Games took place in Rome, Italy, with 400 athletes from 23 countries. Ever since, the Paralympics happen every four years.

1980

Sir Dr Ludwig Guttmann, a German neurosurgeon, organised a sports competition for World War II veterans with spinal cord injuries in Stoke Mandeville, England. The games had 16 participants.

1950

1948

to be shifted to higher-severity classes to increase their

1964

with athletes being artificially fatigued or misdiagnosed

1960

According to numerous reports by the BBC, the classification created space for abuse in several countries,

The Flexi Training Scheme by SportMalta allows athletes likely to represent Malta in international competitions to be compensated for the time they take off their job. More information about the scheme for private sector employees is at bit.ly/2KpZXvz and for public sector employees at bit.ly/357tPVw

1960

arms.’ Not every sport discipline is available for each class.

1952

runner, or a swimmer with no legs vs a swimmer with no

Malta pockets three more bronze medals and stops participating in 1984.

Malta’s debut in the inaugural Paralympics: four athletes compete in athletics, table tennis, and snooker. It’s Malta’s most successful showing to date: two silver and two bronze medals.

Establishment of the Malta Paralympic Committee and a Council of Maltese Para Athletes.

Vladyslava Kravchenko represents Malta in Rio as the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first female paralympic swimmer.

Tokyo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to be continued... Focus

Malta returns to the games in Beijing, represented by Antonio Flores in Para Athletics.

All bidding cities must commit to host both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

2020

Para swimmer Matthew Sultana represents Malta in London.

2008

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) was established as an international non-profit organisation in Germany.

2018

2000

1989

Olympic and Paralympic Games both held in Sydney, Australia.

2012

The first Winter Paralympics were held in Sweden, and have been reiterated every four years ever since.

2016

2008

1976

Photo by Annabel Zammit

Vladyslava Kravchenko

'm an accountant by day and

her rehabilitation. ‘Somewhere during

it. And thankfully, I work flexible

athlete by night,’ says Vladyslava

my recovery, I watched a documentary

hours, which allows me to train in

Kravchenko, who represented Malta

on the London Paralympics, and I just

the morning.’ While preparing for

in the 2016 Rio Paralympics in three

made up my mind to participate in

the Rio games, Kravchenko was

swimming categories. She’s also a

the next edition,’ she remembers.

part of the Flexi Training Scheme,

This kick-started her journey in

‘I hardly get time with friends or family,

competitive swimming. Her coach

but one has to create a balance, find

went to Istanbul to learn how to

time for oneself… it’s really important,’

train parathletes, and soon she was

joining the [Malta Paralympic]

she says as we sit down in a Sliema

competing internationally. For a

Committee is my own journey. Athletes

cafe between other appointments

year, Kravchenko also served as the

need support from the government,

she carefully clustered to save time.

European Paralympic Committee’s

the sports sector, media, and [citizens].

youth ambassador of Para Sport.

Support has to come in for all [aspiring]

In 2016, Kravchenko was Malta’s sole representative in the Paralympic

‘The biggest motivation behind

athletes,’ she asserts. ‘In Malta, we have

Kravchenko emphasises mental

to work to provide the same amount of

flag at the inaugural ceremony. She

strength. She likes to watch

recognition and support to paralympic

was Malta’s first female swimmer

documentaries about leading athletes

athletes as is given to Olympic athletes.’

at the Games. Malta hadn’t had a

for inspiration and keeps in touch

female Paralympian since 1980.

with fellow athletes, sharing tips

role to bring more people into sport.

Born in Ukraine to a family of

Kravchenko wants to use her new

and discussing issues. But not on

‘General awareness of the paralympics

professional athletes, Kravchenko

social media. ‘I guess I am an extinct

is very low. An ambitious goal for us

believes she was destined for sports,

species — I don’t have any social

is to reach out to schools,’ she says.

and started competing in rhythmic

media accounts apart from the public

gymnastics. When her family

Facebook page which was set up during

and now archery, there’s no stopping

moved to Malta in the early 2000s,

the Rio Paralympics,’ she smiles.

her. Ask her about the next sport

After the Rio Olympics in 2016,

Rhythmic gymnastics, swimming,

challenge, and she immediately quips,

the experienced swimmer took up

‘There are so many sports that I’d

As a teenager, Kravchenko suffered

archery. ‘It’s all about prioritising,’ she

like to try, but right off the top of my

a spinal injury at a party, which resulted

says. ‘I know that I have to train 3–4

head… skiing is on the bucket list’.

in paraplegia. Unable to return to

times a week and that is a priority,

Perhaps you’ll see Kravchenko zipping

gymnastics, she started swimming for

so everything else works around

down an alpine slope this winter.

aside, but she would still train.

Focus

Apart from physical conditioning,

while keeping her regular job.

Games and carried the Maltese

the competitive element shifted

allowing her to train for competitions

Malta Paralympic Committee member.

Photo by Joseph Micallef

Antonio Flores ‘At that time, I had both my legs,’ he

previous. But hard work, consistency,

Flores has been competing

mentions. ‘However, in 2010, while

and persistence have kept him going.

internationally for almost 11 years now.

preparing for the London Olympics,

Flores takes inspiration from anime.

Born with a clubfoot, he underwent

I experienced severe pain in my foot

‘Most anime revolve around characters

corrective surgery at a very young

and ankle.’ Pain made training difficult.

that beat the odds, go through

age. ‘This surgery made it very difficult

His future in sport looked bleak. After

problems, and overcome obstacles.

for me to participate in sports when

extensive research, Flores, by then a

This resonates with me,’ he says.

I was younger. However, when I

trained podiatrist, took the difficult

was around 14–15 [years old], we

decision to amputate his non-functional

graduated, and started working as a

had a class race where I managed

foot: ‘To me, it was the most logical

podiatrist. He trains six days a week to

to come third without any prior

option’. He wanted to prioritise

prepare for his next Paralympic Games.

training,’ he remembers. This success

quality of life. The next challenge

He intends to use the Flexi Training

catalysed his future achievements.

was finding a surgeon when other

Scheme to reduce working hours when

options were still being considered

training. His amputation will mean

— a process which took months.

that he will have to be reclassified

Flores started looking for running clubs as a teenager, training with

Along the way, Flores got married,

and compete in the below-the-knee

able-bodied athletes. ‘It was difficult,

Finally Flores found a surgeon

but I was still faster than the average

specialising in amputations. After

individual training in other sports.’ He

the surgery Flores got a tattoo to

recounts how difficult it was, as there

celebrate his determination. The

way, Flores thanks his supportive

was no established body for paralympic

athlete benefitted from a free daily

family: ‘They were always highly

athletes in Malta. The running

prosthesis, but raised the funds for

encouraging and motivating.’ They

enthusiast only learnt about paralympic

a sports prosthesis himself. After

found it difficult to accept the decision

competitions around the age of 17.

recovery, he went back to his coach.

to amputate, but they modified

That discovery propelled Flores

‘He has adapted very well, has a lot

Flores’ house for his needs.

to many international competitions.

of patience with me, and [has done]

In 2008 he participated in the

a lot of research and training with a

faces insensitive, prejudiced questions

Paralympics, which he remembers as

trial and error method, that has helped

about his body. ‘The best way to

‘a magical experience’. He ran next to

me immensely,’ Flores appreciates.

treat a Paralympic athlete is to simply

celebrated blade runner Oscar Pistorius,

With the blade (leg prosthesis), he

impairment with prosthesis category. For being there for him along the

Even a high achiever like Flores

treat them as an athlete,’ he suggests.

watched plenty of other sports, and

started off as a slow runner. Every

‘Support us in the way you would

met a swath of inspiring people.

session was more exhausting than the

support any national athlete.’ Focus

altese blade runner Antonio

Can passion alone sustain our teachers? With a teachers’ union slamming pervasive overtime and salary injustice, while some policymakers are contemplating recruitment of teachers from overseas, it’s about time we stop and reassess: what keeps teachers going? Lara Calleja asks experienced teachers about the sense of purpose in their work.

want my students to learn primarily for the sake

that, from a linguistic point of view, a teacher may

of learning the subject, and not just to pass the

have difficulties when they have to address learners,’

exam,’ confides secondary school physics teacher

observes Prof. Sandro Caruana (University of Malta),

Rodney Buġeja, who has 19 years of experience.

member of the Council for the Teaching Profession.

