THINK - Issue 39

Social Well-Being

Haveyou ever wondered what the role of society is? Why do we, as a species, instinctively form communities or tribes?

In a broad sense, humans are social animals, and coming together as a tribe allows us to socialise, share food and information, and perhaps rally behind a common identity or unite against a common danger.

However, where does that leave our own individual identity? Does a common, tribal identity overshadow our own individuality? Most communities would not advocate abandoning our individual identity (unless it's a cult). Just because you support a particular football team or political party, or are a particular nationality, doesn’t mean that it is your entire identity. There is more to you as a person than your political preferences, nationality, or work. And society should celebrate that.

But to get back to society, all of the reasons we mentioned earlier (socialising, shared resources, and security) facilitate our well-being.

Our rapid technological advancement should allow us to create a society which helps us to become the best version of ourselves, one which allows us to express our individuality, to learn new things, to safeguard our mental and physical health, and (dare I say) to lead a fulfilling life.

Does this sound like our current society? I will leave you to decide.

G.

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Rising from the forgotten valley of history and hovering above the clouds, the being gazes upward, hopeful that we are in time to create a fairer and just society.

focus

What Have We Learned from Covid?: Anthropological Investigations 16

Refugee Students 20

Caring for the Caregivers 24

Living Smarter: Project MARVEL and Smart Cities 28

Designing Inclusive Kitchen Tools 32

Digital-Proofing Society to Face Future Crises 36

Only the Lonely 40

Eating Disorders in Malta 44

CONTRIBUTORS

TOOLKIT

Dr Ing. Daniel Micallef

Chris Styles

WITHOUT BORDERS

Prof. Ing. Claire De Marco

DESIGN

Jean Bonnici

Roger Gatt

Akiko Miyahara

Lian van Schaik

OPINION

Ruth Spiteri

STUDENT

Juan Attard Daniele Caruana

Matthias Caruana

Dr Sholeem Griffin

Dr Jefferson de Oliveira Mallia

Luke Said S-Cubed

FOCUS

Prof. Maria Attard

Timothy Alden

Prof. Andrew Azzopardi

Prof. Jean Paul Baldacchino

Jamie Bonnici

Nicole Bonnici

Dr Kurt Borg Martina Borg

Dr Louise Chircop

Claire Ciancio

Prof. Marilyn Clark

Annabel Cuff

Dr Michael Galea

Prof. Simone Galea

Andrea Gerada Christian Keszthelyi Heather McNamara

Dr Wendy Jo Mifsud

Prof. Adrian Muscat

Dr Gisella Orsini

Dr Maurice Said

Dr Victoria Sultana

Ines Ventura

Prof. André Xuereb

FEATURES

Aman Batra

Dr Ing. John C. Betts

Dr Robert Camilleri

Dr Oriana Mazzitelli

James Moffett

Antonia Ribeiro

Prof. David Saliba

Emma Jayne Spiteri

Emma Richard-Trémeau

Prof. Josanna Vassallo

IDEA Jonathan Firbank

START UP Nicky Borg Sebastião Miranda

FICTION Christine Galea TEXT

ALUMNI Patricia Attard Darmanin Shirley Cini Vanessa MacDonald Denise Mercieca

THINK is a research magazine published by the Marketing, Communications & Alumni Office at the University of Malta.

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LAB TO LIFE

Prof. Ing. Joseph Buhagiar Helenio Borg Muscat Albert Curmi

Prof. Alfred Gatt Dr Arif Rochman

TO-DO LIST THINK Team

ILLUSTRATIONS

Gabriel Izzo Nicole Pace

PHOTOGRAPHY

James Moffett Sarah Zammit

Firing Up the Past

Flying Green: Work in Progress

Out the World

Coding Up the Career Ladder

Shirley Cini’s Journey to Leading a

Tumours:

ISSN 2306-0735 | Copyright © University of Malta, 2022

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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.

toolkit

A Dance of Particles and Smoke

As we move through the world, we are surrounded by an invisible dance: particles of air and matter silently in motion around us, their choreography dictated by rules of the universe, diffusion, and fluid dynamics. It may seem like we are overcomplicating and romanticising this process in equal measure, but understanding how this matter moves through our environment is an immensely complicated and important process for us to understand. From aerodynamics to public health, understanding how air and matter move through the world does matter to us, because it affects the behaviour of flying aircraft and the spread of airborne pollutants, just to give a few examples! But how do we make the invisible visible? One method that you may be familiar with is using a wind tunnel, and the fundamentals of how these work are pretty simple. An object is placed within a closed environment, and smoke or some other detectable gaseous agent is blown around the object. The speed and direction of these smoke particles can then be measured as they move around the object, just as you would measure the speed of any moving body by using the fundamental equation we all learnt at school: Speed = But how do researchers gather this information from so many tiny objects, such as gas molecules moving through an air current? The answer is Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV)

PIV is a method of visualising the velocity of parcels of gas or liquid molecules. This is done using a laser and a specialised high-speed camera. When the laser is fired, the detectable matter present within the air

current is illuminated, and then the camera takes two consecutive images. By comparing these two images, the speed and velocity of the particles can be measured, similar to how a speed camera works to figure out the speed and direction (velocity) of a moving vehicle. This data is then processed using specialised computer software to create a map of the velocity of small clusters of particles present in these photographs and figure out the general speed and direction of these clouds, rather than the velocity of each individual particle.

Although you may be aware of some of the general uses for PIV in wind tunnels (such as measuring the aerodynamics of plane wings), this methodology has more far-reaching application in matters that affect our general day-to-day existence. For example, at the University of Malta’s new Environmental Design Laboratories, which are planned to be set up in the new Sustainable Living Centre currently under construction, we hope to use, in collaboration with the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Faculty of Engineering, two recently acquired PIV systems to research building ventilation, pollution transport, aerial disease transmission, wind and heat flow, and air flow over vegetation to investigate urban greening and its effect on pedestrian comfort.

While the whirls of particles and smoke continue to fascinate us, by better understanding their waltzes, we might be able to design healthier and more efficient spaces. And that’s certainly something worth dancing about!

Basic diagram of a Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system

High-speed

Image

Light

Pulsed Laser Lamp

Optics

Learn more about the work being carried out by the Department of Environmental Design

without borders

Venturing Beyond Our Borders

From the packages you receive to the groceries you buy, chances are these came by sea. Every day hundreds of vessels trawl the ocean, burning fuel and spewing carbon dioxide, so it should come as no surprise that the EU is aiming to make the maritime industry more sustainable. The trick is to make sea vessels more efficient so they use less fuel.

‘It's not just the shape of the ship or the propeller, but it's a mix of everything,’ Prof. Ing. Claire De Marco explains. ‘You have to optimise everything to make it more efficient.’

To achieve this, University of Malta (UM) is forging ahead with Project VENTuRE (a Virtual and physical

ExperimeNtal Towing centre for the design of eneRgy Efficient seafaring vessels) in collaboration with two other universities and a local industry partner. The project is led by Prof. Ing. Claire De Marco (Project Leader), alongside Prof. Ing. Tonio Sant , and Dr Ing. Simon Mizzi, and Dr Mitchell Borg, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, UM. The planned facilities are fundamental for the design of energy-efficient sea-faring vessels.

Building and modifying full-sized vessels is a costly endeavour, hence it is important to test new designs through simulations and scaled experiments before building the full-sized model. Besides computer

simulations (the virtual side), towtanks are used for experimentation. But what is a tow-tank?

Think of a tow-tank as a long and narrow canal. On the front side, you have paddles which generate waves. The waves themselves can be ‘customised’ in order to replicate particular scenarios, while on the far end is the 'beach' which absorbs the waves. Hanging above the tank there is also a moving carriage, to which the scaled ship model is connected allowing it to move along the length of the tank at a chosen test speed with the tow carriage.

While building such a tank is no small feat of engineering, the longterm use of such facilities requires

the appropriate expertise. This is where the twinning aspect of Project VENTuRE comes into play.

Twinning projects are aimed at helping so-called Widening Countries (countries with developing infrastructure, such as Malta) strengthen a defined field of research. As part of the project’s Twinning Action, two internationallyleading research institutions in the field, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Genoa, as well as a local industrial partner, NAS (Naval Architecture Services Ltd) allow for international collaboration between leading research institutions and industry professionals.

Short specialist courses, schools, and partner visits allow academics, researchers, and laboratory technicians to be upskilled. International conferences ensure the transfer of ideas and provide networking possibilities. Student exchanges, mentoring, joint supervisions, and industrial secondments give the researchers the opportunity to broaden their experiences and take their first steps in international research and the industry. The partnership will be taken to another level for possible future collaborations by preparing joint proposals at national and international levels, as well as frameworks for further academic programmes. These

types of events and activities lay the groundwork for future long-term collaborations and the sustainability of VENTuRE’s aims and objectives.

In fact, Claire believes that having clear and open communication is critical for the success of a project. ‘The project just fell into place. We are four partners who already collaborated and knew each other before the start of the project, and, despite all the Covid-related problems we encountered, we were still successful with our goals!’

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme. Project No. 856887

Etching to Learn

Since the end of the 19th century, Japanese art has left its mark on Western art. This marriage of cultures has not only inspired masters such as Van Gogh and Monet, but has even influenced the West’s approach to colour and space.

IAM Contemporary Art aims to carry on this inter-cultural legacy, not only by empowering the art scene in Malta and Europe with selected Japanese and East Asian art, but by giving Japanese artists the tools to present their art to an English-speaking audience.

For many young Japanese artists, IAM Contemporary Art provides the opportunity to break into the European art scene. However, while art transcends language, the language barrier poses a challenge for these up-and-coming artists. ‘The program helps students to improve their English, whilst giving them the opportunity to work on their art in the studio spaces,’ explains Akiko Miyahara, Managing Director of IAM Contemporary Art.

IAM Contemporary Art, working alongside the Malta University Language School (MULS), has developed an artist residency program aimed towards Japanese art students who wish to learn English during their studies in art college. This is achieved by providing the artists with accommodation, as well as a studio space to work on their creative practice while studying English in a nurturing environment.

‘The language courses are more focused on the communicative aspect, specifically listening and speaking skills,’ Jean Bonnici, Director of Studies at MULS tells THINK. ‘The format of the classes facilitates this type of learning. By having students from different countries and backgrounds, the students gain a better understanding of foreign cultures while developing the confidence necessary to speak the language fluently.’

The students follow a program of 20 hours of English classes per week for up to six months. Aside from their language skills, the students focus on their personal development, with special attention on their art. Miyahara explains how the program is aimed at ‘elevating the student’s career opportunities and, as artists, to be able to express themselves in a professional context.’ This sentiment is echoed by Bonnici, who adds, ‘Art has many different facets; when you’re talking about art, especially your own, you need to have passion and be able to talk about it. To do so, you need to have the necessary language skills.’

Applications for the course are open at the time of writing. Applicants interested in the course are encouraged to reach out to info@iamcontemporaryart.com for further information.

(Top left)

Hiroki Okuma, Two Seasons (2022)

Image courtesy of the artist

(Top right)

Takatoku Nishi, Shape of Light -in the box- (2018)

Image courtesy of the artist (Bottom)

Toru Ishii, Spin Thread out of Light #BIRD (2022)

Image courtesy of the artist

We Need to Get Our Hands Dirty (Literally)

Attent għax taqa u taqsam rasek!' (Careful, you’ll fall and hit your head!)

'Waħdek se tkun? Ara jaħftek xi ħadd!' (You’re going to be alone? Be careful or someone might kidnap you!)

'Xogħol tal-qamel ikollok jekk ma tmurx l-università.' (You won’t find a good job unless you go to university.)

Do these phrases sound familiar to you?

A recent global study carried out by US analytics company Gallup and featured on Times of Malta ranks us as the 3rd angriest population in Europe and also the most anxious population in Europe.

While there are arguably several reasons for this, one way this anxiety might manifest is through our parents. While helicopter parenting might stem from good intentions, research suggests a correlation between helicopter parenting and children who develop depression and anxiety. It rears up in the drama our parents make if we want to travel, in the conflict we experience if we don’t want to pursue a traditional university education, and in our aversion to all things sports.

Our risk aversion and anxiety is also fueled by the increasing global hysteria towards any form of dirt and disease. Our lives are becoming increasingly occupied by a diverse range of beliefs, routines, and compulsions that focus on eradicating disease. We keep our environments as clean as possible until they look dull, we sterilise our hands until they’re dry, and we rush to the doctor and pop pills at the slightest sign of discomfort.

We are hesitant to experiment or try something new; we try to play everything safe. As a consequence of this, we’ve become more alienated from nature and our own bodies

by the year, leading sedentary and technology-centred lives which fuel medical complications like heart problems, chronic pain, and treatment-resistant super-bacteria.

Is it any wonder then why we feel so angry and anxious? So alienated from ourselves and the world?

Fortunately, there is a solution to this: we need to get our hands dirty. Literally.

Research conducted by the University of Tehran in 2010 shows that kinesthetic activities like sports and the process of overcoming hurdles in those activities make it easier to bounce back from psychological discomfort. Sprinkle in a little contact with nature for some de-stressing, and you have the perfect plan for resilience against pain and misfortune.

So go get your hands dirty. Plant some trees, touch the soil, and get elbow-deep in that dirt. Go hiking and swimming. Explore new places. Become more aware of your body through sports and meditation. Embrace nature instead of trying to keep it at a distance. Find ways to get back in touch with that curiosity and sportiveness you had as a child before it was repressed and snuffed out.

Most importantly: take meaningful and calculated risks. You won’t be young forever. Ideally, there should be many moments in your life when your feet are dirty, your hair messy, and your eyes sparkling.

Further Reading:

Hosseini, S., & Besharat, M. (2010). Relation of resilience with sport achievement and mental health in a sample of athletes. Procedia - Social And Behavioral Sciences, 5, 633-638. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.07.156

The Malta Business Registry

An employer of choice

The MBR acknowledges that to achieve and maintain the status as an Employer of Choice necessitates an enduring effort. Therefore, sustaining exceptional Human Resource Management (HRM) is a natural target of the Agency. Our strategic plan consistently highlights the significance of people for organisational success and focuses on strategies that uphold employee-centricity. The MBR's strive to embrace a distinguished approach to people management can be reflected through the achievement of the HR Quality Mark, an award ascribed to the adoption of best policies and practices within the field of HRM.