It is easy to see that both teachers interviewed

Mercieca echoes his words when she elaborates

talked passionately about a morally fulfilling career.

that it is truly challenging for her as a teacher to both

Asked about the main challenges of teaching, Year 3

lesson to all her Year 3 students. According to National

seven years in a state school, highlighted the ever-increasing

Statistics Office data (2017), the number of non-Maltese

demands. Demands were high when she started, and they

students more than doubled between 2012/2013 and

have escalated considerably as the years went by. Malta’s

2016/2017. Meanwhile, average class size ranged from

very fast-paced changes in society have added new and

16.1 in form 1, private schools, to 25.7 in Year 5, Church

complicated demands on teachers. What keeps them going?

primary schools. The World Bank file on Malta (2016)

MORE WORK, SAME PAY?

shows that the pupil-to-teacher ratio is 13, just like in

Focus

New students in Malta are coming in who speak

communicate as best she can whilst still delivering a quality

primary school teacher Graziella Mercieca, serving for

Spain, but below those of Portugal, Cyprus, and Italy. Also, in light of the statistics issued recently by the

neither Maltese or English, a major challenge for teachers

European Commission, Malta’s teaching salary was classified

and students. ‘Although diversity is a great richness, it

as below average when compared with other European

is clear that some of our classes are so heterogenous

countries; ranking us just slightly lower than Italians’

Focus

Many teachers today feel that the profession has become more demanding because of the amount of administrative work it involves.

teaching wages. With a starting salary

involves.’ He stresses that ‘such

the profession ‘has to compete

of just €22,603 per year, teachers are

matters and others related to the lack

with better wages offered by

expected to execute a wide spectrum

of respect towards the profession

companies in the financial

of duties and skills. ‘Undoubtedly,

are of serious concern, and may

services sector and gaming.’

there is a large discrepancy in so far

actually be more urgent to address

as the justification between the salary

than salaries, although improving

LACK OF FREEDOM

received and the amount of work,

these is also highly desirable.’

time, and dedication needed to be a

The imminent shortage of teachers is not just because of wage

a step forward in changing the

concerns. Another discouragement,

personal money spent on resources to

qualification process to become a

as reported by the interviewees, is

be used in the classroom,’ says Buġeja.

teacher. Aspiring teachers now have

the fragmentation of the teaching

to take a compulsory Master’s in

profession, for secondary and

frustration caused by uncooperative

Teaching and Learning (MTL) after

primary school teachers alike.

parents, limited resources, and

they have obtained their Bachelor’s

Mercieca and Buġeja state that

lack of administrative backup,’

degree. Veteran teacher Buġeja

teachers, especially in primary

mentioned a MaltaToday editorial

believes that this was the right step

schools, cover a variety of subjects.

on World Teachers’ Day. Caruana

towards improving the standard of

Buġeja specifies that 'teachers

further elaborates that, ‘although

education, but both he and Mercieca

should be teaching more specific

teachers' salaries are frequently

agree that the current wage is poorly

subjects, especially from Year 4

mentioned, and although I maintain

reflective of a Master’s degree.

to 6, rather than generic' ones.

that they should be higher both

Focus

Recently, the government took

teacher. Not to mention the teachers’

Teachers ‘have to deal with endless

Prof. Sandro Caruana

As a reaction to the EU

Caruana says that this is negatively

at entry-level and, especially, in

Commission’s recent statistics about

affecting students, ‘who feel bored at

relation to incentives for career

Malta’s low ranking when it comes

school because they find some syllabi

progression, many teachers today

to teaching wages, responding to

stifling and outdated,’ and teachers,

feel that the profession has become

MaltaToday’s questions, Minister

who are presented with little

more demanding because of the

Evarist Bartolo admitted to the

incentive to specialise in their subject.

amount of administrative work it

shortage of teachers, noting that

‘Regrettably, for a teacher to progress

in their career they may have to abandon class teaching,’

and secondary classes. For primary and secondary

he says, before reflecting that it is being addressed by the

teachers, apart from the salaries, there are also challenges

new Collective Agreement. Still, much more can be done.

related to lack of resources, lack of teacher autonomy

Sociology lecturer Dr Angele Deguara (Junior College) says that there is a considerable gap on many levels between teaching post-secondary and teaching primary

both inside and outside of the classroom, and lack of cooperation from parents, as well as challenging students.’ Secondary teacher Buġeja also points out that the approach in primary and secondary education lacks space to nurture critical thinking among students, even though there were some efforts to change this recently. The idea of ‘studying to pass the exam’ is still at the base of the current educational system, says Buġeja. Asked as to what he thinks can change this approach, he suggests having smaller classrooms and restructuring the educational system’s teaching approach from traditional education to an inquiry-based-learning system. Rather than learning answers from textbooks by heart, inquiry-based-learning develops the child’s ability to pose questions and become more adept at problem-solving to face life and work challenges. When Edutopia, a website focusing on innovation in teaching, asked teachers what moves them forward every day, its follower Teresa Martinho Marques shared her purpose, ‘I am addicted to the challenge of how to get students even more engaged in loving and learning.’ But will this commitment alone keep our teachers going day after stressful day? Focus

Dr Angele Deguara Photo by Lara Calleja

Why do we eat? From feasts to body image issues, eating is more than just staying alive. It makes us feel good and holds communities together. Nutrition and health blogger Marisabelle Bonnici interviews researcher Dr Analisse Cassar and delves into the science of our attachment to food.

e eat for energy

‘Research shows that binge eating

advances in agriculture allowed us to

and we eat

disorders are often accompanied

grow food with less effort. When food

to live. Social

by anxiety and depression,’ explains

preservation technology came along,

situations

researcher Dr Analisse Cassar at the

produce could be consumed at our

shape our

Anatomy Department (Faculty of Health

convenience. Food eventually became

food choices: we eat to have fun

Sciences, University of Malta [UM]).

a highly competitive global market,

with friends, or to experience new

‘Now, which state causes the other is

where food scientists are paid to

flavours. Who can resist free food at a

not clear, but it is alarming to note that

develop tastes and flavours for highly

social event? Or, after we paid money

one in five college-aged women (18–

processed foods like bread, doughnuts,

for an all-you-can-eat, don’t we just

20) are known to have passed through

and cakes. Food scientists also have a

have to get our money's worth?

a phase of binge eating, showing a

role in research at the University, where

high correlation [between eating

they are studying food microbiology

much deeper than that when we

disorders and] a stressful environment.’

and soil composition to grow better

notice how many disorders are linked

FOOD SUPERPOWERS

crops, amongst a lot of other research.

Our relationship with food can go

Focus

to what we eat. Among them are

Studies show that people report

eating disorders like anorexia nervosa,

In primitive days humans used to

eating out of boredom, loneliness,

binge eating, orthorexia, and avoidant

hunt or gather just enough food to

anger, sadness, to relieve anxiety,

restrictive food intake disorders.

survive. As the world progressed,

and also to celebrate. How can

Marisabelle Bonnici Photo by Amanda Hsu

But our brains also respond to

scents with feelings. So, you may be

Cassar confirms that pleasure is at

particular tastes. Pangborn’s study

walking by a bakery and smell apple

the core of this: ‘The caudate nucleus

on carbohydrate sweeteners found

pie — this will trigger pleasurable

in the brain is responsible for pleasure

that combinations of sweet and

memories of your childhood, and

and promotes compulsive behavior.

fat are the most pleasurable in the

scientists (e.g. Rolls in 2007) have

This is because it responds to dopamine

majority of individuals, although this

studied the mechanism behind it.

— which is a neurotransmitter in the

is not universal — because of genetic

brain that promotes the feeling of

differences, some are drawn to coffee

confirms that brain stimulation can

pleasure. Therefore, repeating the

and others find its bitter taste repulsive.

lead to compulsive eating. ‘While the

behaviour — whether it is compulsive

FOOD IN OUR SYSTEM

caudate promotes compulsivity and

actions or compulsive eating, will

Cassar’s research at the UM

the rewarding feeling in eating, it is

The sight of food activates visual

only one of three areas regulating the

dopamine and the increased feeling

receptors in the retina, which fires

urge to eat. The insula [a small region

of pleasure. So this behavior gets

messages that switch on the sensory

of the cerebrum in our brain], plays

positive reinforcements, and we would

parts of the brain. Knowing the process,

an important role in appreciating the

want to do it over and over again.’

marketing companies employ food

taste of food, such as information of

photographers to stimulate our brain

taste, smell and texture of food, that

from early on in our lives. When

with visuals to make us hungry. Think

ultimately leads to us liking the food

babies cry and are given milk,

about it – how many times did you

we eat. Finally, the hypothalamus

they start associating food with

visit a restaurant just because its sight

[located at the base of the brain,

comfort. Feeding also generally

triggered a craving for a particular dish?

which helps release hormones and

lead to a reward — the release of

We associate food with pleasure

happens in the arms of a parent, so food also makes them feel safe. Satisfying hunger comforts us.

Our sense of smell is another trigger.

regulate body temperature] receives

Our brain can hold up to 40,000 scents

the information from our bodies

in its memory bank and can associate

regarding our satiety [feeling full], Focus

food have all these superpowers?