A key consideration of a reputable employer is that people have different needs and aspirations. For this reason, in order to develop a committed workforce and induce a strong sense of identification with the organisation, it must be ensured that HR practices are aligned to cater for each individual's motivations. In view of this, the MBR adopts a total rewards policy,

which embraces all aspects of the employee's experience at the workplace, including competitive remuneration and benefits package, recognition programs, vast opportunities for personal and career development, and the promotion of employee well-being and work-life balance. The MBR aims to establish an engaging atmosphere through conditions which facilitate growth and prosperity with equal opportunities for all its employees. Accordingly, our organisation is dedicated towards giving value to the student community. The MBR hosts yearly student placements through internship programmes, with a purpose of supporting the student throughout his/her academic trajectory and helping the student get accustomed to the respective field of study. Finally, on completion the course of study at the University, the newly graduate would also be encouraged and given the opportunity to apply for available job opportunities within our growing business.

students

Many science students aspire to become researchers from the early days of their studies. As Applied Biomedical Science graduates, both of us (Juan Attard and Matthias Caruana) performed laboratory work within a clinical setting involving the analysis of various human samples. However, it was only during our dissertation work that we started to understand what research was all about. We were both fortunate enough to have our own exciting projects that required a substantial amount of independent work. We designed our own experiments and optimised or troubleshooted them when we got unexpected results, all under the supervision of Dr Sholeem Griffin, Dr Jefferson de Oliveira Mallia, and Prof. Vasilis Valdramidis. Our efforts were greatly rewarded, as our work was published and presented at international conferences.

To Infinity and Beyond: The Journey of Student Researchers

Being part of a diverse and multidisciplinary research group with multiple national and international research projects further broadened our perspective of what research entails by exposing us to new techniques and areas of study. Going on Erasmus in London and Plouzané, presenting at conferences in Edinburgh and Utrecht, attending workshops in Paris, and participating in local outreach events like Science in the City allowed us to present and discuss our results with a broader audience, helping us with networking and understanding the impact of our work. To continue our journey in research, we asked our supervisors about the prospect of contributing to a project at the postgraduate level. This led us to obtain a scholarship that supported us to pursue a research master’s programme within the SANITAS project for our postgraduate studies, focusing on the toxicology of novel disinfectants.

There are a number of skills we are grateful to have gained from pursuing postgraduate work. We learned to schedule experiments as a team and use time management to make it to meetings, all while trying to have a social life. We developed public speaking skills from presentations, appreciating and adapting to linguistic nuances that come with having an international and culturally diverse team, and of course, we learned to deal with inevitable experimental failures and figure out what went wrong in our master plan of well-argued hypotheses and meticulously designed experiments. Wherever our future takes us, we hope to grow within our field of research and aspire for our contributions to have an impact on science, even if it is only infinitesimal.

Project SANITAS is funded by the Malta Council for Science and Technology and Malta Enterprise through the COVID-19 R&D Fund.

Microplastics: Menace to the Food Chain

Luke Said R

esearch from 2015 has shown that around six million metric tons of plastic finds its way into the oceans each year from land-based sources. Unfortunately, this number will continue to inevitably increase while strong currents disintegrate the plastic through erosion.

As a result, data has shown that fish and shellfish are constantly suffering from the ill effects of such waste. For instance, microplastics can block the digestive tracts and alter the feeding behaviour of marine fauna. They can even have a negative impact on the reproductive systems of certain aquatic species (such as oysters and plankton), while some would also end up starving to death as their stomachs would be full of plastic and other marine litter. In addition, the chemicals that make up plastics can also interfere with normal hormone function, and as a result, the list of marine organisms

that are affected by plastics is constantly growing.

While this might not affect us directly, as most of the microplastics ingested by fish are found in the gut and do not move to the muscle tissues, it is still a worry. Many scientists fear the ill effects of marine plastic on our health will increase as microplastics continue to break down into nanoplastics.

This would make the situation even worse, as it is already inherently difficult to collect such waste during clean-up operations. Volunteers spend countless hours removing microplastics and general waste from the environment around us.

As an example, during the recent Nadur Nadif clean-ups, volunteers collected 444 bags of trash from the Maltese countryside and coastline in just eight months. While environmental awareness groups are constantly

being formed to do what’s right for the environment, you can do your part.

Prevent waste from being created in the first place by going for reusability. Boycott unsustainable products, refuse to buy or consume products with excess plastic packaging, and demand action from your local council and elected representatives.

Be responsible with your waste, and dispose of it correctly.

A full list of references will be available on the digital version of the article at thinkmagazine.mt

Social Well-Being

Improving society as a whole requires us to understand the various aspects of our community. For this edition, we explore how we can prepare ourselves for

future crises, how to build smarter cities, creating more inclusive communities, and understanding the mental well-being of the more vulnerable members of society.

What Have We Learned from Covid?: Anthropological Investigations

Covid has highlighted vulnerabilities and inequalities in our society. What suggestions does research offer policymakers? 16

Refugee Students

Refugee students face numerous challenges to adapt to their new school environment. What good practices can be applied? 20

Caring for the Caregivers

Nurses work in a high-paced and stressful environment. One local researcher examines how we can prevent burnout in the nursing profession through spirituality. 24

Living Smarter: Project MARVEL and Smart Cities

How can we use AI to create smarter cities? 28

Designing Inclusive Kitchen Tools

Examining a local student’s journey to develop an inclusive kitchen tool. 32

Digital-Proofing Society to Face Future Crises

An Erasmus Project aims to improve digital literacy to help prepare society for future crises. 36

Only the Lonely

How prevalent is loneliness among the local population? And how can we address this? 40

Eating Disorders in Malta

Eating Disorders can affect anyone. A local study examines eating disorders in those aged between 10 and 16 years of age. 44

What Have We Learned from Covid?

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated vulnerabilities and inequalities on a financial, social, and mental level. Creating a cohesive COVID-19 response strategy requires research. In a joint effort, EU countries worked together as part of the SoNAR Global Network to develop policy recommendations which could help minimise these inequalities.

Protecting the vulnerable was one of the main objectives when nations developed a COVID-19 response strategy. Poverty and difficult access to social and health services were already known to be linked to worse health outcomes throughout life. However, the pandemic and the preventive measures applied to mitigate its spread highlighted health, social, and mental vulnerabilities – vulnerabilities which need to be understood and addressed.

To understand how COVID-19 affected vulnerable populations, the SoNAR international consortium (in which the University of Malta [UM] was involved as a partner alongside institutions in France, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia) conducted a large-scale vulnerability assessment across a number of sites. The research in Malta was led by Prof. Jean-Paul Baldacchino, Associate Professor of Anthropological Sciences at UM. The local team also included Dr Gisella Orsini, head of the Anthropological Sciences Department; Dr Victoria Sultana, visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Health Sciences; as well as Dr Maurice Said, Mr Gabriel Zammit, and Mr Adrian Camilleri as Research Support Officers.

‘In many cases, people suffering from certain mental health conditions found that their condition

worsened, whereas new psychological problems in the form of moral conflicts produced a great level of anxiety among otherwise healthy individuals,’ said Prof. Baldacchino. ‘The pandemic has also required the assessment of loss of trust and increased mistrust in official institutions, for example,’ explains Dr Said, one of the Maltese researchers involved. ‘The imposed lockdowns, mobility restrictions, closures, and social distancing exacerbated a sense of uncertainty and powerlessness.’

Two major topics were identified as particularly important in the Maltese context: social isolation and mental health. Social isolation, through lockdowns and quarantines, was one of the most important mitigation measures applied during the pandemic. It confined the general population to their homes, preventing not only socialisation but also the opportunity for people to retreat to open public spaces. This led to the impoverishment of well-being and mental health in general, especially in urban areas and in their periphery. Already marginalised groups reported greater feelings of isolation, particularly the elderly living in care homes. This lack of socialisation also impaired their mental health. Based on these results, researchers proposed several policy recommendations.

TARGETED DIGITAL LITERACY PROGRAMMES

Mandatory social distancing and visit restrictions seriously compromised the well-being of several socially marginalised groups, particularly elderly living in care homes or mental health patients living in hostels. Individuals felt lonely, needing to communicate virtually with others during the lockdown and being unable to do that.

‘Despite having shared computers available at the residence, many of them didn’t know how to use it without help,’ Said explains. This drawback also narrowed access to online information, limiting their knowledge about healthrelated initiatives and their access to several online services.

Researchers proposed the implementation of educational programmes providing both the means and the necessary knowledge to operate new technologies and to navigate the range of often-conflicting information found online. This digital literacy initiative should target elderly populations, particularly in residential care homes, as well as socially disadvantaged groups (such as those lacking access to secondary or tertiary education). The legal status or level of literacy in these socially disadvantaged groups increased the likelihood that they were excluded as vulnerable.

UPDATING THE MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY

Mental health has been a concern both in the EU and Malta’s public health strategy post-COVID-19. Despite explicitly acknowledging the need to support the vulnerable, many mental health problems often remain undiagnosed, untreated, and therefore not considered. To answer this need, Maltese researchers proposed that the mental health strategy should be updated to develop a crisis mitigation plan to make mental health support available during and following the pandemic, as well as during other potential crises.

Updates should specifically address the vulnerabilities that have emerged or been heightened during this time –

including forms of OCD, generalised anxiety disorder, as well as support services for families and friends of those dealing with difficult situations who are at-risk or themselves suffer from mental health difficulties.

Besides considering a wider repertoire of conditions that people have reported, the overwhelming social stigma associated with mental health issues should also be addressed. This stigma represents a barrier for people accessing mental health care, contributing to isolation and feelings of loneliness which have an overt affect on people’s ability to manage their own health and well-being.

This approach should include revisions to the system for requesting such help. Given the small size of the island and the interconnectedness of social networks, coupled with the overwhelming stigma around mental health issues, people are often hesitant to make use of such services. ‘Ensuring complete anonymity for people accessing such services is particularly important, even though it is difficult in a small place like Malta,’ says Dr Orsini. Thus, this recommendation also calls for a more flexible application of the term ‘vulnerable’ at the policy level, where it recognises that such a term is not static in its definition and application.

NOISE POLLUTION, CONSTRUCTION, AND ACCESS IN URBAN AREAS

Imposed restrictions on socialisation and outdoor events during the pandemic increased the average time spent at home. Unemployment as a direct result of the pandemic as well as flexible working arrangements have also contributed to people spending more time at home. ‘Numerous interviewees have noted that the absence of green and open spaces to retreat to as well as constant noise and dust from nearby construction have made their homes unbearable,’ Said says. Whilst many Maltese are able to drive to the countryside, parks, or coastline areas, several

respondents also noted that they are wholly dependent on public transport. Public transport routes to green spaces are, at times, unavailable or, when they are available, are often crowded, with people hesitant to use public transportation owing to a fear of contracting COVID-19.

Noise pollution, construction, and the lack of access to open areas also aggravated already sensitive social cases. Interviews with representatives from food banks and social workers have further noted that there was an increase in the number of reported cases of mental health issues and domestic violence directly linked to the pandemic restrictions. With regards to domestic violence, large families who are dependent on social housing and whose employment may have been impacted by the pandemic restrictions suddenly found themselves confined to restrictive domestic living situations that further increased tensions, anxiety, and the likelihood of abusive situations.

Whilst the issue of construction noise and disruption in urban and peri-urban areas (zones of transition from rural to urban land uses located between the outer limits of urban and regional centres and the rural environment) has been a persistent problem, results from the SoNAR Project highlight how a problem prior to the pandemic has contributed to further vulnerabilities during and following COVID-19. People complained that both their mental and physical well-being has been adversely impacted by the lack of access to green spaces.

To further mitigate the negative impacts of construction in urban areas, Maltese researchers propose additional limits on noise generation, whilst simultaneously encouraging the establishment of new green and open spaces in urban areas. They also recommend increased transportation routes and making these services available to a wider section of the population, particularly those that are wholly dependent on public transportation. Such an initiative should also consider the coupled provision of more accessible walking and cycling routes in urban and peri-urban areas.

CONNECTION WITH THE SOCIETY

‘How will these policies minimise vulnerabilities in society, and how hard is it to implement them?’ is the follow up question of this project. ‘The proposed policies are aimed to address systemic issues in the current institutional approach and already available policies, most prominently in making services available to a wider section of the population and, where these services are available, making them easier to use,’ explains Said. ‘The policy recommendations seek to address the current understanding of vulnerability which is somewhat static, clarifying that vulnerability changes according to time and context, so the definitions applied at an institutional level need to have a bit more flexibility,’ notes Dr Orsini.

By default, research should inform public policy makers to ensure that applied strategies are in line with population needs. However, two major drawbacks affect policy making. The first one is the close link between public policy and the political sphere. Secondly, ministries often operate independently, resulting in little to no communication between ministries and different institutions, even in cases where policy actions might complement one another.

As a result, ‘We found that many stakeholders working with vulnerable populations have complained that there is oftentimes a duplication of efforts among various state agencies and systemic challenges in providing aid to specific vulnerable populations,’ notes Prof. Baldacchino.

The SoNAR Project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement number 825671.

Refugee Students

Learning Diversity: A Case Study of Refugee Students in Primary School is an international project created to provide information about the unique needs of refugee students, their obstacles to success, and the interventions and good practices applied to help them. Jonathan Firbank speaks with lead coordinator, Prof. Simone Galea, about the study’s ethics, methods, and findings.

Attending a new school is an experience we have all shared. For most of us, it was a challenging time. Perhaps the new space was overwhelmingly big, complex, or crowded.

The new classes might have been far more difficult. Teachers may have been sterner or students crueller. Many moved homes in childhood, arriving out-of-step with a rigid syllabus and no friends to share the experience with.

These periods in our lives leave a big impression; nightmares about alienation and confusion in school often linger throughout adulthood. But what if we had been thrust into school to find no one speaking our language? What if we had fled from terrible conditions into this confusing environment and had to navigate it while processing trauma? This is the experience of a refugee student.

Learning Diversity: A Case Study of Refugee Students in Primary School is an international project seeking to identify the unique challenges faced by refugee students and find ways of helping. Prof. Simone Galea is the lead coordinator of the group from Malta, which also included Dr Kurt Borg and Dr Louise Chircop as researchers from

the University of Malta. This group was one from the four participating countries with a collaborating primary school and university. Galea explains how, ‘Greece, Turkey, Italy, and Malta experience similar challenges in providing the quality educational experiences refugee children are entitled to.’ The project’s primary aim was identifying what refugee children need in order to have ‘edifying educational experiences’ that let them feel like welcome citizens. The project discovered that refugee students’ experiences were extremely similar. None were instructed in their mother tongue, and all struggled to make friends.

THE LANGUAGE BARRIER

Language is the first and greatest obstacle these students face. Around the Mediterranean, refugees are primarily from Arabic-speaking countries. Maltese provides a gentler adaptation process for these children, sharing common ancestry and a third of its vocabulary with Arabic. But this is unique amongst Learning Diversity’s participants and within Europe. As Prof. Galea points out, language barriers are compounded by refugee students joining

schools late. English, a subject with more importance than ever, has proved especially challenging, impeding academic success. Many refugee students expressed a desire for instruction in their own language, something that is easy to take for granted but is invaluable for young learners.

Language, of course, isn’t just a tool for getting good grades. School’s social environment can be brutal. Children may ostracise those with perceived differences or target them for bullying. Sadly, this was found to be universal among refugee students, with language being the key distinction that led to social harm.

‘Friendship is a theme that was present in all our interviews. All the children said that they had some friends, but almost none of a nationality other than Libyan or Syrian. Only one mentioned a Maltese friend.’ Most refugee children played with relatives after school, finding it hard to make friends outside their culture or community. When one child was asked what country their friend was from, they replied, ‘He speaks in Arabic.’ Galea explains, ‘This could be interpreted in two ways. It could be that these children find it easier to communicate with those who speak their language, finding it comforting to be with someone who might better understand and accept them. It could also mean that other children do not want to play with them. One child said that they had no friends in class, only elsewhere. Another said that “The other children gossip about me...they say I’m not pretty, that I speak too much. But I really don’t.” Their peers run away when spoken to, not allowing them to speak, play, or choose games.’

Another difference creating social challenges was culture. Refugee children are expected to assimilate. Both they and their parents were found to be eager to learn, but this learning process was too often a one-way street. ‘Very often there is little space for these students’ culture, faith, and language to be recognised apart from one-off activities such as Multicultural Day. For example, some children wished that their new school would recognise their religious feasts.’ The Mediterranean basin homes radically diverse cultures. Activities like this would not just help new arrivals integrate but also educate school communities about neighbouring countries. Most importantly, it could curb bullying, which is so often a consequence of children being ill-prepared to tolerate difference.

STUDYING SCHOOL

The project sourced its data from interviews with three distinct groups: primary school staff, refugee students, and refugee parents. ‘We have a responsibility to ensure that we listen closely to the voices of refugee children and their families.’ This personal approach formed a ‘collection of narratives and experiences, allowing researchers to obtain a multi-layered approach to the challenges facing refugee students, as well as the practices facilitating their inclusion. Since the data was collected from different countries, all with specific socio-cultural realities, the project has a valuable comparative dimension in identifying structural barriers hindering inclusion, as well as highlighting good practices from different countries' schools.’

This methodology demanded a great deal of care. People who have become migrants are in a precarious position. This could be destabilised if they complain about their school. Learning Diversity prioritised anonymity and data protection for interviewees, ensuring they had complete information about the study and their personal rights (whether in participation or the right to refuse). Additionally, refugees have had traumatising experiences, recollections of which could be triggered by careless interviews.

‘The principle of “do no harm” was held to be of utmost importance throughout the whole research process,’ says Galea. ‘At the University of Malta, we are committed to the highest standard of professionality, particularly with respect to codes of practice, University Research Ethics Committee procedures, and most importantly, the political and ethical aspects of our encounters with participants.’ Visiting school premises to conduct interviews gave researchers a more intimate understanding of these environments and refugees’ experiences within them. ‘Trips to research partners' countries also enabled us to observe attempts to move beyond traditional practices of schooling. For example, an Italian school used mixed-age classrooms and an emphasis on hands-on learning to foster students’ curiosity.’

Refugee students were found to face complex, multi-faceted challenges. These demand complex, multi-faceted solutions. ‘These range from micro-practices within the classroom to macro and institutional considerations.’ Malta currently

organises immigrant and refugee children into ‘migrant hubs’ for language acquisition. This separation may ‘other’ children and is counter-productive: if children are surrounded by other children who do not know Maltese or English, learning these new languages might prove difficult. It also places a heavy burden on children to change for the sake of their new country, which undermines their ability to feel at home.

Expanding Malta’s language induction program into something more open would do more than just teach language. ‘Initiatives such as after-school and summer school services could enhance refugee students’ education. Besides language acquisition, they are important for socialisation and building friendships.’ Services like these have already proved effective at the Maltese school Learning Diversity worked with. The school also provides financial support for those who need help with the increasing cost of uniforms, stationery, and transport, easing a key concern of many refugee parents.

‘Another good practice we identified is a school prioritising its place in the community, creating bridges with organisations, businesses, and NGOs who assist students in need.’ Schools tackling prejudice is also important. The school can assign an inclusivity coordinator, and staff can be trained in ‘culturally responsive teaching’, which respects difference. Learning Diversity found that an anti-racist ethos could be sustained through activities, story, play, and syllabus elements with a multicultural dimension. ‘Finally, the institutions that come into contact

with refugee children have an important role to play in their inclusion. Be it through government funding of essential services (e.g. psychological services) or through support to the school, inter-departmental collaboration is imperative to prevent bureaucratic barriers to education.’

WHAT'S NEXT?

‘The narratives we collected shed light on the urgency of this matter; a day wasted in failing to ensure school is an inclusive space means a day of a refugee child’s life where they feel like they do not belong.’

Our world has no shortage of crises. Conflict, climate, famine, and drought will continue making once-safe homes into dangerous places from which families will seek refuge. Projects such as Learning Diversity are essential for locals and refugees alike, allowing us to learn from and integrate with each other. It’s easy to forget our commonality.

We all share moments – like that terrifying first day at school – and feelings like the desire to safeguard our children’s future. We also have important differences, needs that are unique and require consideration from educators. ‘We have to be careful not to homogenise and essentialise people’s identities as refugees,’ explains Galea. ‘What they have in common is due to the conditions that made them seek refuge.’

Across its four countries, Learning Diversity found positive interventions. These can be shared to form multi-faceted approaches to protecting refugee students’ welfare. ‘We

must acknowledge the good practices by teachers and school administrators. They built good relationships with refugee children and allocated resources for teaching and outings,’ says Galea. ‘We would like to thank the Maltese school’s staff for their close collaboration. It allowed us to holistically understand the challenges and rewards of teaching refugee students. It is crucial for all of us to find ways for refugee children and their families to thrive. We are grateful to the refugees who shared their stories, experiences, challenges, and needs. They have been so generous with us. Last but not least, our appreciation goes to our colleagues from Greece, Turkey, and Italy for the friendship that we have developed through our collaboration.’

Learning Diversity represents educators’ commitment to what Prof. Galea calls ‘pluralistic inclusion’, a process that educates all of us rather than prescribing a strict path towards integration. ‘Our history itself is a multicultural story of cultural transformation that continually develops us in a unique way. We believe in equity of educational outcomes rather than simply equal opportunities, having learned that giving the same educational opportunities for people living in different conditions with different needs will not work. Our next challenge is to persuade others of this conviction and facilitate the sharing of good pedagogies that teachers in schools already have. There is much to be done.’

‘The narratives we collected shed light on the urgency of this matter; a day wasted in failing to ensure school is an inclusive space means a day of a refugee child’s life where they feel like they do not belong.’

Caring for the Caregivers

While nursing is one of the most rewarding professions, it is certainly one of the most stressful jobs, too. Working in a high-paced environment where helpless people are in pain and die, the caregivers also battle their own tragedy of burning out. Could enhanced spiritual awareness help prevent burnout? THINK Magazine discusses the topic with Dr Michael Galea, Senior Lecturer of Mental Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Malta.

Nurses are often praised for their work, and they should be. They are heroes; they look after sick and injured people when doctors are tending to a seemingly never-ending lineup of patients, as life goes on. In the meantime, nurses are there to support patients recovering or to support them in their palliative care. The rewards of being there for people in such a vulnerable situation are hard to describe. But nurses are also exposed to vicarious trauma – or secondary trauma – which means that they inevitably absorb the grief of their patients. This fast tracks burnout in this venerable profession. The definition of burnout spans a varied scale, based on the approach of the person describing it. More often than not, however, burnout is defined as a disparity between input and output in a usually work-related scenario. ‘Burnout is the difference between what one gives and what one receives, especially at work,’ Galea says.

BURNING THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS

Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter have come up with a widely used tool, the Maslach Burnout Inventory™ or MBI, for measuring burnout, which has three main components:

personal accomplishment or the fulfilment a job offers to people; emotional exhaustion caused by the burdens of the job; and depersonalisation, which means how people look at other people when they are in their working environment.

In nursing, these three pillars are of utmost importance. The working conditions and benefits provided to nurses who take care of our family members and us must be sufficient to ensure that their professional fulfilment is at high levels so that they do not get close to emotional exhaustion and do not end up in the depersonalisation stage. The higher the burnout of a person, the lower their overall health and well-being.

Qualitative research in the field, which is still limited for the time being, though interest is picking up, has shown that the physical and moral environment of nurses is conducive to an increase in burnout. Burnout brings a plethora of issues for the individual and society. In the nurses’ cases, they become unenthusiastic about their job in the short term, possibly leaving the profession in the long term. An exodus of medical professionals, whether for work abroad or traversing industries, is tragic for the sick. Research has also suggested that burnout positively correlates with illness-related absenteeism and workplace violence.

Empirical research has shown that spirituality can counter certain stressful events. It does not reduce pain or suffering, but it helps in giving us a perspective to which the same pain and the same suffering I am going through may be more easily borne, more easily addressed, and more easily carried along. Presenting a perspective is very important in psychological terms, which has been supported by findings in cognitive theory, which shows that lots of our problems are spurred by irrational cognitive distortions and irrational thinking. Spirituality helps place the same pain into a different and more manageable perspective in which to be handled.

‘In other words, the more I am burnt out, the less I find fulfilment in the work I do. Even if that’s a job that one day used to please me. My environment may have changed, or I could have changed, and what once used to give me a lot of satisfaction is a long-gone history,’ Galea says.

While in another scenario on the client side, burnout may not be detrimental (we all meet grumbling people every day, and it should not affect us), in healthcare professionals, the effects are amplified. ‘In the case of healthcare professionals, we are talking about patients. So when I look at my patient, do I see just a number? Or a human being who needs compassion and help? Respect. How will I provide that if I am physically and emotionally drained?’ Galea says.

SPIRITUAL HEALING?

Available and on-going research on the relationship between spirituality and well-being (including burnout prevention) suggests positive outcomes. In fact, it appears that spirituality supports the holistic wellbeing of nurses. Research has found

that strategies to build the personal strengths of nurses include reflection, building positive and nurturing professional relationships, managing positivity, developing emotional insight, and achieving life balance and spirituality.

Psychologically, the concept of spirituality is broader and more extensive than religiosity. It transcends religious practices and can provide emotional and mental support. It helps people with becoming more altruistic towards their surroundings.

Galea’s research further supports these findings and suggests that spirituality may be an important potential source of resilience for nurses who risk burnout in their employment. Subjective well-being clearly corresponds to burnout in his research. Well-being correlates positively with personal accomplishment and negatively with emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation. Spirituality was consistent with personal efficacy, well-being, emotional stability, and conscientiousness.

But what can we do about this? First, we need to understand the nature of burnout. ‘It is not an isolated reality

but connected to a variety of factors. Vicarious trauma is one of them. The pool of personal traits of the nurse is another. Working conditions, pay, and benefits are yet other important aspects of burnout,’ Galea says.

Nurses must be well-paid and well taken care of – it is non-negotiable. The same applies to teachers, doctors, and other professions. Professionals who educate our children, treat the sick, or handle dangerous and vulnerable situations must always be well-rested, continuously trained so they have appropriate tools and knowledge at their disposal, and last but not least, given sufficient funding so they do not have to deal with existential crises in their free time.

‘We need a holistic approach. Beefing up pay is one part of the equation. Debriefing, which deals with emotionally processing and discussing traumatic events encountered at the workplace, is another essential exercise that should happen to support the mental health of healthcare professionals. The working environment must be supportive towards healthcare professionals,’ Galea says.

‘Empirical research has shown that spirituality can counter certain stressful events. It does not reduce pain or suffering, but it helps in giving us a perspective to which the same pain and the same suffering I am going through may be more easily borne, more easily addressed, and more easily carried along. Presenting a perspective is very important in psychological terms, which has been supported by findings in cognitive theory, which shows that lots of our problems are spurred by irrational cognitive distortions and irrational thinking.

Spirituality helps place the same pain into a different and more manageable perspective in which to be handled,’ says Galea.

Galea’s research, in line with that found elsewhere, indicates that a healthy nursing environment must be all inclusive and not focused exclusively on the medical realm.

Factoring in other related aspects, such as spirituality in this case, but also cultural sensitivity and other factors, provides a better understanding and assistance to the patient, aiming at their holistic well-being.

Project MARVEL Living Smarter:

and Smart Cities

How one company is trying to use AI and data to create more livable and adaptable cities.

The idea of a ‘smart city’ might send the most cynical among us running for cover. From George Orwell’s dire prediction of a world where mass surveillance and control is king, to movies like Minority Report depicting predictive analytics and algorithms gone wrong, pop culture is awash with nightmare worlds where Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technology are used for less-than-innocuous purposes. But to the minds behind Project MARVEL, smart cities are a far more attainable and desirable possibility. In an effort to dispel my mental image of flying cars and steampunk dystopias, I thought it best to clarify exactly what smart cities are and how we can use AI to our advantage.