Photography by Marisabelle Bonnici

which is integral for our survival. However, the caudate may

and that is when we feel full and decide to stop eating. When

override the other factors and lead to a loss of control.’

the levels of this hormone are high, we fail to realise we are full

So far we have only discussed positive triggers. Yet

— and keep on eating. This translates to not being able to leave

negative environmental factors such as stress also affect

food on the plate even though we have satisfied our hunger.

eating behaviour, triggering binge eating, and shifting

Learned behaviours from childhood can help keep ghrelin

food-choices towards high-fat and carbohydrate-rich

levels high, which lead to eating disorders when we grow up.

foods. To test the effects of stress on brain responses to

I want to encourage you to think about why we eat.

food, Rudenga, Sinha and Small (2012) performed fMRI

When you decide to eat something, think about why: is it

brain scans on women looking at a chocolate milkshake,

because you are hungry? Are you craving something? Or

representing sweet, high-calorie ‘comfort food.’ The level

is it because you are stressed or sad? Practising this with

of chronic stress the women experienced boosted the

everything you eat can help you eat more mindfully.

reactivity of the brain to milkshake stimulation. Many people who reach for food to comfort themselves describe food

Further reading:

as not only soothing but even addictive. These effects on the brain are what leads to disorder in eating behaviours. And speaking of women and their soothing milkshakes, we often hear many women say that hormonal changes around their menstrual cycle also affect their eating patterns. But it is

Pangborn RM. (1980) A critical analysis of sensory responses to sweetness. In: Koivistoinen P, Hyvönen L (eds). Carbohydrate Sweeteners in Foods and Nutrition. London: Academic Press.

not just our oestrogen and progesterone hormones. Our fat cells secrete the hormone leptin, which sends signals to our brain to release energy. Leptin secretion is proportional to the

Rolls ET. (2007) Sensory processing in the brain related to the control of food intake. Proc Nutr Soc. 66(1):96–112.

amount of fat we have in our body. Leptin deficiency can lead to constant hunger, resulting in severe overeating and obesity. Another relevant hormone is ghrelin, which regulates the Focus

desire to eat. When we start eating, ghrelin levels fall quickly,

Rudenga KJ, Sinha R, Small DM. (2012) Acute stress potentiates brain response to milkshake as a function of body weight and chronic stress. Int J Obes (Lond). 1–8.

NUTRITION FACTS

Water Water contains many trace elements we need, including calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Drinking water instead of carbonated drinks helps maintain a healthy weight and body.

Carbohydrates Present in fruit, vegetables, and grains, carbohydrates are an essential and major energy source for the body.

Protein Our bodies need protein to build and maintain bones, muscles, and skin. We get protein from meat, dairy, nuts, and beans. We need to eat protein every day, because our bodies don't store it.

Fibre Found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, it is important for bowel health, to maintain a healthy weight, and lower the risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Fats Fats help our bodies absorb some nutrients and produce important hormones. They keep the body warm and protect organs.

Vitamins and Minerals

Focus

We need all vitamins and minerals to fight infection and stay healthy. Eat a varied and balanced diet to ensure you are meeting your needs.

Moving energetically ahead Can the university lead the way in shedding a dependence on fossil fuels? Renewable sources cover just over 7% of Malta’s energy needs, which must nearly double by 2030 to implement the draft National Energy and Climate Plan. Daiva Repeckaite traces how photovoltaic modules were rolled out on the campus’s roofs — and finds that to be sustainable, the community should love their ACs a little less.

n a satellite view of the University of

per year, above the target of 750 MWh per year. More

Malta’s (UM) Tal-Qroqq campus on Google

green energy means lower carbon dioxide emissions.

Maps, the first thing to stand out is the

amounted to over a million euros. According to the project

then the viewer's eye is drawn to glistening

closure report, the panels are expected to last for 25 years

black rectangles. They help the campus make the most of

after the purchase, with very low maintenance costs.

its sun-baked surfaces. ‘Eighty percent of effective roof

Micallef, whose team collects energy monitoring data

area is covered with PV [photovoltaic] panels,’ proudly

from all buildings, estimates that the solar panels generate

says Prof. Ing. Joseph Micallef, who chairs the Committee

around one-sixth of the university’s energy needs.

for Sustainability at the University of Malta (C-SUM). His

biggest photovoltaic parks in Malta when completed in

renewable energy generation, efficient air conditioning

2015,’ the engineer says. Peak power is the maximum

systems, and wiser use of energy-saving lighting.

electric power that can be generated when sunlight hits the solar cells perpendicularly, the temperature

the committee’s secretary Ing. Francarl Galea explains. ‘We

of solar cells is 25°C, and other conditions are

use all the available space,’ Micallef adds. While emergence

satisfied. This is enough to power 5,000 PCs.

of renewable energy in Malta’s energy mix goes back to

FOCUS

‘With 1 MW peak power, ours was one of the

team made a breakthrough by focusing on three areas:

‘There are 14 PV systems in total,’ Micallef’s colleague,

ERDF paid over a quarter of the project’s cost, which

dystopian dominance of dull car parks, but

Still, the share of sustainable energy would be higher if the

2010, the UM’s journey towards generating its own energy

campus could reduce its energy demand as well. But where

started in 2011–2012. Boosted by partial funding from

do we start? Micallef and his team were in for a surprise

the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the

when they started energy audits for their ambitious projects

University installed high-efficiency PV panels using a high

to transform the UM’s energy mix: ‘The main consumer was

density layout. The efforts were awarded with a higher

the library!’ An inefficient air conditioning system was never

generation capacity than initially planned – 843 MWh

switched off. Barely visited sections of the building were awash

with inefficient lights. Artificially cooled

from 2007 levels, despite longer

is no one around. Other sensors

air streamed through its windows.

opening hours. A similar exercise

were installed in lecture rooms,

‘It’s partly because people were not

was carried out in the engineering

laboratories, and restrooms.

careful,’ the C-SUM chair admits.

building, saving 65% in AC energy.

Starting from 2012, the University’s

As the scheme rolled out to other

‘As a result, a number of buildings now have their annual primary

Estates and Works directorate set

buildings, the next challenge was to

energy consumption at levels

off to replace inefficient old chiller

question the Mediterranean love for a

below Malta’s national threshold

systems with a state-of-the-art

freezing AC. Micallef and Galea admit

for nearly zero energy buildings,’

variable refrigerant flow (VRF)

initially receiving a few objections:

Micallef explains (each country sets

technology, complete with ethernet-

some staff members complained about

its own threshold). Primary energy

accessible control units to enable

the minimum temperature limit as

is the total energy needed to power

centrally controlled temperature

they found 23 degrees uncomfortably

buildings – including the resources

limits and switching cycles. Thanks

hot. Yet when the team checked the

for its generation and transmission.

to centrally controlled VRF systems,

location of the complaints, in some

minimum and maximum temperature

cases they found open windows, leaking

buildings and extensions on campus,

settings could be limited.

the precious cool air outside. ‘Every

the university’s energy needs have

additional degree of cooling results

remained below the 2014 levels thanks

laboratories, such as in engineering,

in a six percent increase in energy

to these efficiency measures and the

the BioBank, biomedical research, and

consumption,’ Micallef reminds.

use of renewable energy. Micallef,

Galea points out that some units and

aquaculture research, have different

It is a growing concern around the

Despite the construction of several

Galea, and their colleagues continue

requirements, so this was taken into

world that ACs are power-hungry.

raising awareness and meticulously

account when creating an energy

As detailed in The Guardian, cooling a

monitoring how energy goes in and

saving regime. Thanks to the energy

room with AC consumes more power

out, using new sensors. Micallef

saving measures, the library slashed

than running four fridges. In the US,

outlines his ambition, ‘The goal is to

its AC energy consumption by 60%

mass-producers and builders promoted

have a net-zero-carbon campus’.

the mentality ‘any problems caused by hot climates, cheap building materials, shoddy design or poor city planning could be overcome’ with more AC units. The university’s next priority was efficient lighting. LEDs have replaced fluorescent tubes and floodlights throughout university – in total 12,500 inefficient light fittings were replaced with LEDs in offices, lecture rooms, and laboratories, with partial funding from the ERDF. According to the project closure report, this allowed the university to save between 50% and 60% of energy for lighting. Lighting became sensor-controlled in a number of buildings. For instance, Ing. Francarl Galea

automatically dims when there

Prof. Ing. Joseph Micallef

FOCUS

in the Library building, light now

FOCUS

Illustration by Kieran Teschner

Tourism in Valletta: have we gone too far? Residents are generally willing to put up with the inconveniences caused by tourism because of its financial and reputational benefits. But is there a tipping point when tourism and leisure become unbearable? Having focused on Valletta as an urban planner, activist, and researcher, Dr John Ebejer warns against the risks of overtourism. onto narrow pavements on Merchants Street, blocking

In the 1990s, it was bleeding residents,

other pedestrians, while listening to their guide. Doing

undergoing a takeover by offices, deadlocked

away with car traffic created pleasant spaces, allowing

traffic, vacant properties, and deteriorating

visitors to better appreciate Valletta’s urban heritage.

structures. During the day, it was full of

To be successful, pedestrianisation needs a holistic

life with shoppers, office workers, and residents, but it

transport strategy. Vehicle access was controlled

was far too quiet after sunset, turning into a ghost town.

through an automatic payment system for all non-

Today, Valletta’s issues are different. Valletta has become

residents parking in Valletta, coupled with a park and

tourists’ Instagram darling – but is it becoming unliveable?

ride system, as well as extensive parking outside Valletta.

Let us zoom out a little. My involvement with Valletta started in the mid-1990s when I was working

Bus terminus facilities got a facelift, and a passenger lift connected the waterfront to the city centre.

on local plans at the Planning Authority. Before the

The government invested heavily in Valletta. The most

year 2000, public investment in urban conservation

notable was the City Gate project with the new parliament

was limited to minor restoration, with noteworthy

building, an open air performance space and a new entrance

projects being few and far between. Moreover, scarce

to the city. Other important projects were the Centre

investment in private properties created a gradual,

for Creativity (Spazju Kreattiv), Valletta Cruise Passenger

downward spiral and increased dilapidation.

Terminal, Fort St Elmo, the Fortifications Interpretation

After the year 2000, authorities consolidated their

Centre, extensive restorations of fortifications, MUŻew

efforts to bring about positive change in our capital city.

Nazzjonali tal-Arti (MUŻA), and the Old Valletta Market.

They extended pedestrian areas to encompass the main

Coupled together, they gave Valletta the facelift it needed.

spaces of St George’s Square, Merchants Street, Castille

Three primary motives drove major public investment in

Square, and Triton Fountain. Moreover, the City Gate

Valletta. Firstly, Valletta is a World Heritage Site and includes

project, by renowned architect Renzo Piano, provided new

a concentration of historic buildings and monuments.

pedestrian spaces at Valletta’s entrance. Before 2005, I

This imposes a moral obligation upon the authorities and

distinctly remember instances of tourist groups crowding

society to take good care of our urban heritage. Secondly, FOCUS

alletta was always a subject of public debate.

Photos by Dr John Ebejer

were reborn as high-end residences,

in 2019. Of course, more tourists to

boutique hotels, short-term tourist

Malta signifies more visitors in Valletta.

rentals, and catering establishments. Tourism is typically considered to

Dr John Ebejer

FOCUS

benefit host communities because it

has pushed property prices up.

generates income and employment.

People with family roots in the City

But when the level of intrusion and

are moving out, replaced in part

inconvenience becomes excessive, like

by new and somewhat detached

in Venice, Barcelona, and Amsterdam,

residents. Ongoing gentrification is

it becomes overtourism. The impacts

a process of change that may result

from overtourism are overcrowding

in the loss of community-based

in the city’s public spaces, traffic

social and cultural activities. On

congestion, excessive touristiﬁcation,

the other hand, new residents bring

inappropriate visitor behaviour, and

cultural diversity and much needed

displacement of long-term residents.

investment into the capital. Properties

Global changes in the tourism

which would otherwise decay are restored and brought back into use.

these investments aimed to make

industry impacted the dynamics

Valletta attractive for people to live

of Malta’s tourism sector. In 2006,

and work. Thirdly, Malta’s tourism

Malta opened up to low cost airlines.

reduced Valletta’s liveability in many

policy shifted to attract cultural

Independent online booking made

ways. Over the last two decades, more

tourists, while retaining its market

travelling easier and cheaper, resulting

bars and restaurants have opened and

share as a sun and sea destination.

in a more diversified and less seasonal

extended their working hours. Many

industry. For Malta, that meant

catering establishments have sprawled

added confidence to invest in Valletta

moving away from dependence on

onto the streets, placing tables and

properties, either for private residential

tour operators. In 2006, two of every

chairs outside their premises. Their

or for commercial use. When Valletta

three tourists used tour operators.

pleasant ambience for diners and

was designated as a European

Today that figure hovers around one

passers-by is a source of noise and

Capital of Culture for 2018, private

in three. With increased seat capacity

nuisance to residents in the immediate

investors realised the opportunities

and the ease of independent travel, the

vicinity, more so in the summer when

that a revitalised Valletta offered.

number of arrivals ballooned from 1.2

locals leave their windows open.

Many historic private properties

million in 2006 to around 2.6 million

Apart from noise, external tables and

Public investments gave people

The demand for boutique hotels and short-term rental accommodation

Increased tourism activity has

chairs also have aesthetic implications.

increased in recent years. This is

in safeguarding the liveability of

The canopies and umbrellas that go

problematic as it will further deplete

Valletta while tapping its tourism

with them are often visually intrusive

Valletta’s resident community,

and heritage potential.

and undermine the aesthetics of the

which lost one in seven residents

historic environment. In some streets,

over 10 years and currently

tables and chairs impede the flow of

stands at around six thousand.

enforcement exacerbates the problems. On top of this, building alterations

Current tourism impacts on Valletta are manageable, but the trends are very worrying, not least because the

and additions are compromising the

authorities seem focused on pushing

value and integrity of historic buildings.

forward the commercialisation of

The Valletta Local Council, supported by

Valletta without considering the

three environmental NGOs, appealed

detrimental effects on residents.

for urgent action to safeguard the

Unless corrective action is taken,

city. In a joint press conference on

twenty years down the line we may

28 January 2017, they expressed

be facing the worst case scenario of

concern that Valletta was undergoing

a Valletta with parishes that can no

‘an unprecedented barrage of new

longer function for lack of residents.

developments, many of which are not

We could end up with Valletta’s

sensitive to the values and fragile nature

piazzas and streets becoming

of the historic setting’. They argued that

open-air restaurants, with little or

‘the intensification in activity is giving

no space for pedestrians. Valletta

rise to new threats to the liveability of

may become a leading centre for

the city and to the safeguarding of its

Malta’s night-time entertainment,

Outstanding Universal Value, which is

but this would be a departure from

the basis of its World Heritage Status.’

its cultural and heritage vocation.

Valletta is home to a resident

To manage unwanted impacts,

community with a strong social

relevant public authorities must

and cultural life. Living in Valletta

genuinely consult with Valletta

has always been subject to some

residents and other stakeholders.

inconveniences, but these have

Together, they need to find balance

Further reading: Ebejer, J. (2016) Regenerating Valletta: a vision for Valletta beyond 2020. In Ebejer, J. (ed.), Proceedings of Valletta Alive Foundation Seminar: Valletta Beyond 2020, 35–44. Ebejer, J. (2019) Urban heritage and cultural tourism development: a case study of Valletta’s role in Malta’s tourism. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, 17(3), 306–320, DO I:10.1080/14766825.2018.1447950. Ebejer, J.; Smith, A.; Stevenson, N. & Maitland, R. (2019) The tourist experience of heritage urban spaces: Valletta as a case study. Tourism Planning & Development. DOI:10. 1080/21568316.2019.1683886. FOCUS

pedestrians, resulting in crowding. Weak

What do you THINK? What future lies ahead for Valletta? What needs to be done for a better Valletta? Post your comments online on THINK or write to me on john.ebejer@um.edu.mt.

FOCUS

Illustration by Kieran Teschner

Routes over roots In Malta, protests against plans to remove a row of iconic trees drew unprecedented crowds (see THINK Issue 29), leading authorities to promise to plant new trees and replant those found in the way of planned infrastructure projects. Emma Clarke looks into the science of tree replantation to see how feasible this would be.

species important for the ecosystem. After an environmental

the centre of the island of Malta, to protest the

impact screening process, the agency concluded that the

approval of the Central Link project, which will

project’s impacts were ‘unlikely to be significant’, and so

increase road space at the expense of over 500

the transplantations began without further investigation.

trees. In the same month, a €20 million underpass

Infrastructure Malta also emphasised to the Times of Malta

project was announced in Santa Luċija. Local residents and

that though trees would be uprooted, none would leave

activists raged as green crosses began appearing on trees

the locality. In an interview with THINK, a representative of

earmarked for removal, and authorities severely pruned

Infrastructure Malta stated that in-house arborists supervise

olive trees lining the Santa Luċija jogging track to prepare

all transplantations, ensuring that the new location was

them for transplantation. Later, the Times of Malta reported

conducive to the tree’s survival. In addition, the agency plans

eyewitness accounts of olive trees being trucked to a field

to plant an additional 1,257 trees at the Majjistral Park,

in Dingli, where they remained for just a few days before

Mellieħa, and the Magħtab Park, Naxxar. The ERA’s Guidelines

being returned to their original location in Santa Luċija.

on Works Involving Trees set the minimum number of trees to

A spokesperson from Infrastructure Malta had explained

plant in compensation for every tree lost, from one tree to

to the Times of Malta that the trees were only moved to

replace non-protected and invasive trees to 40 to make up for

the Dingli field temporarily, until the promenade at Santa

the loss of a protected tree older than 50 years. An applicant

Luċija was complete. The Environmental and Resources

that does not compensate in-kind can instead pay €500 per

Agency (ERA) approved this project, which is set overall

tree (whereas a single tree can cost more) to the Environment

to involve the uprooting of 550 trees – including native

Fund, and Infrastructure Malta chose a mix of these options. FOCUS

uly saw hundreds take to the streets of Attard, in

Prof. Joseph Buhagiar Photo by Sarah Zammit

These assurances did not convince local residents and environmentalists. Ryan Vella, a founding member of

Witnesses were dismayed at how severely the trees

choice of timing – July. ‘You do not need to be an expert

were pruned prior to transplantation. During uprooting,

to know that trees should not be uprooted in the middle

the tree canopy needs to be reduced to minimise water

of summer. The right conditions are during winter, while

loss from leaves, which can dry up the trunk. However,

the tree is dormant, uprooting it properly, keeping the

despite ERA’s guidelines stating that no more than

roots intact, and replanting it somewhere where it will be

25% of the crown should be removed, photos from the

watered properly and consistently.’ As per ERA’s Guidelines,

site at Santa Luċija show that the pruning was more

‘Any transplanting shall be carried out between autumn

extreme than this, and in some cases no crown was

and early spring (October to March),’ and the applying

left at all. In response to the ensuing criticism, ERA

authority must issue a three-year bank guarantee of €500

have launched an investigation into these works.