‘Put simply, smart cities use a variety of electronic methods (including AI) to collect data which informs city planning decisions,’ Nicole Bonnici, a data scientist and engineer working on the project, explains. As a newly

graduated engineer, Bonnici was drawn to the project for opportunities to work with private industry, academia, and researchers, as well as the potential to improve how we experience our streets and open spaces.

University of Malta (UM) professor Adrian Muscat goes on to explain how our device-centric and interconnected realities constantly transmit data to the internet — whether we choose to or not. From our own wireless devices to security cameras, there are very few ways we can avoid leaving a trace, digitally speaking.

‘There are so many sensors around our cities that are collecting data. Most of this data isn’t used for any particular reason, and Project MARVEL is asking whether something good can come out of this data,’ Muscat explains.

HOW CAN DATA HELP US?

‘One of the main uses of this project is the collection and analysis of data to make better decisions, both in the

short term and in the long term. An example of this would be using data collected from transport monitoring cameras to address issues in real time and also to create statistics about road use. These statistics can ultimately help us to support sustainable mobility or more simply, to use transport resources more efficiently without necessarily having to build more roads or junctions, but only by making some modifications to the latter,’ Muscat says.

Bonnici also goes on to explain that addressing societal challenges in sustainability was one of the project’s desired outcomes. This would include promoting bicycle use and pedestrianisation on our local roads. To that end, the project seeks to make roads safer, given that this has been identified as the main deterrent for cycling on the road. ‘If there is a trend of more people cycling on our roads, for instance, it may become a safety concern, and having access to data in real time can lead to faster solutions.’

Muscat points out that Project MARVEL is effectively developing anonymous bicycle detectors as demonstrators to assist both car drivers whilst driving as well as transport engineers in planning. The system is also useful to transportation and road traffic researchers.

‘The idea here is that when bicycles are detected on a stretch of road, car drivers would be notified, inviting them to take greater care. In addition, the speed limit for cars can be automatically lowered in real time to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. Conversely, if no bicycles are present, the speed limit can be set a little higher to allow for faster car traffic flow.’

In addition, the MARVEL framework can eventually be applied to study the use of micro-scooters on Maltese roads and understand how the increased use of these scooters can be better tackled, both in terms of keeping roads safe and predicting whether they will require specific technology or infrastructure in the future.

Project MARVEL (Multimodal Extreme Scale Data Analytics for Smart Cities Environments), which started in 2021, is a Horizon 2020 project involving 17 partners and spanning three municipalities in Europe. Trento in Italy is testing monitoring for crime and dangerous situations, Novi Sad in Serbia is looking at crowd monitoring and security, and Malta is investigating road traffic management.

PRIVACY

Of course, this idea of data collection and processing will ring a few bells and harken back to our earlier mention of George Orwell’s 1984, but Muscat and Bonnici stress that privacy has been at the heart of the project from the beginning.

‘It’s important to point out that although the project uses audio and visual recordings, the aim of the data is not punitive or to identify contraventions,’ Bonnici explains, adding that security is central to the framework of the data collection and includes video and voice anonymisation software.

Of course, capturing such vast volumes of data and processing it in this way presents further challenges, both from a financial and a scientific and engineering perspective.

‘One of the most costly aspects of this process is the annotation of the data itself,’ Bonnici explains. ‘The data requires people to label and sort it so that the AI system can effectively be ‘trained’ to do the intended job.’ Training usually involves showing the AI system many examples of the data; the system then uses these examples to fit a complex computer model that maps the input to the output.

THE EDGE, THE FOG, AND THE CLOUD

Furthermore, the team explains that the project has also encountered issues in the levels of data processing required. In essence, data processing takes place at three different levels in this project: the Edge, which refers to data being collected and processed as close to the source as possible, eg in the same location as a security

camera; the Fog, which refers to data processed on a nationwide system; and the Cloud, which processes data from anywhere in the world.

‘The project is essentially trying to push as much of the computation as possible to the Edge to allow for more real-time reactions,’ they explain. In fact, the project is also working on so-called ‘anomaly detection’. This would theoretically allow an AI system to monitor a road junction and flag if an accident or some other abnormal event occurs. The notification would be passed on to traffic controllers, for example, who could react accordingly to allow for minimal disruption to other road users in real time.

‘The project also aims to minimise downtime and make efficient use of the infrastructure in place. This is done through changing the layer in which data is being processed based on the availability of computational power and the needs of the user,’ Bonnici adds.

Focusing on Edge data processing also means that AI components

need to be compressed to be more efficient, thus consuming less power. Components of the Fog or Cloud do not need this compression as computational resources and power consumed are less of a concern. This may present a challenge for hot countries like Malta, where numerous solutions readily available on the market would overheat and fail.

‘Given that one of the main aims of this project was to encourage people to consume less fossil fuel and opt for sustainable transport instead of cars, it is quite ironic that data collection itself can be so energy hungry, but MARVEL is also using this local section to develop AI models that are more efficient and consume less power,’ Muscat adds.

Perhaps one of the things that becomes clear when discussing this project is its interdisciplinary nature and the number of teams that it brings together. The local company Greenroads was initially invited to be a part of MARVEL because of their own R&D into monitoring road

traffic. Greenroads, as well as Muscat, hopes for the ideas and results of MARVEL to be used for practical decisions and for this to be the first of many projects to use data as a means to an end for the greater good.

‘I personally hope that this project will help authorities to make more data-driven decisions to help people in their daily lives,’ Bonnici says.

Despite its numerous challenges, it’s safe to say that the current research augurs smarter solutions, (in all the various meanings of the adjective). So perhaps we can take off our tin foil hats and dispel our fears of bots taking over society as we know it (at least for a little while) and look forward to tailored and timely solutions to our omnipresent traffic issues.

Project MARVEL (Multimodal Extreme Scale Data Analytics for Smart Cities Environments) is a Horizon 2020 project involving funded by the European Commission (grant agreement no. 957337)

Perhaps one of the things that becomes clear when discussing this project is its interdisciplinary nature and the number of teams that it brings together.

Designing Inclusive

Tools

Technical Design and Technology is a new course at the University of Malta, and Andrea Gerada is a recent graduate from its second intake of students. Having previously worked preparing food in a kiosk, Gerada chose to combine his interests in product design and the culinary arts when selecting the subject of his dissertation.

Imagine you are preparing a simple, healthy meal. Let’s take a chicken salad as an example. You will need onions, tomatoes, carrots, chicken, and lettuce, amongst other things. Now imagine yourself chopping, shredding, peeling, slicing, and cutting all the ingredients. However, there is a twist. Imagine you have to do these tasks with one of your hands tied behind your back.’ In a few words, Gerada demonstrates how these simple daily tasks suddenly become something far more complicated for those who suffer from a physical hand condition. For most, it may not be healthy or economical to order food every day. There is also the issue of independence, as one might not want to always have to depend on others to prepare one’s food. Gerada points out that it is not just one-handed people who might suffer, as there could also be people affected by problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome or arthritis.

It was this thought process that got Gerada through the first steps of designing an ‘Assistive Multifunctional Kitchen Tool for One-Handed Users’, providing them with a convenient way to prepare food at home. To get started in the long process of designing the tool, Gerada circulated a questionnaire to see how hand immobility affects meal preparation. Using the online questionnaire, he was able to identify a significant decline in home meal preparation amongst those who had been injured, identifying a wider potential market for the product he was about to begin designing.

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Gerada’s creative process began with identifying the design problem. This is the issue and need which the product would address. Having identified the challenge to one-handed users in the kitchen, Gerada was then able to move on to the next step of the process, asking a design question:

‘Can individuals who suffer from a medical condition affecting one of the upper extremities prepare their own meal in an affordable fashion?’

Gerada then carried out market research and a literature review, looking at what other products were on the market to address this problem. Having gathered all the data he needed, Gerada was able to use a Quality Function Deployment (QFD) model. This is a model for product development and production and was originally popularised in Japan in the 1960s. It aids in translating customer needs and expectations into technical requirements by putting the customers at the forefront of the design process. Customer requirements, requests, demands, and preferences are itemised and ranked in importance in the model. Gerada was thus able to get an idea of what kind of product would genuinely be useful to customers.

‘During the design thinking process, I made use of design tools, and one

GraterPeelerMandoline

of the first was the QFD. From the market research and questionnaire, I could transform my data into customer requirements, and these could be turned into product design specifications. With more research and thinking, I could come up with design parameters. These parameters took me to the next design stage.’

FUNCTION–MEANS TREE

Gerada explains that in the next stage of the process, he applied the function–means tree model. This helps break down an overarching function into different parts – for example, whether one chops by hand or with a machine. If it is hand-powered, then one moves to the next step in the creative process.

‘For a creative solution to be achieved, there are a number of steps and stages that should be followed. The function–means tree allows one to break down a large problem into a smaller one and then provides different means or options to solve it. The designer is not constrained at this stage, as such constraints may inhibit the development of an innovative idea.’

As his next step, Gerada used the morphological matrix. ‘The matrix helps one to identify the various products on the market for different functions. For example, under the activity of peeling, one can look at all the peeling devices in one place. Just by looking at all these devices, one can imagine different combinations and thus picture new design opportunities.’

Gerada explains that from this stage of the process, he developed nine design concepts. Eight concepts were generated at an early stage of the conceptual design stage, whereas the ninth concept was developed later on in the process.

Grinder

Having produced a number of concepts by running his data and market research through various design models, Gerada moved on to the concept evaluation stage. The purpose of concept evaluation is to assess each concept according to a common set of criteria. This is done in order to shortlist the concept that will ultimately be further developed. The concept evaluation is composed of two stages: concept screening and concept scoring. This strategy prevents designers from investing too much energy on detailed work.’

The next two phases Gerada carried out, namely screening and scoring, are designed to narrow down the concepts by using criteria such as grip or safety. Other criteria which were flagged as important included the ease of setting up the device and the practicality of cleaning, assembling, and disassembling it. Having used these criteria and scored his various designs, Gerada settled on his final concept: Concept I.

EMBODIMENT DESIGN STAGE

‘With the key concept decided upon, the embodiment design stage is where further detail, decisions, and considerations are studied and applied.’ Gerada elaborates that the next challenge was to refine his concept, and ergonomics was one of the chief focuses at this point. Ergonomics emphasises that designs must fit the needs of the operator, not the other way around. The goal is to eliminate discomfort and risk of injury. Therefore, Gerada applied ergonomic principles and set about making his design as symmetrical as possible, as this is one of the best practices in the field.

For example, symmetrical design means that the consumer benefits from less confusing product marketing, such as not having to worry about whether the product is left or right

handed. At the same time, however, the manufacturer also benefits, as the process to create the product is simplified, shortened, and thus, cheaper. Even the choice of colours was considered in terms of potential impact upon emotions, with Gerada noting a link between colours, appetite, and mental health.

Another example of ergonomics in practice in Gerada’s design was creating a board underneath a shelf to collect anything that dropped when chopping ingredients. The retractable tray could then be used to empty ingredients into a pot or a pan.

One of the chief considerations in designing and then refining the product was its ability to be assembled and disassembled into various neatly fitting parts and modules. This would also help with recycling and cost-effectiveness.

Gerada explains that he used prototyping software to build 3D models of the product throughout the process, helping him to visualise, spot, and make changes as necessary. Towards the end of the project, he carried out physical prototyping, building a model of his design using cardboard. He revised his work at the end of the process through a Failure Modes Effects Analysis: a systematic tool to determine the different ways in which his product might physically fail. It looked at components such as rotating parts and ensuring a sufficient level of friction to prevent the product from sliding on a kitchen counter. Gerada points out how, due to the various materials which kitchen counters are made of, it was difficult to anticipate this aspect.

Having designed the product, Gerada emphasises the importance of communicating effectively with the manufacturer. To this end, detailed design drawings of

every component must be made available along with the selected list and bill of materials. The key, therefore, is to ensure proper communication with the manufacturer via detailed schematics.

No product is complete, however, without its marketing aspect. Gerada developed his own brand for the product and emphasised the need for this choice to be unique in order to establish communication between the company and the customer. Gerada underlines that his product is one ultimately aimed at providing a public service, and thus service was emphasised in the brand identity. Concluding his discussion on the design of the product, Gerada mentions how the design aims to leave a significant positive impact on the consumer’s life, offering it as a contribution to the wellbeing of others.

Asking Gerada what the next step for him is, he expresses interest in a career in product design in manufacturing. Having learned key design concepts and put them into practice, Gerada will surely find his place in Malta’s diverse manufacturing sector. When asked what was next for his kitchen concept, Gerada is coy – rather than registering for the patent, he much prefers to publicise his work through other mediums. One hopes that his work ethic and skills will get the notice they deserve.

Further Reading:

Gerada, A., 2022. Design of an Assistive Multifunctional Kitchen Tool for One-Handed Users. Undergraduate dissertation. University of Malta.

Digital-Proofing Society to Face Future Crises

The importance of digital literacy has been undisputed for some time now, but the recent pandemic brought this into centre stage on a global level. As more of us shifted to the digital world, inequalities and gaps in our overall knowledge and preparedness were made starkly evident. An Erasmus project is trying to tackle these issues head on and attempting to learn from our recent past…

TikTok dances, cameras stuck on cat filters, speeches delivered on a muted microphone, unwelcome intrusions during a video call… does any of that ring a slightly unpleasant bell? Most of us are more than thrilled to leave these typical pandemic occurrences in our rear-view mirror, but for the researchers behind the HEIDI project, these mishaps and realities have presented an opportunity to learn and create a better future. THINK sat down with Dr Wendy Jo Mifsud (lecturer with the Faculty for the Built Environment), Prof. Maria Attard (Director of the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development), and Heather McNamara (Research Support Officer with the Faculty for the Built Environment) to learn more about this project.

‘I came to this project through my work on Citizen Science,’ Prof. Attard says, explaining that technology and its

implications on society have become an area of interest in recent years.