‘If that is followed, then there is a good chance that

Researcher Prof. Joseph Buhagiar (University of Malta) believes that a fundamental shift is needed in the

the transplanting will be successful. If they are just left

population’s attitude towards nature, especially when it

to their own devices and without maintenance, they

comes to prioritising the protection of mature, indigenous

will die. As an NGO, we know of some cases and places

trees. ‘If you have a pine that is 100 years old, to me,

where trees were transplanted, then simply left there,

[cutting it down] is like killing my grandmother. The architect

meaning that they eventually died,’ Vella remembers.

should be working around to accommodate the tree.’ He

ERA’s guidelines advise that ‘transplanting after

notes that there is an antiquity law, which should provide

the spring growth flush and through summer shall be

protection to trees that are over 50 years old. However, this

avoided altogether particularly for deciduous trees

law can be overridden if a project is considered a priority.

due to water stress and since the plant will likely not

‘Even a minister should not have that power. The minister

recuperate from the transplanting.’ However, when

should be informed that this is something really precious.’

asked by the Times of Malta why the trees were moved in July, a spokesperson for ERA said that transplanting FOCUS

guidelines if it occurred in ‘exceptional circumstances’.

the NGO Għaqda Siġar Maltin, particularly criticised the

per tree as a pledge to monitor that the tree survives.

the trees in summer did not necessarily go against the

Infrastructure Malta have emphasised that they have planted thousands of new trees to compensate for the

‘You do not need to be an expert to know that trees should not be uprooted in the middle of summer.’ — Ryan Vella transplantations, highlighting that

very deep and very complex, so proper

trees were planted which were not

both the Central Link and Santa

transplantation is a process that takes

suited [to the local environment],

Luċija projects led to a net gain in

time and can be very expensive.’ A

either growing too fast or disrupting

the number of trees. Ryan Vella

conifer, for example, takes a year

the infrastructure around them.’

refutes this, saying that more

to properly transplant, he says, a

importance should be placed on the

timescale incompatible with the tight

Link project were suspended to allow

maturity of trees, not simply the

deadlines of construction projects.

the Environmental and Planning

quantity: ‘The problem is, it takes

But if the root system is overly

In October, works on the Central

Review to hear all sides after a

many years for a tree to mature.

reduced and the process is rushed, the

thousand protesters braved the

It is true that there will be more

tree will likely die shortly after being

July sun to tie themselves to the

trees planted; but one still needs 20

moved. ‘Most often you end up with

trees facing the chop. Adults and

years for these trees to mature and

these skeletons of transplanted trees.

children waved colourful placards and

provide shade, shelter for birds, and,

You see that the bark has come off and

moved to block the road, chanting

obviously, oxygen and clean air.’

there is no fresh growth,’ he observes.

in Maltese ‘viva s-siġar – hey, hey,’

Not all trees are equal. Widespread

meaning ‘long live the trees’. ‘We

transplant mature, indigenous trees

planting of invasive, non-native trees

have a voice,’ shouted lead organiser

in order to avoid losing them from

such as common fig (Ficus Carica),

Sasha Vella ‘and we are using it to

the locality, but Buhagiar explains

favoured for their rapid growth,

stand up for our environment.’

that this process is especially risky for

constitutes ‘a huge headache,’ says

native species, which tend to have

Buhagiar. Unlike indigenous trees,

action makes a difference. ‘You

deep, well-established root systems.

the Ficus exploit the surface layer

cannot replace something as

‘It’s not simply a case of pruning a

of the soil, making it disruptive to

precious as a mature tree with even

one-meter radius around the tree

pavements and other structures.

a thousand saplings,’ he says. ‘We

and thinking that it’s going to survive,

‘These are giants, which means that

want to leave something for the

there’s no way,’ he says. ‘For many

you have to employ brutal cutting

future. I want to leave something

indigenous trees the root systems are

and pruning techniques. So many

for my grandchildren.’

Buhagiar hopes that such public

FOCUS

In many cases contractors

Repurposing the Economy Dr Jonathan Spiteri spent the last three years talking to businesses from across Europe about the circular economy. He found that better policy would help them embrace the idea of less wasteful production.

he circular economy has slowly seeped into

reuse, and repurposing or repair, with recycling a last resort

public discourse worldwide. Supporters

of sorts. The uncomfortable truth is that a circular economy

include the governments of Denmark and

necessitates a radical rethink of our economic system.

the Netherlands, as well as organisations

The onus should not be on resource efficiency, but on

like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. One

minimum usage and extraction. Products must be built to

of the major early adopters is Philips, the tech giant.

last, and their components must be recoverable for reuse or

The global textiles industry has also taken significant

repurposing (or recycling, for that matter) at their end-of-life.

strides fuelled in part by price volatility in fabrics like

This shift requires businesses and their employees to

cotton, which will worsen with climate change. Public

learn new skills to design our products and supply chains

policy initiatives were set rolling through the European

to fit in with this paradigm. Consumers, too, will need to

Unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2015 Circular Economy Action plan.

re-learn old skills like repair. From a business perspective,

So far, so good. And yet, the circular economy is still

and tokenism is over, especially as global consumer

fact, even the EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Action Plan, for all its good intentions,

demand for green businesses and products continues

places undue emphasis on EU-wide recycling targets and

to rise unabated. Instead, if businesses want to ensure

goals. Recycling is necessary, but it is a costly endeavour,

durability, serviceability, and recovery of raw materials, and

both financially and environmentally. Recent estimates from

successfully collaborate with some of the industrial leaders,

global commodity markets indicate that recycled plastic

they will have to adopt circular economy business models.

is currently around 8% more expensive than virgin plastic

good for business. Over the last few years, together with

Plus, is it really worth shipping recyclable waste halfway

colleagues from the University of Malta and across Europe,

around the world, where it is sometimes incinerated?

I have been part of the Route 2 Circular Economy (R2Ď&#x20AC;), a

Recycling is a mere sliver of what the circular economy is FOCUS

Paradigm shifts are daunting but they turn out to be

per metric tonne, on average (see S&P Global Platts, 2019).

meant to be about. The focus should be on waste reduction,

the time for hollow sustainability mission statements

largely associated with waste management or recycling. In

Horizon 2020 EU-funded project that focuses on facilitating the shift towards circular economy business models. We

surveyed over 100 businesses,

businesses, as well as the stigma

by tapping domestic and EU funds

and held detailed interviews with

associated with using remanufactured

to invest in circular projects. The

another 22 businesses, spanning

products or components, continue

dawn of digitisation, including the

various sectors, sizes, and countries.

hampering progress towards

implementation of distributed ledger

A common thread emerged: adopting

circularity. This is where governments

(blockchain) technologies, should

a circular economy business model

can step in. Authorities can penalise

assist in closing the loop by enabling

can yield significant, tangible

the negative side-effects associated

businesses and governments to

business benefits, from lower

with existing linear business models,

track products and components

operating costs to reduced risks

like resource depletion and landfilling

throughout their life cycle.

and improved customer retention.

of waste. They should also assist

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, with rising

businesses seeking to go circular

The stakes have never been higher. In Malta, 92% of municipal waste

environmental awareness among

is landfilled (National Statistics

citizens, coupled with technological

Office), despite a lack of space to

advancements that facilitate such

store it. Internationally, the Great

collaborative business models,

Pacific garbage patch, filled with

there has never been a better

marine debris, continues to grow

time to go circular. For example,

after reaching the size of Texas. All

established fashion brands like

of us can do our bit to facilitate this

Zara are developing their own

transition to a circular economy by

sustainable natural fibres, with

holding businesses and governments

the aim of using 100% sustainable

to account, and adopting circular

materials in their products by 2025.

practices in our daily lives.

New ventures like Phenix in France waste while finding an alternative value chain for such produce. This by no means suggests that the various industry barriers are gone. Resistance to change within

Dr Jonathan Spiteri Photo by James Moffett

This project has received funding from the European Unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. More information about the findings at R2Pi Horizon 2020: www.r2piproject.eu FOCUS

have emerged to combat food

VOLUNTOURISM: SERVING

YOUR INSTAGRAM, YOUR CV,

FOCUS

OR PEOPLE IN NEED?

Policy strategies laud volunteerism, but critics frown upon ‘voluntourism’, which is travelling to so-called developing countries for short-term voluntary work. University of Malta researcher Dominik Kalweit, who is also a director of the Maltese NGO Kopin, and researcher Dr Stefano Moncada, unpack this phenomenon.

that will also look good on their CV.

stories from voluntourism experiences

According to a 2010 European

typically only reinforce the stereotype

started

Commission study ‘Volunteering in

of poor, uneducated Africans. Images

advertising

the European Union’, around 12% of

of volunteers hugging poverty-

opportunities for

Malta’s population engage in voluntary

stricken children do not help. Without

tourists to cuddle Kenyan children with

work, through involvement in an

critical challenges, such accounts

disabilities on the way to their safari (not

NGO or individually. The number is

might fuel xenophobia and racism,

in these words, but you get the gist), the

laudable, reflecting what Malta’s

contributing further to the already toxic

for-profit sector ventured into territory

National Strategy on Volunteering

discussions around irregular migration

which was previously solely populated

(2019–2024) calls ‘a positive, natural

and asylum, including in Malta.

by charitable organisations. Around

and spirited way to realise meaningful

the world, there is a whole industry

human interaction, collaboration,

to criticise voluntourism because

of volunteer tourism, asking young

and purposeful contribution’.

it is often well-intentioned and

travel agency

people to pay for — in the advertisers’ words — a life-changing experience

You may have heard of the fish

responsive to emergencies or needs

versus rod metaphor. Duncan Green

in the short term. On a website on

of Oxfam takes it further, suggesting

sustainable development, the United

that someone’s right to fish — access to

Nations affirms that ‘volunteerism

fundamental resources, nutritious food,

strengthens civic engagement,

and living in dignity in a safe and healthy

safeguards social inclusion, deepens

environment — is a human right. The

solidarity and solidifies ownership

human rights-based approach goes far

of development results. Importantly,

beyond addressing a particular short-

volunteering has a ripple effect.’

term need. It is about equity, social

But we need to ask ourselves: are

justice, and sustainable development.

the ripples always desirable?

Some of Malta’s main non-

Dominik Kalweit Photo by Guriana Lozano

Despite these effects, it is difficult

When volunteer amateurs engage

governmental development

in work that would require hiring

organisations (NGOs engaging in

professionals, it may pose risks

so-called developing countries)

to their own and to the intended

emphasise that their mission is about

beneficiaries’ safety, whilst also

human rights and not charity. They also

pushing out local professionals.

work to challenge prejudice, whereas

Professionals could be recruited from, FOCUS

hen a Maltese

or, if not available, be paid to live in, the beneficiary community and do their job. If they could earn a living and spend their income locally, this would reduce the need for charity. Any organisation sending volunteers abroad must address ethical concerns: are volunteering tourists trained to engage with the community in a way

Children can emotionally attach to short-term volunteers, and departure will inevitably lead to a rupture in their lives, which can be harmful. Continuity of care is much better for their wellbeing.

that is dignified and not victimising,

volunteers, and departure will inevitably

domestic violence survivors. Choosing

patronising, or overpowering? How

lead to a rupture in their lives, which

an organisation, pay attention to

will the volunteer communicate,

can be harmful. Continuity of care

whether it provides you with the

especially in times of social media? Will

is much better for their wellbeing.

necessary support to make a positive,

they respect national data protection

When voluntourism contributes

sustainable impact on others’ lives. A volunteering experience overseas

laws and, equally important, ethical

to the classical picture of the white

communication rules? The Code of

saviour, it distorts the discussions that

isn’t necessarily bad, as long as one

Conduct on Images and Messages by

really should be taking place: about

ensures that its outcomes and impact

the Irish NGO Platform Dóchas provides

unsustainable development, which goes

are dignifying and the goals are set

some excellent guidelines, but a simple

hand-in-hand with forced migration;

by the host communities themselves

rule of thumb helps: ‘If the person

and about global economic and financial

rather than donors. The volunteer’s

who I intend to portray was me, my

systems feeding on exploitation and

CV or ego should never be the

child, or someone dear to me, would

inequality. We must radically rethink

primary reason for the trip. And if

I be happy with the portraying?’ If the

sustainable development cooperation;

you feel you absolutely have to snap

answer is negative, just don’t post it.

addressing absolute poverty and food

a photo, don’t place yourself in the

Volunteering with children, both

insecurity; lack of access to even

centre. Make it a dignified, positive

at home and overseas, is a particular

basic rights, goods, and services;

experience for everyone involved.

concern. Anyone working with children

bad governance and oppression; and

must be aware of, trained on, and

the impacts of global warming.

fully adhering to a child’s rights, as

Further Reading:

of coupledom which, in her words, successfully ‘plays on and parodies gender roles’. Speechless explores the ups and downs

Budgeon, S. (2008). Couple Culture and the

of a family who has a child with a disability. The Middle follows

Production of Singleness. Sexualities. 11: 301-

a lower middle class family living in Indiana in the US, where

325. 10.1177/1363460708089422.

two parents with three children struggle with home life, work, and raising children. The Carmicheal Show focuses on a middle

Mulvey, L. (1999). Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. In

class, African American heterosexual couple who, in Murphy’s

Braudy, L. and Cohen, M. (eds.), Film Theory and Criticism:

observation, ‘systematically make statements on social and

Introductory Readings. New York: Oxford UP, pp. 833-44.

political issues such as gender equality, Trump vs Obama, race, and social justice’. Boy Meets Girl depicts a transgender

Murphy B. (2020) [forthcoming]. Framing Couples:

woman and plays around with the heteronormativity of

stereotypes, romance and idealized romance

coupledoms with the director and producer choosing to

in the media. In Abela, A, Piscopo, S., & Vella, S.

cast a transgender actor as their trans primary character.

(eds.), Couple Relationships in a Global Context: Understanding love and intimacy across cultures.

come to live together when their marriages fall apart.

National Centre of Family Research of the President's

Against the backdrop of the well-documented trend that

Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society; Springer.

FEATURE

Finally, in Grace and Frankie we meet two women who

DNA SPACEWALK Can bacteria grow in space? How do cells respond to radiation? Geneticist Prof. Joseph Borg realised that to find out, he must make some friends outside his discipline.

very day, I (Prof. Joseph Borg) look inside human cells, aided by the state-of-the-art

spent hours discussing our interests and eventually designed

equipment we have at the University of Malta

our very first experiment – emitting a 2.8 GHz (10.7cm-long)

(UM). But I have always been interested in

radio frequency signal and continuously bombarding two

fundamental questions in science, like ‘How

small plates containing harmless microorganisms (bacteria):

and when did life emerge on Earth?’, ‘How did our solar

one for 24 hours and one for 48 hours. The question

system and life evolve, and how will it develop in the

was very specific and simple enough: will such exposure

future?’ and ‘Is there life on other celestial bodies?’ None

to radio waves change the bacteria’s DNA makeup?

of these can be answered by one discipline alone. It was February 2018 when I reached out to Prof. Kristian

the biologists and astronomers working closer together and learn each others’ tools and techniques. I learnt

Astronomy (UM). I told him that I was a molecular biologist

more about radio waves, types of radiation, and the

with a slight inclination for astronomy. When we met, we

anechoic chamber (a room that completely absorbs

found that we have more interests in common than the highly

sound) used for such studies. The astronomers learnt

fragmented world of science often leads us to think. Research

more about genetics, DNA, and cell biology.

Soon we were joined by astronomy PhD student

When the time came to conduct our experiment, we took the bacteria we had grown on nutrient agar plates and

Josef Borg, whose background was in Biology and

divided them: four were left in standard laboratory conditions

Chemistry, maths and physics student Maria Aquilina,

as control samples whilst the other four were placed as

as well as applied biomedical student Leah Meekers.

test samples inside the anechoic chamber. Two plates

Our bacteria suffered no harm after being subjected to radio waves at a frequency of 2.8 GHz for up to two full days!

IDEA

This very basic scientific experiment served to get

Zarb Adami, who directs the Institute of Space Sciences and

in our fields requires interaction and the exchange of ideas.

Our meeting ground is the science of astrobiology. We

set remained there for 48 hours. I was back in my scientific comfort

of 2.8 GHz for up to two full days! We want to continue joint experiments to learn how cells behave

zone. We extracted bacterial DNA

and adapt to increased radiation

and tested its quality and integrity;

exposure. These findings can lead us to

we quantified it with the standard

a better understanding of cancer and

tools available in my molecular biology

tumour biology – which cells respond

laboratory. Once we had the DNA

best to radiation therapy? What is

from both test and control samples, we

the minimal radiation dose that can

sent them off to the Gene Core Facility

achieve therapeutic effect with the

at the European Molecular Biology

least damage to cells? But we will also

Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg,

be equipped to ask more ambitious

Germany. At this facility, the bacterial

questions: how can we prolong human

DNA we extracted was subject to

presence in space and space missions?

whole genome sequencing that

Can we genetically manipulate human

essentially enabled us to read all of the

cells to withstand solar radiation? Can

bacteria’s 4.6 million DNA nucleotides.

we increase the length of stay in space,

now planning small biological and

making missions to the Moon and Mars

chemical experiments that can fit

and back more feasible and realistic?

into a small cube and be launched

To build on the good work and

under low earth orbit conditions to

We could finally compare our samples and determine whether there were any meaningful differences

Prof. Joseph Borg Photo by Luke Saliba

between the bacteria exposed to

prevent a counterproductive

determine what happens to cells

radiation and those that weren’t.

fragmentation of existing resources,

at both DNA and RNA level.

Belinda Giardine from Penn State

the group now plans a platform for

University helped us with bio-

research, training outreach, and

we hope to move the frontiers of

informatic studies to compare DNA

dissemination in astrobiology, open to

understanding life in our galaxy. We

variants between test and control

researchers from various backgrounds.

have come to realise what Carl Sagan

samples. There were no obvious or

The Institute for Space Sciences and

meant by ‘The nitrogen in our DNA,

meaningful differences between the

Astronomy provides an excellent

the calcium in our teeth, the iron in

samples, which concludes that our

platform for this to take place with

our blood, the carbon in our apple pies

bacteria suffered no harm after being

its small but steady flow of ambitious

were made in the interiors of collapsing

subjected to radio waves at a frequency

ideas for research. The group are

stars. We are made of starstuff.’