‘The COVID-19 pandemic effectively closed us up as a society and pushed a lot of our lives online, practically overnight. It essentially turned everyone into digital activists, as we all had to engage with technology in some form or another, whether we were skilled at it or not,’ Attard adds. ‘This project is essentially helping us to look at the impact that this shift has had on our society, and to try to understand how these newly acquired skills can be used in the future.’

Dr Mifsud explains that although Project HEIDI took the COVID-19 crisis as its springboard, its focus on digital actions in society was a big draw for her to be a part of the project.

‘My research and work centres around the social implications of planning, so this project, with its focus on building better capacity and capabilities, will deliver lessons that I

can apply in other scenarios, localities, and communities,’ she says. Mifsud also explains that the pandemic revealed just how unprepared society was to tackle any given crisis, be it a pandemic, fighting environmental damage, or the effects of diplomatic breakdowns.

‘When we talk about this project, we are essentially saying that we want to learn from the challenges we faced in our most recent crisis in order to be able to tackle any other crises we might end up facing and become more resilient as a society,’ she adds.

Heather McNamara spoke to me about her background in anthropology and explained that her interest in the project stemmed from her hope to achieve a better understanding of social and digital inequality.

‘I had never heard about citizen science before becoming part of this project, but as time went on, I realised that a lot of us often participate in it without really noticing. I am interested

in trying to bridge the divides in communities at a grassroots level, and allowing people to access skills that would help them to move up in society. The pandemic revealed that there were some pockets of society that simply didn’t have the same access to digital knowledge, and this project aims to promote better digital practices by bringing together academics and the general community,’ McNamara goes on.

THE HEIDI PROJECT

The HEIDI Project – or its full title: Digital action at HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) as a catalyst for social change in the COVID-19 crisis – is an Erasmus project spanning two years (up until May 2023). The project brings together the research of three higher education institutions, namely University College London (UCL), the University of Malta (UM), and University of Paris. The project has also partnered with two NGOs

from Greece and Cyprus (Web2Learn and Citizens in Power respectively) which help with outreach and ensuring that the project gathers as much social input from the wider, non-academic community as it can.

‘Speaking about UM’s events, we have had a good response. Obviously, as with most projects, we have a minimum number of participants we need, but we’ve made sure that we’ve aimed to go above the quota to find people from different backgrounds that enrich discussion,’ McNamara explains, adding that so far, the Maltese chapter of the research has collected over 100 participants.

‘About 60% of participants were academics, but now that we’re in the later stages of the project, we’re discussing with public stakeholders, including decision makers from government departments who focus on digital innovation, which is great,’ McNamara adds.

The HEIDI project started by categorising digital actions for analysis in three main categories. Firstly, there were Hackathons, which the researchers defined as digital marathons where individuals worked on projects digitally and produced them in a marathon style. These were being held at other institutions rather than UM.

‘The second definition is the “maker movement”, which is when people band together to make something out of necessity. One of the clearest examples we had over the pandemic was when people in higher education worldwide banded together to make PPE and things like sanitizer,’ Attard says.

The third aspect is citizen science, or put simply: people from the general public contributing to scientific research through things like their smartphones.

‘This can take various forms like when people take photos to document anything like the weather, plants, bird presence, and so on,’ Attard says.

‘By addressing these three main categories, this project is trying to look beyond one specific definition of digital action and to analyse the different ways in which people are now using the digital,’ she adds.

McNamara also delved into what the Maltese chapter has effectively focused on in terms of research.

‘We have held a number of round-table discussions as well as some co-creation workshops. Participants have been asked to record their findings and discussions, and these reports will then be published online with the aim of inspiring further research or even to inspire projects to use similar methodologies.’

She went on to explain that the researchers were currently in the process of preparing for an intensive co-creative workshop, where two university students had been recruited to work with a local entrepreneur under a mentorship scheme.

‘Together the students will use themes gathered from previous round-tables to come up with ideas for digital actions (or products), and they will then discuss the feasibility and transferability of these projects with their mentor, a local entrepreneur.’

PROJECT AIMS & FUTURE

Attard explains that the findings and ideas from this project and workshop will in turn be discussed by a panel of academics, stakeholders, and government heads with the aim of coming up with a set of guidelines that will be publicly available to ensure that more of society can use the digital world more effectively.

‘The hope is that people will be able to use these guides to become better digital activists. In the case of students, they will be learning how to use the digital world more effectively to grow their business, for instance,’ she goes on.

Attard explains that the project ultimately serves as a forum for people to think of all the ways that technology has served them over the past two years and to analyse the outcomes of their digital actions.

‘Some academics have been discussing things they took for granted such as holding lectures over Zoom and being asked to analyse the issues they had identified in that process,’ Attard says.

‘For the first events, we held five rounds of interviews with stakeholders within higher education institutions. We spoke to librarians, IT support, students, decision makers, and academics from UM and MCAST. Our aim was to understand how the pandemic affected them,’ McNamara clarifies.

‘One aspect that stood out was that there needs to be better digital literacy for projects and research in digital action to produce better results. A way of doing this is to address digital equality. If a person does not have the skills or finance to access digital tools, they are marginalised, and that can lead to exclusion from the micro and macro communities,’ she says, explaining some of the results of the project so far.

‘By equipping people, we can increase numbers of participants in digital events and also build resilience for future crises,’ she adds, explaining that citizen science and general citizen participation can ultimately help to prevent crises.

‘In terms of the environment, for instance, society getting involved and monitoring the environment and anomalies can help avert crises. Ways in which citizen science is already helping locally include people monitoring things like jellyfish, stars, invasive plant species, or litter, for instance.’

Already, the round-tables in Malta, Greece, and Cyprus have shown that communication is an important factor for successful performance of digital action, so as a result, investigation into how higher education

institutions and the community interact with each other has been highlighted as an action point.

‘Promoting the importance of research and data collection within younger students has been suggested as a method of building better relationships for civic participation,’ McNamara says, adding that demystifying the research processes could essentially help build trust in communities outside higher education.

‘Essentially, this project represents a unique opportunity to gather data from a pool of researchers and the wider community to obtain a better digital experience for the future,’ she goes on.

‘We hope that the project results in us finding ways to resolve the barriers identified through digital actions. For instance, in the creation of online campaigns that can garner better engagement and make people’s actions online more effective,’ Mifsud adds.

‘In addition, this project is a unique opportunity for higher education to carry out outreach programmes into less-advantaged communities to try and understand how to serve them better,’ Attard says, explaining that UCL is working with communities from East London, an area that is typically more disadvantaged than the western side.

To most readers of this piece, the importance of higher education will undoubtedly be a given. However, its relevance in wider communities is sometimes a little unclear, with researchers gaining a reputation for disconnectedness from real social issues. As the researchers explain, this project, with its hopeful tone and desire to learn from one of the bleakest points in recent history, aims to be a driving force for change. Digital activism is an action that seeks to counter social and ecological issues so it can address any potential disaster, sometimes even before it spreads and becomes a full-blown crisis.

Digital activism is an action that seeks to counter social and ecological issues so it can address any potential disaster, sometimes even before it spreads and becomes a full-blown crisis.

You may be surprised that the level of social integration and the number of close relationships a person has is one measure of their life expectancy, but with reports suggesting loneliness is on the rise, are we facing a new epidemic? And are there specific social, demographic, or economic factors that are contributing to this rise? In this article, Chris Styles speaks to Jamie Bonnici from the University of Malta, Faculty for Social Wellbeing, about a 2019 study on the prevalence of loneliness among the Maltese population and if these feelings of isolation are more prevalent in certain demographics, a study which has been replicated recently as well.

Do you love being part of the crowd, or do you prefer the company of just a few close friends?

The labels introverted and extroverted are a commonly used shorthand to describe how people feel about social situations, but we all need the company of others sometimes. If you describe yourself as having a small appetite, it does not mean you do not need to eat at all. And although you may feel like this comparison is not particularly apt, more and more studies have demonstrated the importance of social interaction on our physical and mental health.

If you have ever felt the pang of missing someone you have not seen in a long time, that pain is not imaginary! Our brains have been wired in such a way that when you feel a sense of being alone, it shares a similar neurological pathway to physical pain, and when you eventually are reunited and you give them a hug (or however you express yourself), your body also reacts physically, by releasing oxytocin and dopamine into your bloodstream, improving your mood and relieving stress. In fact, a person’s social connectivity and the number of close-person relationships they have is one of the key indicators of life expectancy, comparable in importance to the amount of exercise you do or even if you are a smoker or not. Recent research has suggested that the long-term health implications of feeling

lonely could have a much greater impact than previously realised – not just for a person’s mental health, with loneliness being linked to anxiety, depression, diminished life satisfaction and overall resilience – but also to a person’s physical health, including increased risk of stroke and heart disease, high blood pressure, and weaker immune systems. Because of this, some researchers are considering loneliness a modern ‘epidemic’.

Unfortunately, it seems that loneliness is on the rise, and although there is some debate within the research community as to exactly what extent, feeling lonely is just an inevitable part of the human condition.

But what about those living on the Maltese Islands, the isolated archipelago in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, home to over 525,000 people (115,449 of which are foreigners)? How lonely is this population, and are there any specific social, demographic, or economic factors that contribute to these feelings of isolation? Well, that is a question that a team of researchers from the Faculty for Social Wellbeing wanted to answer.

Jamie Bonnici was part of the research team (including Prof. Marilyn Clark and led by Prof. Andrew Azzopardi) that orchestrated this study, and in 2019, they conducted a systematic survey of the population of Malta to identify the extent of these feelings of isolation.

MEASURING LONELINESS –COMPLEX EMOTIONS

‘Loneliness has been described by social science researchers as a symptom of other societal issues; the exact reason why someone might experience these feelings is very complicated to understand, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.’

‘One obstacle to obtaining a clear picture of loneliness is the variation that exists in terms of the research tools used to assess loneliness. This makes it difficult to accurately compare data across countries and time.’ Bonnici explains, ‘This is the first representative study of this kind to be conducted in Malta.’ The socio-demographic criteria the research team chose were based on existing studies that have been done into loneliness, as well as factors that could possibly result in lower feelings of belonging within a community.

For an issue with so many complex and personal dimensions, the research team thought it was important to invite academics and representatives from each of the departments at the University of Malta to join a working group, an opportunity to discuss the potential sociological and psychological associations linked to loneliness on the island. From these collaborative sessions, the research team designed a survey protocol which collected data using a bespoke Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing procedure. This survey consisted of questions from the standardised De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale, featuring statements such as ‘There is always someone I can talk to about my day-to-day problems’ and ‘I often feel rejected’, where participants could either agree, disagree, or feel neutral about these statements. In addition, questions were included to gather information on each of the participants’ socio-demographic status as follows:

The questionnaire was presented in both Maltese and English throughout March of 2019 and gathered information from a random sample of Maltese citizens throughout the island. Featuring respondents aged 11 years and older, the survey was designed so as to ensure that an adequate representation of participants was reached based on gender, age group, and district.

Over the survey period, the research team received responses from 1,009 participants, and of these, 43.5% of respondents were found to be experiencing some degree of loneliness (41.3% moderately lonely, 1.7% severely lonely, and 0.5% very severely lonely). When the research team looked more closely at the data, they were able to identify groups in the community who appeared to have less social capital (the ability to form wide networks of relationships within society). These groups included but were not limited to the elderly; those who have limited educational attainment; the unemployed, retired, or otherwise not in employment; those who are widowed, separated, divorced, or married; those who live alone; people who perceive their household income to be low; and those who would rate their physical health as ‘bad’ or identify as disabled.

A recent follow-up study, conducted by the faculty in 2022, compares the data obtained from the 2019 study. The results suggest an increase in loneliness over the past 3 years with 49.2% of respondents feeling moderately lonely (as opposed to 41.3% in 2019), 4.6% feeling severely lonely (1.7% in 2019), and 0.8% feeling very severely lonely (0.5% in 2019).

45.4

43.5%

Overall Loneliness Rates

Not lonely 56.5% 45.4%

Moderately lonely 41.3% 49.2%

Severely lonely 1.7% 4.6%

Very severely lonely 0.5% 0.8%

‘I was surprised to see that loneliness was present in Malta on this scale,’ Bonnici comments, ‘I had always seen the people of Malta as very close-knit and neighbourly.’

BEING LESS LONELY – NO EASY ANSWERS

There is no one factor that contributes to a person feeling isolated, but rather a collection of circumstances that have led them to feel disconnected. This unfortunately means that there is no single answer to how to alleviate this epidemic, ‘It’s difficult to say whether such impacts can be resolved by simply being more social, since loneliness is a subjective experience: people can have a large group of friends and still feel lonely, particularly if they do not feel that there is someone they can turn to when they need support,’ Bonnici says. ‘For individuals seeking to combat loneliness, whilst there is no one-size-fitsall approach, research has demonstrated benefits of engaging in volunteering activities, as well as possibly speaking to a therapist to address any maladaptive thought patterns which might have developed. Our research has also shown that certain factors may be protective against loneliness, such as furthering one’s education.’

Being alone and loneliness are often considered to mean the same thing, but they are not. You can feel lonely even when you are surrounded by people; loneliness is also a subjective feeling and perhaps a self-fulfilling prophecy somewhat. If you feel lonely, then you are lonely, and if you are feeling lonely you may also lack the confidence to go out of your comfort zone to acquire new connections, creating a loneliness feedback loop.

However, modern life and the social restrictions put into place during the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic certainly have not helped the situation. Many of us have found ourselves changed by the situation. Although at the time of writing this article, COVID-19 safeguards have drastically been relaxed, many people are finding it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance, finding new societal pressures difficult to deal with, or just struggling to find the time to maintain the social connections they once had. The exact

impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had upon our lives is still being unravelled by researchers, with Bonnici and the team at the Faculty for Social Wellbeing recently finalising the data collection for the second round of loneliness research, which may give an indication of any changes that have occurred during the pandemic. Early findings show younger age groups (11 to 19 years) having higher rates of overall loneliness than older age groups

Almost paradoxically, in a world where we can connect with anyone at the push of a button, many of us are lonelier than ever. But there are a few things that we can all do; we can all be aware of this issue and look out for each other. Reach out to friends and family. Awareness of the issue is the key, and if you or someone you care about is suffering but are unsure of what to do, please do get in touch with an organisation such as Malta Together. They are here to help. Other professional support services include kellimni.com; alternatively you can phone the national helpline on 179. You are not alone!