Having formed this young group,

IDEA

stayed for 24 hours, while another

START UP

‘Where there’s a will there’s a way’ is a principle that sparked the idea of a business aiming to bring peace of mind to wedding preparations. Get Hitched co-founders tell Marija Camilleri how they have been growing their start up, how they decided to ‘brexit’ after a brief experiment in the UK market, and what further expansion they have in the pipeline.

chasing them,’ he said. The groom decided to

experience, full of happy memories

share his frustrations with his business partner

with friends and family. The run-

Benjamin Vincenti. ‘The biggest question at the

up to the occasion, however,

time was not how big of a business this could be

is an entirely different matter.

but “How did no one think of it before?”’ says

The couple is stuck with having to contact

Azzopardi Frantz. When Vincenti heard about

and coordinate countless vendors, wasting

the lack of a one-stop-shop for weddings, he

time and energy. This stress can disrupt

took to it immediately. ‘We did some research

people’s enjoyment of own wedding.

and couldn’t find such platforms; all we found

Jonathan Azzopardi Frantz, co-founder of

were the typical directory sites, which meant

wedding organiser platform Get Hitched,

that you still had to contact the vendors one by

together with his now-wife, found themselves

one. And so we built it ourselves,’ says Vincenti.

chasing wedding suppliers for information,

Their joint venture, Get Hitched, launched at

quotes, and packages two and a half years ago

the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC)

when preparing for their big day. Azzopardi

weddings fair two years ago and has now grown to

Frantz would call and send emails and instant

over 400 suppliers and 13 employees. ‘Before we

messages to suppliers, but most of them would

set out to build Get Hitched we validated the idea;

not even bother to respond, while others

we brainstormed around Jon and his wife’s pain

simply told them that they were fully booked.

points and then we spoke to other couples, asking

The couple, both entrepreneurs, started to

them whether they would use such a platform. All

get irritated. ‘Photographers, videographers

of them responded with ‘yes, obviously!’ and that

and the like should chase me instead of me

was the first part of the puzzle,’ explains Vincenti.

START UP

wedding should be a magical

The co-founders needed to make sure that suppliers would actually invest in this product. They created a

budget or is fully booked on the day, for example, they

prototype to sell to vendors and managed to generate

won’t even communicate with each other,’ he says.

over €13,000 without a brand name or website. All

wedding, the estimated number of people to serve, budget,

the business. ‘Use our platform to find everything you

and over 35 categories of services. Get Hitched suppliers

would need for your wedding, [and] there is nowhere

are vetted meticulously. The team speak to people who

else you need to go — save time and hassle, stop

have used the service directly, converse with the vendor

chasing people and focus on what’s most important,

over the phone and then arrange a face-to-face meeting.

like enjoying your relationship and having fun at your

‘In certain situations, we have stopped engaging a supplier

wedding,’ Vincenti summarises his company’s offer.

because they didn’t give a good service,’ admits Vincenti. Once a match is made, the customer and the supplier

Frantz already had his own marketing agency, which

can start communicating directly through the website.

was working with Joe Bartolo at the University of Malta.

‘Competition and users’ expectations are always

Bartolo told them about the TAKEOFF incubator, and the

increasing, and so you need to give the customer

founders applied for the seed fund. ‘Winning the TAKEOFF

a tailor-made, personal service,’ says Vincenti.

award was more than just about the funding [...], it was

Knowing that most of the couples getting married

more about the acknowledgement that we are doing

would also plan a bachelor or hens party, the founders

something different and innovative,’ asserts Vincenti.

decided to launch a category for those events. Not to

‘Our team is multicultural. We have people from Malta, the United Kingdom, and Lithuania. Even in terms of users, some 25% are non-Maltese residents, but arrive here to get married,’ he adds. The bulk, although not all, of their suppliers are local. ‘The company makes its revenue from suppliers through two different pricing models, meaning that the service for users has been and will always remain completely free,’ Vincenti explains. As suppliers pay for the listing, neither the platform nor the supplier applies commission to the prices the end-user pays. ‘We are not just a listing START UP

Users can filter suppliers based on the date of the

the profit earned from Get Hitched has gone back into

When he started building this business, Azzopardi

supplier, so if the supplier doesn’t match the client’s

provider, we match the criteria of the user with the

There is nowhere else you need to go — save time and hassle, stop chasing people and focus on what’s most important, like enjoying your relationship and having fun at your wedding,’

Benjamin Vincenti and Jonathan Azzopardi Frantz, founders of Get Hitched

mention that the two have recently built another website,

Get Hitched,’ the co-founder adds. Hence, management

Evently, which is an extension of Get Hitched. ‘In just

decided to pull out from the United Kingdom since

three months we have added 130 suppliers and have

growth there was not up to founders’ expectations.

had over 90 companies from the iGaming industry, the

‘We learned many lessons from this experience and it was a

government, and the financial sector using it to find

very tough time for the company, but we are very grateful that

venues for their events,’ Vincenti says about Evently.

we went through it since we learned so much and became

Not all of their wild ideas enjoyed smooth sailing. Get Hitched attempted to venture outside of Malta with Wedago

much more stream-lined in all our processes,’ Vincenti adds. Despite past setbacks in foreign markets, the founders

in Manchester, UK, but the team soon realised that the

are currently looking to expand. ‘Start ups are ever-changing

demand for weddings over there in Manchester was not

at lightning speed so we are constantly adapting,’ Vincenti

comparable to that of Malta. ‘An average wedding in Malta

adds. ‘Our vision is to internationalise our platforms

would hold approximately 400 people and therefore more

and be the matchmaking platform of users finding their

services are needed, such as a photo booth, photographer...

suppliers for the world. We love Malta and it will always

some couples would even want fireworks,’ notes Vincenti.

be our home, but we have bigger aspirations.’

get married and go for lunch. So it’s a smaller operation,

This article was written in collaboration

there isn’t the need for the 35 services that we have on

with Business Malta.

START UP

‘UK weddings hold an average of 30 people, who would

LAB TO LIFE

The new laser head applied to an industrial 3D printer Photo by Laser Engineering and Development Ltd.

Lasers F bonding layers

rom Science in the City to robotics festivals, a signature sight at technology-related events is a crowd of hypnotised-looking children, following a 3D printer building, layer by layer, a vase or animation character. From dentistry to design,

the technology is promising to make future manufacturing customisable and renewable (as materials can be made from starch or roots). Yet, according to Newsweek, the industry suffers from â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;a gulf between expectations and realitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, and some analysts have claimed the hype is now over. So, can we make 3D printing live up to its promises? The answer may lie in controlling irregularities.

In fused filament fabrication (FFF), one of the 3D printing methods, a computer controls the release and depositing of melted thermoplastic, layer-by-layer. The molten material solidifies under exposure to a cooler environment, and the printer can add another layer until the 3D object materialises. Just like ordering a prototype from the Replicator on Starship Enterprise, right? Well, not quite. Yet. While fused filament fabrication serves

LAB TO LIFE

research, engineering, and development, it wrestles with

Does 3D printing have what it takes to make manufacturing environmentally friendly? Using only as much material as a part or product requires, it would seem so. Iren Bencze asks what, then, stands in the way of its widespread adoption.

adhesion-related problems. Molten thermoplastic solidifies as it cools, so the deposited layers can shift, delaminate, warp, or form irregular walls. Under these circumstances, the mechanical properties of the 3D-printed object also suffer from decreased tensile strength and defects caused by porosity. In other words, they suffer from the same drawbacks as wood, which is stronger along the grain than across it.

Left to right: Gabor Molnar, Kiss Szabolcs, Arif Rochman and Francesco Impaziente Photo by Laser Engineering and Development Ltd.

with Malta’s academics before, but

printing faster. On the average, it

Engineering and Development

with the help from the Knowledge

can take an hour to print a 5–15 cm

Ltd. undertook the challenge to

Transfer Office at UM, they were

tall object with FFF technology. The

overcome this major hurdle. Their

introduced to polymer processing and

time depends on filament material

proposed LASeeeR next generation

testing specialist Dr Arif Rochman.

and thickness, layer thickness, print

FFF 3D printer uses innovative laser

He brought to the project extensive

nozzle temperature, and so on. Using

technology to try to bring about a

experience with industrial partners, and

concentrated energy and more

great leap forward in the industry.

DIME contributed state-of-the-art 3D

precisely controlled heating, the

printers for both metals and polymers.

proposed technology will be able to

Reflecting on the early days of the

melt a thicker filament, a 50W laser

the inter-layer bond while printing

project, Molnar notes that their main

can heat up the filament from room

objects. This should increase their

challenge was HR-related. Malta being

temperature to printing temperature

strength. Project coordinator Gabor

a small country, it was difficult to find

in one tenth of a second. 3D printing

Molnar hopes that the advance

creative professionals with the right

should get hotter and faster.

will overcome the hurdles 3D

expertise. With nationals from Hungary,

printing faces in manufacturing.

Italy, Malta, and Malaysia on the team,

speed and mechanical strength, this

The LASeeeR technology uniquely uses laser heating to strengthen

By overcoming problems in build

the current challenge is multicultural

Maltese innovation could contribute

Laser Engineering and Development

management. ‘While it is difficult to

to more 3D printers being used to

Ltd is developing a functional

coordinate various viewpoints and

manufacture goods. These printers

prototype that can be integrated into

workstyles, cross-cultural knowledge

would make manufacturing more

a regular FFF 3D printer. They are

sharing should be the norm for any

environmentally friendly by reducing

collaborating with the Department

project with global impact,’ Molnar says.

the amount of material used and being

Funded by MCST’s FUSION fund,

of Industrial and Manufacturing

In the LASeeeR project, DIME is

able to use plant-based polymers.