Further Reading:

Azzopardi, A., Clark, M., Bonnici, J., & Cuff, A. (2022). Survey On Loneliness

Clark, M., Bonnici, J., & Azzopardi, A. (2021). Loneliness in Malta: Findings from the first National Prevalence Study. Journal Of Social And Personal Relationships, 38(9), 2751-2771. doi: 10.1177/02654075211020120

A full list of references will be available on the digital version of the article at thinkmagazine.mt

the sample are experiencing some form

54.6% of the sample are experiencing some form of loneliness

Eating Disorders in Malta

Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are usually associated with teenage women. However, eating disorders can affect anyone, irrespective of gender or age. A local study examines eating disorders in those aged between 10 and 16 years.

Until a few years ago, eating disorders were seen as a first-world problem, something that young women brought upon themselves. While some conservative pockets of the population still hold on to this view, the vast majority has recognized that eating disorders are psychological disturbances and rarely have anything to do with food.

Prior to 2012, very few services that tackled eating disorders existed in Malta. However, a study conducted that same year (carried out by the National Statistics Office) examined a representative sample of 15 to 50-year-olds in the general population. The results found that the prevalence of eating disorders in Malta was comparable to that in other European countries, with a lifetime prevalence of anorexia at 2.4%, 0.8% for bulimia, and 2.6% for binge eating. This study led to the opening of Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek (Centre for the Treatment of Obesity and Eating Disorders) in 2014.

Shortly after it opened, Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek noticed something peculiar about its patients. A substantial number were under 15 years old. The lack of empirical data in this age group led the Centre to commission a new study, one that examined the prevalence of eating disorders in 10 to 16-year-olds. This research is the first of its kind in Malta.

Annabel Cuff, one of the leading researchers of the study and a Research Support Officer with the Faculty for Social Wellbeing at the University of Malta (UM), explains how ‘while female adolescents are the most at-risk group, eating disorders can affect men, older women, and children. The average age of onset is between 10 and 19 years. These are crucial years for physical and psychological development, and the presence of an eating disorder at this developmental stage tends to disrupt natural growth. More importantly, the way you treat a 12-year-old isn’t necessarily how you would treat a 50-yearold.’ Darleen Zerafa, Director at Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek and Prof. Anton Grech, Clinical Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry in the Ministry of Health and also Chairman of Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek have worked tirelessly in the area and contributed to this study through their guidance and advice.

WHAT ARE EATING DISORDERS?

According to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), eating disorders are classified as a psychological disturbance. More often than not, eating disorders are not about eating. They usually appear because of emotional problems and arise from a desire to control food intake that spirals out of control for some innate reason.

According to Cuff, ‘Eating disorders are never about food. Food is the outward appearance of the eating disorder. Food is what can be controlled or what is to be feared.’

There are four main eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).

ANOREXIA

Due to its high mortality rate, anorexia is seen as the most dangerous of eating disorders. It is characterised by an extreme fear of gaining weight, an abnormally low body weight, and a distorted perception of weight.

Anorexia is not just about restricting calories but removing them by any means. No matter how much weight is lost, sufferers remain fearful of weight gain and experience a constant desire to lose more weight.

BULIMIA

Bulimia is characterised by frequent and uncontrollable episodes of overeating or binges followed by purging. These binges usually consist of consuming thousands of calories in a single sitting, accompanied by extreme efforts to avoid gaining weight such as throwing up, exercise, laxatives, and medication.

BINGE EATING DISORDER

Binge eating disorder involves uncontrollable urges to eat. However, it is distinct from bulimia as it does not include purging behaviours. As a result, sufferers are highly likely to be overweight or obese.

ARFID

ARFID is a type of extreme picky eating or food phobia in which the sufferer avoids certain types of food. Often this is due to sensory issues or fear of certain foods; as

Eating disorders are never about food. Food is the outward appearance of the eating disorder. Food is what can be controlled or what is to be feared.’

a result, sometimes whole food groups are excluded.

ARFID is not about body image but rather involves a psychological block tied to certain types of food. Usually it develops into the patient only eating a very specific type of food, such as a particular brand of pasta.

Usually there isn’t one, single cause of eating disorders, but a number of factors. These could be psychological or emotional reasons, a history of abuse, genetics, as well as family make-up. A consequence

of the disorders is that sufferers lead blunted, subpar lives, and make costly and high-volume use of health services, not to mention suicide attempts.

Most studies have focused on adolescent women; however, eating disorders have also been found in other demographics, especially in marginalised communities, men, and LGBTQ+.

For example, anorexia in men is usually about muscle mass. The ideal male body is presented as a muscle frame on social media. Achieving this requires hard work, exercise, and dietary control, which can easily spiral into an obsession that starts to take over many aspects of the person's life.

While personality is generally thought to have a relationship to eating disorders, the debate remains as to whether and to what extent: whether personality is causal to eating disorders, predisposes an individual to an eating disorder, or generates complications during the course of the disorder.

EATING DISORDERS IN TODAY’S CHILDREN

The study conducted by the UM Faculty in collaboration with Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek took a stratified random sample of 400 children between 10 and 16 years old. Participants took part in an anonymous telephone survey; it included questions aimed at the children themselves, as well as questions aimed at their guardians.

The most widely used questionnaire for investigating eating disorders is the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT); however, this is aimed at adults. The researchers used an adaptation of EAT which is aimed at children. ChEAT (Children’s Eating Attitudes Test) has been widely tested, boasts good reliability and validity, and has been translated and used in several languages, making it ideal for the local study. The language

used is simple enough for children to understand and is easily translatable. In fact, it was translated into Maltese to fit the local context, and the translation was tested to ensure it was a true reflection of the English original.

The results suggest that although the vast majority of 10 to 16 year olds in Malta do not have an eating disorder, there is a substantial minority who do. Of the 5.5% who are affected, 3.25% are female and 2.25% are male. Within the general population of 10 to 16 year olds in Malta, this translates to 1675 youngsters affected by eating disorders, of whom, potentially, 990 are female and 685 are male.

While more females than males were affected, the malefemale ratio was higher than expected. With ChEAT, scores above 20 indicate a possible eating disorder; of these, for the males who scored above or equal to 20, the average was higher than the equivalent average for females. This suggests that males within this age group may be more severely affected than females. Additionally, the study found that, for this age group and cohort, there are no significant associations for age, gender, or socio-economic status. Eating disorders cut right across the socio-economic strata.

The study is a nationally representative study and shows that the split between male and females (in 10 to 16 year olds) is essentially 50/50. This suggests that, within this age group, gender does not play a role in the likelihood of an eating disorder.

ROAD TO RECOVERY

There is a huge stigma associated with eating disorders. They are often seen as ‘putting on airs’ or a self-imposed condition. This stigma usually means that many patients will hide their condition, which, in turn, could delay their

treatment. For many, these psychological disturbances are an attempt to achieve an ‘ideal’ body image. Oftentimes, these ‘ideal’ body images are compounded by media representations. Cuff points out that, ‘Being thin or having a “good” figure is seen as socially desirable, and many people try hard to achieve this, especially in an age where the number of likes on your social media photos count for selfvalidation. Not all people who strive to look good will go on to develop an eating disorder of course; however, body image and achieving the impossible “ideal figure” remains a factor.’

Cuff goes on to add, ‘When you are in the grip of an eating disorder, it rules you and controls your compulsions. It becomes a driver in your life. Especially for people with anorexia, if the patient has had it for several years, it becomes a part of your identity.’ Treating eating disorders requires a holistic approach. It essentially involves ‘rewiring’ the way the patient lives their life, the way they view food, and in extreme cases, their entire sense of self.

By better understanding eating disorders in younger age groups, the study will not only help inform public policy but will also aid in the development of services for Dar Kenn Għal Saħħtek’s service users. Cuff leaves us with one, final piece of advice: ‘If somebody suspects that a loved one has an eating disorder, the best thing is to look for information and not be afraid to help and support them. Research shows that having adequate support is usually the most effective approach for treatment.’

The Dean of the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, Prof. Andrew Azzopardi states that ‘these studies serve to enlighten us but also provide evidence-based data that can be used to enhance our social policy. We are an effective faculty when we manage, through our scholarship and community outreach, to help bring about changes.’

Firing Up the Past

Pottery, as a humanmade material, dates back to almost 30,000 BP (Before Present) and has been an essential tool in humanity’s journey ever since. It is therefore not surprising that the characteristics of pottery findings in archaeology are a crucial facet in determining the culture and way of life of past people. This concept is at the heart of CoFIPoMS: a two-year research project hosted by the Department of Classics and Archaeology at the University of Malta.

THINK met with Emma RichardTrémeau, the primary researcher on this venture, to discuss the significance and scope of the work. ‘The project is about pottery. Specifically pottery made in Malta during the Punic-Roman period; so we’re talking 3rd to 1st century BC.’ It being an important time period in the history of the Maltese islands, the team behind the project –supervised by Head of Department Dr Ing. John Charles Betts –realised

it would make a good case study, and in archaeology, pottery is more often than not the only surviving element that can offer a glimpse into the history behind the site itself. ‘It’s what we find the most,’ explains Richard-Trémeau. ‘Pots were used for cooking, for eating, and for storing food and other goods. They are with us in everyday life.’

SEIZE THE CLAY

The CoFIPoMS project or – to give it its full name – Compiling the Fabric Identity for Pottery from Maltese Sites, aims to better understand the production of local pottery that took place over 2,000 years ago. To do this, the team is collecting and analysing raw materials from across the Maltese Islands that could have been used in the fabrication process of pottery samples discovered in archaeological sites such as the Żejtun villa and the sanctuary at Tas-Silġ. In addition, the undertaking of such a project requires the use of a number of techniques to

provide data and a clearer image of the past. The artefacts themselves are studied in a lab, scrutinised under microscopes, and subjected to x-ray fluorescence, which allows researchers to understand their composition and characteristics. This also includes seeking out potential raw materials

in and around Malta that might have provided people at that time with the necessary ingredients to create this kind of pottery. ‘We are investigating the processes of making pottery in the past from scratch; so getting the clay from the landscape, to actually firing and distributing the pots.’

This is why this study includes experimental archaeology, a field of study which attempts to approximate or reproduce aspects of ancient crafts. As Richard-Trémeau explains, ‘Experimental archaeology means trying to recreate the materials we’ve seen. So for example, we are going to work with the raw material we think was used in the past. This is essential because some of our theories are based on what we observe in the pottery, but we cannot observe the people making the pots directly. So we need to try to understand the stages with different methods.’ The process begins with making small bricks of clay and firing them at different temperatures to test whether or not they explode. This also permits the researchers to understand the limitations of the materials used. These bricks of clay are then studied with the same methods as the pottery shards.

There is room for further experimentation with different raw materials that might yield more

accurate data relevant to this research. Experimental archaeology thus enables its users to test their hypotheses on past periods in the real world.

ARCHAEOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, AND ENGINEERING

One of the more intriguing aspects of the CoFIPoMS project is the promotion of interdisciplinary research, amongst which are data analysis, chemistry, engineering, and archaeology. As a Research Support Officer on CoFIPoMS, RichardTrémeau has received training on aspects of all these disciplines during the project. ‘The idea is I work with a few specialists, and I also do a lot of the analysis myself and get trained by them, and then I try to make sense of the data produced.’ The nature of such an interdisciplinary project means that some stages of the research are more demanding than others. ‘It’s been a bit challenging. For example, at the moment, I’m trying to compare the chemical and geological data.’

However, the main aim is to bring all relevant fields together to make sense in archaeological terms. ‘So, the most important thing isn't what the clay is made from,’ continues Richard-Trémeau, ‘but the facts we acquire on what a potter does.’

Results from the findings and laboratory tests have already started offering tantalising clues into this particular period in Maltese history. Indeed, it seems that most of the pottery studied could be produced locally, although we are still assessing to what extent this is true. This is a significant find in itself, considering the site’s location in Marsaxlokk, where one would expect a higher rate of imported goods being brought from other countries to the fishing village. ‘Some people in Malta were

actually making and, most likely, selling their pottery. We have also seen distinct uses of material for different types of pots. So people did not seem to use the same clay or treat it the same way when they were making cooking pots or plates. And that’s why it is important, because it means that the people working the material knew what they were doing.’ The implications are significantly much more widespread, as these findings could form the basis that will allow further studies into the entire facet of Roman pottery in Malta.

While project timelines are in place, untangling the mysteries left by the passage of time is a demanding task, and given the scope of the research, it is not always possible for deadlines to be adhered to. ‘We won’t finish

everything we have planned,’ states Richard-Trémeau. ‘So, I hope this will be carried on by someone else.’ Needless to say, the amount of work and data generated since the project’s commencement in 2020 is staggering. ‘Most of the analysis of the pottery that was chosen is complete, and now we’re looking at the results.’

This being the main stage of the analysis, the enticing nature of research means that the project will expand into other investigative branches to further illuminate our gaze into the past. ‘In research, you sometimes start with two questions, and you’ve actually opened more questions than ones you’ve answered.’ As the work continues, the future looks bright with the prospects of the past.

Tackling Tumours: How to Tame the Rebels

To defeat your enemy, you must understand your enemy. We can’t confirm if Sun Tzu would agree with this, but the MPitNET group at the University of Malta (UM) certainly does. THINK dives into their efforts in understanding – and hopefully defeating –pituitary tumours.

Iwas enjoying lunch with a recently made friend when they casually dropped ‘I have cancer.’ With a sunny disposition, quick laughter, and a seemingly healthy appearance, my friend’s news came as a shock to me. I have been living closely with cancer patients for almost a decade, and I have witnessed the debilitating side effects of treatments. In my head, this friend didn’t fit the profile of a cancer patient, but years of scientific research has allowed them to live an almost normal life, practically unburdened by the debilitating side effects of other cancer therapies. For the first time, I saw cancer as a chronic, manageable disease instead of a dark cloud of slowly leaking time, hovering over the patient’s head.

It is towards these life-changing advancements that the MPitNET team, led by principal investigators Prof. David Saliba (Associate Professor of Applied Biomedical Science at the Faculty of Health Sciences) and Prof. Josanne Vassallo (Professor of Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and Consultant Endocrinologist at Mater Dei Hospital), is working. The group of researchers at UM work with pituitary tumours, which develop in the ‘master’ gland called the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. Although these tumours are usually benign (meaning that they don’t invade other tissues), they can wreak havoc, causing dysregulation of hormone secretion and even loss of sight if the tumour size increases and presses on the optic nerves.

As highlighted by Vassallo, current therapies can control symptoms in a significant proportion of patients but only cure less than 40% of cases. This necessitates life-long follow up for recurrence. To this end, understanding the tumour microenvironment will enable scientists to find potential targets for therapy and improve patients’ quality of life and survival rates.

The MPitNET project entails two branches of research:

1. Identification and mapping of the immune cells that infiltrate pituitary tumours

2. Characterising the immune gene expression in the tumour microenvironment

This type of research can be referred to as ‘basic science’. The unassuming name hides the gigantic impact that it has. Although without direct clinical applications, ‘basic research’ is the foundation of many clinical studies. It forms the basis of biology from which clinical research can grow. In this case, MPitNET is looking for therapeutic targets, which include meaningful components of the cell machinery that can be modulated to attack and kill tumour cells. As Vassallo explains, the team is looking to understand ‘what makes the tumours happen, what happens in the cells surrounding tumours, and use the information to find targets for therapy.’

FIGHTING THE REBELS

So what exactly is the MPitNET group doing? Let’s start with identifying and mapping the immune cells that infiltrate pituitary tumours.

Cancer is a complicated beast. A tumour is composed of mutated cells that start growing uncontrollably. Simultaneously, our immune system, the defenders against invaders and rebels, can detect and attack tumour cells. But some of the mutated cells manage to evade these defence mechanisms. As the detectable tumour cells are killed, the sneaky cells continue dividing, indifferent to the efforts of the immune system. Time comes when the tumour only contains these evasive cells, and impervious to our body’s attacks, it continues growing, potentially invading other tissues.

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that tries to boost the patient’s immune system to identify and fight cancer cells. It tinkers with the signals between the different cells, making sure that the right message passes through: kill the rebel.

But the immune system is unfathomably complicated; there are many players in the field, each sending different messages to the other players. At the same time, the cancerous cells send their own signals and silence some of the immune system’s messages. Because every type of tumour is different, studying the immune environment of each tumour and understanding the signals being sent is essential to design therapies that work for each case.

MPitNET is studying which immune cells surround or infiltrate pituitary tumours. Besides identifying the type of cells, the team is looking at their location within the tumour and the messages they send via proteins called cytokines. By understanding how the immune system behaves around

these tumours, they might identify therapeutic targets to eliminate those pesky tumours.

So far, Dr Oriana Mazzitelli (Research Support Officer with the Faculty of Health Sciences) has revealed a new population of immune cells present in all the tumours analysed with the capacity of killing tumour cells. It is the first time that these types of cells were observed in this context. Further studies will be done to validate these observations and assert the clinical relevance of these immune cells. Characterising the ratio of the population in different tumours may hint towards the prognosis of the disease and may also guide clinicians when choosing the best therapy for each case of pituitary tumours.

Excitingly, this novel population of immune cells may be present in other types of tumours, shining a new light into the play between the immune system and cancer cells.

TO READ OR NOT TO READ

One of the components driving the triumph of cancer cells over the host tissue is their genes. Genes are the instruction manual of our cells; they tell the cell what to do and what its function is. So if a normal cell starts ‘reading’ (usually called expressing) genes that allow it to replicate indefinitely or evade the immune system, then that normal cell can become a ‘bad’ tumour cell.

One of the theories for cancer genesis focuses on cells that start expressing genes which alter their function. These cells begin replicating uncontrollably, skipping the usual control steps that regulate cell division, growth, and differentiation. The quick, unregulated division can, in turn, generate new mutations that allow the tumour to keep evading the mechanisms set up to destroy it (be it the immune system or the therapies developed).

There are two ways for a cell to start expressing ‘tumorous’ genes (called oncogenes). It can have a mutation within the gene (the cell’s instruction manual is different from the cells that surround it), or instead, the cell can start expressing a gene that is not generally expressed in normal cells (it is dormant, silent).

Seeing the different gene expression between cells allows us to understand what a cancerous cell is doing differently. This will also show us the pathways and functions that we need to target to kill or modulate the cell.

Besides studying the relationships between pituitary tumours and the immune cells, Ms Emma Jayne Spiteri set out to study the gene expression of the tumorous cells. She analysed tissue samples and isolated six genes that are expressed differently in the tumour’s surrounding environment, all linked to the immune system.

The team found out that different types of pituitary tumours have different expression levels of each one of the six highlighted genes. A gene usually instructs the cell to build a protein.

If pituitary tumour cells are producing different proteins, then these could be driving its growth and could be possible targets for future therapies.

Furthermore, if different tumours produce different proteins, researchers may be able to develop therapies targeting specific tumours, according to the proteins that they are expressing.

NEXT STEPS

The MPitNET team are continuing their work to further understand what is happening in these types of tumours. They now want to increase sample sizes, a crucial step to prove that their findings are the rule, not the exception. Because the techniques Mazzitelli is using need to be carried out on fresh tissue, she can only analyse the tumours right after they

are excised from a patient. Considering that pituitary tumours are rare and only around 12 cases per year will require surgery, the number of fresh samples is low indeed. The team shall implement new techniques that allow analysis on frozen tissue stored in the repository. One of the techniques, immunohistochemistry, allows the researchers to determine the location of the immune cells in or around the tumour and will also help confirm the presence and location of the proteins coded by the genes she identified.

In parallel, the relationship between the different immune populations that surround the tumour environment will be analysed. By confirming what immune cells are flocking to the tumours and what proteins are being produced inside the cells, the group will be able to determine if currently available cancer therapies can be applied to pituitary tumours. The knowledge could also help the development of new therapies in future, targeting the immune cells and proteins identified.

Although exciting, Vassallo warns that it might take decades for such therapies to become available to patients. ‘There is a certain impatience when someone reads about a potential new therapy for tumours,’ she explains. It is important to understand that research findings take time to test and validate, not to mention actually developing the therapies, carrying out trials, and finally using them to treat patients.

These advancements take time; they require thorough testing and continuous validation.

MPitNET’s work may not result in therapeutic advancements that will be used by my friend, but maybe one day, they can help others dissipate cancer’s dark cloud.

This project is being funded by the Emanuele Cancer Research Foundation https://ecrfmalta.com/

Signaling Molecules

Tumourous cells

Blood Vessels

Adapted from Ghouzlani et al., 2021.

Full citation available on thinkmagazine.mt

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Flying Green: Work in Progress

Hands are itching to flip the switch to sustainable operations in the aviation industry. Gargantuan research efforts and money are being invested into developing green planes, and while the outlook is positive, changes shall only take off in the mid to long term. THINK talks to Dr Robert Camilleri and Aman Batra about industry expectations and their current research.

As a senior lecturer within the Institute of Aerospace Technologies at the University of Malta (UM), Dr Robert Camilleri oversees research projects, chiefly focused on greener aviation technologies. Hybrid planes should be a logical solution, but the challenges are gigantic, as Aman Batra, a research support officer and PhD student with the Institute of Aerospace Technologies at UM, says.

While a greener aviation industry would deliver immense added value towards a net-zero future, the global industry’s carbon emission weight is yet tiny: 2-3%, when vehicles on the roads could cut a 9-15% slice out of the global pie, Camilleri tells THINK. But this highly resilient industry, which performed a quick rebound after the tragic events of 9/11 and the COVID-19 grounding, will grow more prominent. ‘Only 10% of the world’s

population has access to air-bound travelling. However, as more countries come out of poverty, the impact of aviation on the environment is bound to increase,’ Camilleri says. This will boost the carbon emission weight of aviation significantly. It is time we made it greener.

CUTTING EMISSIONS

The European Union is also aware of the industry’s nature. As one of the fastest growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, the European Union is allocating significant funding towards the aviation sector to reduce emissions by at least 55% by 2030, descending to 1990 levels. But how do we do this?

Let us first understand how we power aircraft. The most common way of flying is kerosene-fuelled jet turbines with a high power-to-weight ratio. As a specific technology, turbines are immensely powerful; every turbine has three rows of 72 blades – one blade generates the power of a formula one car. The performance is massive.

‘The beauty of the gas turbine is that it condenses all of that ability to generate power in a fairly small device [when compared to the plane]. But it generates emissions: CO2 and carbon monoxide – and also several NOxes: nitrogen oxides and nitrogen dioxide. These pollutants contribute to climate change, cause acidic rain, and speed up overall global warming,’ Camilleri says. Cutting back on these emissions with new technology is welcome and needed, but challenging.

HYDROGEN'S PROMISE

Hydrogen is emerging as a possible substitute for kerosene. Should we use hydrogen, the underlying technology that lifts a plane into the air would remain roughly the same. As much as hydrogen is a tempting alternative, there are serious challenges relating to the production, shipping, and storage of the chemical.

Hydrogen is generated from water electrolysis; an electrical current is driven through the water to separate the H2O molecules into building blocks. For this, we need to use seawater instead of freshwater to not push the use of drinking water out of balance in a world where 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water at home. Once energy starts going through the water, it must be generated from renewable sources. If it is not, hydrogen production would leave an immense carbon footprint.

Hydrogen is also very inefficient to store in gas format as it occupies a lot of space. Therefore, it needs to be turned into liquid form, which requires it to be cooled and maintained to -252 degrees Celcius, which further energy. The trade-off of generating hydrogen and turning it into liquid form for better storage and shipping might outweigh the benefits of using it as a fuel to fly planes.

Let us suppose all these challenges were met and we have a distribution network of green hydrogen setup. ‘The final part of the puzzle is that the aircraft itself needs to be modified to host the storage tank and the gas turbine

itself needs to be able to burn hydrogen, which burns at a different rate when compared to kerosene. The change will not happen quickly. We need at least 50-70 years to build the entire infrastructure to have enough renewable energy to kick-start hydrogen production, which sustains aero transport,’ Camilleri says.

HYBRIDISING AVIATION

This is where the UM’s Iterate Project plugs into the big picture to offer a short-to-mid-term solution that would bridge the gap between emissive aviation today and the net-zero future. Ideally, the transition should be similar to the introduction of hybrid cars in the early 2000s, when Toyota first came out with the Prius. ‘Back then, people already knew that road transport would end up moving towards electric vehicles, but we did not have the technology. Therefore, Toyota started creating hybrid vehicles (vehicles that use more than one means of energy, for example combining a diesel engine with an electric motor) to offer a greener alternative to internal combustion engines. Our project is looking at the possibilities of establishing a methodology to create the first “Toyota Prius” for aviation,’ Camilleri says.

The project looks into different scenarios of combining existing aero technologies such as gas turbines with an electric powertrain, hence the idea of a hybrid plane, to ensure that less fuel is burnt and a smaller carbon footprint is left by flying. As taking off consumes

most of the energy during a flight, a possibility would include using gas turbines for take off, whilst cruising could utilise electric drives. Today, this approach seems feasible for smaller, regional flights –not for long-haul flights yet. But an electric drive means batteries. And batteries bring with them steep challenges.

For one thing, batteries have 40 times less energy density than fuel. Therefore a battery-powered plane would be heavy. If a plane were to carry batteries, proportionally, a 70-seater jet would need to be shaved to a 20-seater to accommodate the heavy load of batteries. The Iterate Project also looks into the feasibility of reducing the number of passengers from a business perspective. What level of aircraft hybridisation would balance the environmental and social corporate responsibilities of airlines with the economic demands?

Batteries raise another question: how do we charge them quickly? Airlines are incentivised to spend as little time aground as possible. If an aircraft gets stuck on the ground charging, it is not being utilised: hard cash cutting into profits saved on green flying. Charging must be quick and powered by renewable sources for an electric or hybrid plane to be cost effective. These scenarios create further challenges.

‘First of all, if you are charging the aircraft, you are also using the current grid, which must be powered by renewable energy in its entirety to reduce pollutants. Second of all, in fast charging, batteries will overheat. Proper technology has to come to the surface for cooling the batteries to enable quick charging,’ Camilleri adds.

Empirical evidence suggests that the energy density of batteries improves by 3% every year. This is a far cry from the revolution we saw in electronics, which followed Moore’s Law that the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles every two years.

‘The importance of batteries is yet to be understood by the wider public. If we talk about green transport or any other industry where you want to store energy, you need a battery or other types of energy storage components. This aspect has great potential, therefore increased funding and research are going into this field. We expect energy density to increase. Until batteries enable completely electric flying, we are looking into establishing hybrid solutions of both fuel and electricity to traverse a highly emissive era of aviation to a close to net-zero future,’ Batra says.

The authors would also like to acknowledge the project: “Setting up of transdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange (TRAKE) complex at the University of Malta (ERDF.01.124)” which is being co- financed through the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund 2014 – 2020. www.eufunds.gov.mt

Further Reading:

European Commission (2022, August). Aviation and the EU ETS. Climate Action https://ec.europa.eu/ clima/eu-action/european-green-deal/deliveringeuropean-green-deal/aviation-and-eu-ets_en

Until batteries enable completely electric flying, we are looking into establishing hybrid solutions of both fuel and electricity to traverse a highly emissive era of aviation to a close to net-zero future.

True Happiness

What kinds of happiness are there, and what kinds of happiness should we prioritise? Jonathan Firbank explores Masahiro Morioka’s ‘happiness drug’ thought experiment in the face of an increasingly medicated world.