Engineering (DIME; Faculty of

developing special filaments from

The team’s hope is that beyond

Engineering, University of Malta [UM])

different polymers that can highly

patenting the new technology of laser

for their specific expertise on polymers.

absorb laser radiation. Molnar hopes

heating to strengthen the inter-layer

The micro enterprise, which has under

that the combined academic and

bond, they will be able to introduce

five full-timers, had never cooperated

industrial expertise will make 3D

it to factories worldwide.

LAB TO LIFE

Award-winning company Laser

Alumni

Living in Maltese A new European Commission tool facilitates easy and accurate translation between English and Maltese. Author and translator Mark Vella is tirelessly promoting this translation product. He speaks to Teodor Reljic about how the Maltese language and its literary heritage has defined his life and career from graduation onwards.

did nudge him towards some future research paths. ‘It was

of Mark Vella’s life and career. First, he

after I went through my Master’s course in Maltese that

served as a sixth form Maltese teacher

I developed a fascination with the Maltese short story,

at the St Aloysius College, and set up a

and the work of Juann Mamo in particular…’ In 2010, his

Maltese publishing house. He later on

interest in Mamo led to him editing a publication of Mamo’s

moved to Luxembourg as a Maltese translator in the mid-noughties and became a published author. Now serving as Language Officer at the Directorate-

short works, called Ġrajja Maltija, for Klabb Kotba Maltin. But the pleasures of such intellectual pursuits would come later for Vella. Upon graduation, he decided

General for Translation (Maltese Language Department)

to pursue his Postgraduate Certificate in Education,

within the European Commission Representation in Malta,

which left him quite ‘appalled’. ‘I found that the default,

Vella recalls the mixed cocktail of emotions and expectations

inherited approaches we have towards teaching the

that greeted him when he first started reading for a Maltese

Maltese language do tend towards the stifling,’ Vella says.

undergraduate degree at the University of Malta back in

‘We get bogged down in grammar, have an unhealthy

1994. ‘Unfortunately back then Maltese was still considered

obsession with “Malti pur” [pure Maltese], and generally

to be something of a “Cinderella course”,’ Vella tells me

just prevent kids from expressing themselves naturally.’

as we chat in his Valletta office. ‘The English Department

Vella remembers how English literature novels and

was always [seen as] the more “sophisticated” option and

textbooks were written in a far more engaging way than

sadly, Maltese was always considered to be the domain

their Maltese counterparts. ‘Now, to be fair, I wasn’t teaching

of the “losers”,’ he says with a wry smile. The course was

during the Denfil days,’ Vella says, referring to the previously

then quite small in every respect, with just 10 students.

standard, and intellectually bereft, Maltese-language

Eventually the zeitgeist started changing. ‘The next generation of lecturers who came up – like Bernard Micallef and Adrian Grima – began to apply a more modern approach

reader. ‘But I did often find myself in a situation where I had no choice but to “invent” my own resources ad hoc.’ Despite all these frustrations, the needs Vella saw

to the course, and so revitalised it [to become] more

in his students were the same as his. ‘I noticed them

outward-looking [and] forward-thinking.’ But Vella did not

responding to the lack of variety and choices available,

get to enjoy this scene, even if his experience of academia

so that pushed me to take a more pro-active and creative Alumni

he Maltese language is a defining element

eTranslation interface (screenshot)

approach towards introducing them to the language, and

touted by critics and commentators to be the expressions

to Maltese literature in particular,’ Vella remembers. ‘When

of a new literary ‘enfant terrible’ on the Maltese scene.

you’re teaching young adults, there’s a thrill to noticing

Minima released Stagno’s debut novels, Inbid ta’ Kuljum

what tickles their fancy, and realising that you can in fact

(which grew from a TV series brainstorming session) and

make Maltese literature relevant to their experience.’

Xemx, Wisq Sabiħa, whose multi-protagonist tale of local

Vella’s sensitivity to the pulse of Maltese literature led

Like Mifsud, Stagno would go on to publish later works in

comparatively short-lived, the enterprise started a

mainstream venues after Minima folded, cementing that

literary revolution whose after-shocks are still being felt.

publisher’s un-ignorable impact in grooming literary talent.

‘The idea started brewing in my mind during my final

in Brussels’, intersects with Vella’s life post-teaching,

Maltese writing, and thought that a new anthology of

and post-Minima. Though the narrative of the novel

short fiction and poetry would be the way to go.’

(published by Merlin in 2013) is very much its own thing, its context runs in parallel to Vella’s career trajectory:

go about scouting for works? ‘Yes, it was more challenging

heading off to Luxembourg to work as a Maltese-

back then for obvious reasons. I’d like to refer to them

language translator, forming part of that first wave of

as the kittieba tal-kexxun [‘desk-drawer authors’] who

translators that emerged in a post-EU accession Malta.

wouldn’t always showcase their works openly, and there weren’t all that many avenues for all that to begin with.’ Nevertheless, Minima can go down in history for being

When we meet, he’s thrilled to talk about the Commission’s eTranslation tool – an efficient and easy-touse product meant to facilitate translation of documents

the first publisher to take on Immanuel Mifsud, now a

and available, for free, to all public service officials and

leading figure of Maltese literature, and whose work Vella

academics in the EU, Norway, and Iceland until 2020.

first encountered through self-published early volumes.

Alumni

Stagno’s latest work, ‘What Happens in Brussels Stays

year at university. I began to observe certain trends in

This all happened before social media, so how did Vella

debauchery promised the arrival of a ‘Maltese Irvine Welsh’.

him to set up the boutique publisher, Minima. Although

‘Malta has an added advantage when it comes to this tool

Another notable discovery was author Ġużè Stagno,

as we’re very much a bilingual country, unlike others who

whose grittily humorous works were self-consciously

would need a bridge translation to English [using English as

Mark Vella Photo by Nathaniel Galea

an intermediary language between two others — ed.] before

eTranslation platform ‘doesn’t draw from any random subset

making use of the product,’ Vella says, while talking about

of information — so that it will soak in linguistic cues even

an undeniable dichotomy between speech and writing.

from social media posts and so on — but it bases itself on

‘Maltese is widely spoken amongst families, groups of friends,

established sources. Another important advantage is that it is

other social, and even professional contexts. The problems

built on a neural, not statistical, machine translation model.’

seem to start at the written-word level. You can still see

Another happy offshoot of this product, according to

a cultural resistance to Maltese, even when it comes to

Vella, is its potential to burst the ‘Brussels bubble’ of

administrative or bureaucratic procedures,’ he elaborates.

Maltese competency. The tool allows the same rigour and

He soon brings up an example. ‘Say you want to apply for a loan from the bank. You’ll book an appointment with the bank official, and your face-to-face conversation with them

precision honed by jobbing EU translators — ‘Brussels Maltese’ — to trickle down into public service use. With a wealth of experience behind him, Vella is

will likely be in Maltese. But any follow-up paperwork and

back in Malta to work at the European Commission

correspondence that you’ll receive will be written in English.’

Representation in Malta, and he is happy to observe a

According to Vella, the eTranslation product helps to

further boost to the Maltese language. ‘Suddenly, the

address this confidence gap. ‘We’ve met with public

“Cinderella course” gave way to an exciting opportunity,’

officials and shown them how the product works, and

Vella beams, an opportunity he is now living.

they were thrilled to see it in action — the possibility of translating documents into Maltese quickly, while

eTranslation is available to University of Malta’s academics

being safe in the knowledge that the translation

and selected students (10 accounts per lecturer on a

was fully “legit”, came as a great relief. A lot of these

temporary basis) thanks to the European Masters in

departments are handling a large volume of translation

Translation quality label. Lecturers can apply for a personal

regularly, and so a product like this is crucial.’

account. More information at: https://bit.ly/2MQ22Cy

when we have Google Translate, Vella assures me that

Article sponsored by the European

the eTranslation platform has a distinct advantage. The

Commission for Representation in Malta Alumni

And if you’re thinking, why develop new solutions

TO-DO LIST MUSIC

Tune in to Flying Lotus’s 6th album, Flamagra, an interesting mix of hip hop, electronica, funk, and jazz!

BOOK

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See is a tale of friendship and family. Set in the Korean island of Jeju, the story revolves around the lives of two girls from different backgrounds and their experience working in the sea as professional divers.

MOVIE

A Dog’s Journey (2019) Sequel to the 2017 movie ‘A Dog’s Purpose’, this heartwarming movie shows the life of a dog as he understands the meaning of his existence through the lives of humans he meets. TV

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

The host of this channel, Sonny, travels to different parts of the world and explores different cuisines. From pig brain soup to stingray hot pot, this channel isn’t for the faint hearted!

To-do list

PODCAST

Peaky Blinders A crime drama revolving around a British family, this show is set in the aftermath of World War I.

INSTAGRAM

Pasha from The Conversation Africa

Matthew Vandeputte @matjoez

From stopping measles in DR Congo to South African research of Stone Age music, this podcast informs us about exciting research projects on the African continent.

The celebrated travel photographer makes beautiful timelapse videos, vlogs on his travels, and provides tutorials on photography.

Degree+  um.edu.mt/degreeplus degreeplus@um.edu.mt  +356 2340 2092  /degplus