It could be argued that happiness is our only goal. The vast majority of us seek moments of gratification, memories of which punctuate our lives. An evening made exceptional from impromptu adventure, a sexual partner, a mind-altering substance, or deep conversation. Hierarchy amongst these moments is subjective. A person might feel the same elation at their favourite sports team winning as the athletes feel themselves. Memories of a view, a book, or a joke can last as long as memories of marriage and childbirth. Or we can seek happiness by avoiding these ‘frivolous’ moments, instead seeking interpersonal or professional success. Maybe seeking security in our self-image or strength, maybe the security of a supportive partner or a roof over our heads. Comfort, vindication, righteous anger, schadenfreude, and simple relief are all measures of happiness.

Each of us has subtle distinctions between what we consider happiness and how much we value it. There is a clear philosophical difference between those of us who prioritise ‘earning’ happiness and those who seek moments

of happy relief or indulgence. Personally, I have a strong memory from the first weeks of my studies in Britain. A lecturer proudly declared that all his free time was spent in research or discussion. He ‘didn’t understand’ people who watched TV, played games, or in fact, did anything gratifying that didn’t actively improve them. Conversely, many of us live for evenings and weekends, consuming sedative entertainment at home or having explosive nights out to balance less gratifying routines.

THE PHARMA ERA

Our new century has seen rapid developments in pharmaceutical mental health treatments, which intensifies this philosophical difference. What are the consequences of a ‘happiness pill’? Does happiness have worth if it isn’t earned? What if prescribed happiness makes us tolerate lives that should be better? In sci-fi dystopias like Brave New World, the population take sedatives, enabling oppressive regimes. The drugs prophesied in these stories pale in strength when compared to Fentanyl, the drug sweeping

the US after pharmaceutical companies cynically pushed it into vulnerable hands. The consequences of distributing lethal opioids are clear, but comparatively safe ‘happiness pills’, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), raise subtler questions. SSRIs such as Prozac/ Fluoxetine or Zoloft/Sertraline are used in record-breaking amounts year after year. These have proved invaluable to many people when responsibly prescribed, but when considered through a philosophical perspective, some have found them concerning. What if medication becomes too easy a route to ‘happiness’? Would it dull the richness of human experience or disincentivise personal growth?

A MENTAL EXPERIMENT

In response to the proliferation of these drugs and this criticism of them, Prof. Masahiro Morioka (Professor of Philosophy and Ethics, Waseda University, Japan) wrote Human Dignity and the Manipulation of the Sense of Happiness. In it, Morioka explores the philosophical ethics of medicating mental health. He begins by making a distinction between two kinds of happiness. First, the subjective feeling of happiness, ‘an inner mental state defined by pleasure or pain’. Examples of this might include the dopamine rush from laughter or tasting something delicious. Morioka then describes what he refers to as ‘objective happiness’, relating to the more abstract concepts of success, improvement, and esteem that my lecturer valued. Here he describes Aristotle’s ‘outer concept’ of happiness. Rather than happiness in a

moment, this is the ‘complete’ happiness of a life ‘active in accordance with complete virtue and sufficiently equipped with external goods.’ The actions that create this life may create pleasure, but ‘objective happiness’ refers to the actions themselves. This brings Morioka to Kant, who argued we have a ‘fundamental moral duty to cultivate our own perfection.’

Morioka presents a thought experiment: imagine a ‘perfect happiness’ drug was invented, one that perfected your mood with no negative side effects. This drug might be administered in the most terrible circumstances a person can experience and instantly make them as happy as humanly possible, incapable of physical or emotional pain. If this drug were available, what would it do to us? Being free from concern and guilt would certainly let us do evil things, and being free from pain and vigilance would certainly let people do evil things to us. The mental image of smiling from torture or laughing from grief could not be more disturbing. Most pertinently for Morioka, it would take away the dignity of a full range of human emotions, the dignity of selfdetermination. We may instead become what Kant described as ‘a plaything of the mere inclinations and hence a thing’, locked in feelings of pleasure but never able to experience Aristotle’s ‘objective’, hard-earned happiness.

The dark consequences of a ‘happiness drug’ have been a recurring trope for over a century of speculative science fiction. By refining it into this simple experiment Morioka asks the same question: where will this lead, and what if it’s bad?

THE OTHER EXTREME

But boiling these questions down into such a stark, brutal idea is misleading. Of course this drug, the purest and strongest form of unearned happiness, could lead to great misery. But the purest and strongest form of ‘earned’ happiness (pursuing our ‘moral obligation to cultivate perfection’) could be equally dangerous. The logical conclusion of strict, puritanical ethics is totalitarianism. We are all flawed, so our definitions of perfection are flawed. When society becomes too preoccupied with flawed standards of perfection, it judges those who fall short too harshly. The consequences of this are littered throughout history.

When people like my lecturer boast that the long, arduous dopamine cycle of self-improvement is superior to guilty pleasures, we are culturally motivated to agree. But that perspective is subjective and elitist. One person’s ‘cultivation of perfection’ is another person’s folly – unlike Aristotle and Kant, we live in a globalised, pluralistic society, with radical differences in our values. And those of us with more gruelling lives don’t need condemnation for ‘wasting’ free time on easy pleasures. A more nuanced, useful, and fun philosophy is Oscar Wilde’s: ‘Everything in moderation, even moderation.’

MISREPRESENTING SSRIs

It’s important to clarify that Morioka’s text isn’t judgemental or puritanical. He is careful not to directly criticise SSRIs or their users and thinks they are an appropriate short-term measure for dealing with trauma.

However, presenting his thought experiment in response to SSRIs implies that they are, or will lead to, a form of ‘happiness drug’. This scepticism is understandable but not necessarily justified. I have been treated with SSRIs and can state that SSRIs don’t act as a constant happiness pill like the one in Brave New World. Nor do they act as an on/off happiness switch, like horrifically addictive Fentanyl. SSRIs treat disorders. Symptoms like anxiety, depression, or obsessive compulsion aren’t always temporary. These disorders keep people from leading the ‘complete lives’ that Morioka and my old lecturer value so highly. Sufferers are left with brief, ‘frivolous’, ‘undignified’ moments of pleasure and happiness – or none at all.

SSRIs, when appropriately prescribed and dosed, diminish these symptoms. This, in turn, allows people to respond to therapy or to change the circumstances damaging them. In this way, SSRIs contribute to Aristotle’s ‘objective happiness’ more than to feelings of subjective pleasure. Mental health disorders are an illness and should be treated as such. They are not always a purely rational response to stimuli. Even when they are, during times of grief or trauma, SSRIs rarely eradicate that pain. They just provide a softer landing, far softer than alcohol abuse, for example, which has been the de-facto drug for millennia and harms people’s agency, welfare, and dignity more than SSRIs ever could.

And anyway, what’s wrong with the occasional ‘happiness switch’, if used safely? We shouldn’t feel guilty for small pleasures, and we should be sceptical of those claiming to be free of them. Even Aristotle drank wine.

start up

Printing Out the World

ELM Fabrication is a Maltese start-up that uses 3D-printing technology to shake up the furniture industry.

Antoni Gaudí is well-known for his architectural masterpieces, such as the Casa Batlló in Barcelona. But did you know that Gaudí also designed furniture? His Calvet Chair, for example, incorporates elements from sculpture and architecture to create a magnificent work of art.

While many would love to have such a masterpiece in their own homes, commissioning a carpenter to create such furniture would quickly end up costing a fortune! While there certainly isn’t a shortage of design talent, finding a carpenter, sourcing the materials, and covering the costs of the labour involved means that unique furniture (such as Gaudí’s chair) is something reserved for the affluent. But what if there were a way to reduce these costs and make distinctive furniture more accessible?

ELM Fabrication is a Malta-based start-up that intends to revolutionise the furniture industry, using 3D-printing technology to circumvent the technical and resource limitations of handcraft. The start-up,

founded during the pandemic by engineers Nicholas Borg Calleja, David Sciberras, and award-winning designer Paavo Pietola, is developing the technology necessary for 3D printing furniture using recycled materials (such as recycled biocomposite wood and plastic), as well as a commercial platform that links digital artists, customers, and manufacturers.

The traditional furniture industry puts a lot of stress on Earth's finite resources, being highly driven by the timber industry and requiring a high influx of raw material. If a piece of furniture breaks, it tends to end up in a landfill or burnt. A linear economy like this, always reliant on the extraction of raw materials from nature, is neither sustainable nor compatible with our environment. There’s an urge to find a way around the waste of resources and adjust the economy to our planet’s needs. Hence, ELM Fabrication works around this problem by using recycled biocomposite wood and plastic, leading to a sustainable, circular-economy industry. With the use of these materials,

when an object reaches the end of its utility, it can be ground back into pellets to produce a new product without the need for cutting down new trees or accessing raw materials. This is a perfect example of a circular economy.

The ease of reusing these materials allows for flexibility that hasn’t been available until now, the possibility of having furniture that can be redesigned and reassembled with no waste. This game changer has value from both a sustainable and artistic point of view.

SHARPENING THE TOOLS

While 3D printers have existed for over two decades now, they still present considerable challenges.

Borg Calleja explains how ‘the price of an industrial 3D printer is a setback to adapt this technology to the furniture industry. So, we decided to create our own 3D printer.’

The high price of large-sized 3D printers is a barrier for businesses in the sector to take the technological leap. Robotic setups, comprising a robotic arm moving

on tracks, are the most common type of large-scale industrial 3D printer. They have extremely high precision; however, they are notoriously expensive, ranging between €160,000 to over €300,000 in price. One of the main reasons for the price is that there are many different individual components that constitute the printer.

Taking this into account, ELM Fabrication tackled this problem by applying vertical integration and building a simple and affordable 3D printer from scratch.

A 2m x 2m x 6m printer was designed at a fraction of the cost of the printers on the market and is currently waiting for more funding to be produced. In the meantime, a smaller model with dimensions 1m x 1m x 1m has been produced as a proof of concept and used for the production of several items such as vases and tables. Resulting from this, ELM Fabrication has received an award from Tech.mt for the best startup performance during EIT MED ClimAccelerator (a programme designed to support and fund local start-ups focused on cleantech and sustainability).

The versatility of 3D printing allows for the production of more complex designs. It saves an immense amount of time, produces much less material waste, and even allows certain designs that wouldn’t be possible to manufacture otherwise.

With a printer, it is also possible to change the thickness of the printed filament. By choosing a nozzle with a small aperture, it is possible to create almost translucent objects, whereas by choosing a thick filament, it is possible to develop a resistant material that is fit to withstand harsh conditions such as those in a maritime environment.

CONNECTING THE PARTS

Many digital artists are looking for an opportunity to bring their ideas to life. Without easy access to printing technology, many ideas could be lost. ELM is developing a digital platform to connect designers with manufacturers, boosting the creative processes of digital artists from all over the world.

The platform has already been developed, and once it’s populated by artists, manufacturers, and consumers, it’s ready to work. The idea is that the consumer can navigate through different artists and their designs online. Once a product is chosen, it is produced at the manufacturing site closest to the client and directly shipped, in a fast and cost-effective way.

With the printer’s production in Malta and manufacturers all over the world, ELM Fabrication could have global reach and revolutionise the future of the furniture industry. Its way of production could help make this sector compatible with the world we live in without having to exploit resources at a mass scale, all while enabling a counterforce against the boring and standard designs typically commercialised. As Borg Calleja puts it, ‘if Antoni Gaudí lived in our time, he would have hired ELM Fabrication to effortlessly create his furniture masterpieces.’

to life

MALTI3D3D Printing Solutions

3D printing offers us the ability to custom print complex shapes. There are specific designs that are only possible through 3D printing. From an engineering standpoint, it is a godsend. This has the potential to revolutionise the manufacturing industry. But if 3D printing is so great, why hasn’t it taken off on an industrial scale yet?

Well, the answer inevitably boils down to money.

While 3D printing has enjoyed relative success in the hobbyist market, the same cannot be said for industrial production. Besides the initial cost of the 3D printer, buying the plastic, maintaining the printer, and shipping costs all quickly add up. Apart from that, there is a limited choice of plastics that can be 3D printed, especially when using filament-based 3D printers.

One of the most widely-used processes for manufacturing plastic parts is injection moulding. Essentially, molten plastic is pressurised into a mould to create the desired shape. Its speed and scalability have made it the

manufacturing method of choice for mass-produced plastic goods. However, injection moulding isn’t the only way to process plastic into 3D shapes.

The MALTI3D Project (led by Dr Arif Rochman, Senior Lecturer with the Faculty of Engineering, University of Malta [UM]; with Prof. Ing. Joseph Buhagiar, Associate Professor with the Faculty of Engineering, UM; Prof. Alfred Gatt, Associate Professor with the Faculty of Health Sciences, UM; and Albert Curmi, Research Support Officer with the Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering) in collaboration with project partner Abertax Quality Ltd, is looking at alternatives. To better understand, we first need to take a look at how 3D printing works.

PELLETS VS FILAMENTS

Specifically, we need to examine the material used. 3D printing usually involves some type of plastic, either in pellet or filament form. Pellets, which are used to make filaments, cost around €4 per kg at the lower end. However, filaments cost around €30 per kg, despite the fact that it takes approximately 1 kg of pellets to make 1 kg of filaments. 'This is because converting pellets to filaments involves an extra heating cycle: melting the plastic pellets and refining them into filaments. This involves manpower, time, and electricity, which drives the price up. Not to mention additives such as colourants and bonding modifiers,' explains Rochman.

life

3D printers work by depositing plastic layer by layer, starting from the bottom and gradually building on top of the previous layer until the desired shape is formed. While relatively simple in principle, it is imperative that the filaments used have a precise diameter. Imprecisions in the filament can result in inconsistencies and ultimately harm the final product.

While filaments are usually uniform in diameter, pellets as raw material are not. Incidentally, this accounts for the price discrepancy between the two. Pellets can vary in size, in some cases by up to 1mm. While this might not sound like much, this variation can cause issues during the printing process. Finding a way to 3D print using pellets meant that the MALTI3D team had to get creative.

EXTRUDER SCREW

The heart of the problem lies with the way the pellets themselves are processed. Curmi explains how, 'the most popular way of processing pellets is by using the so-called platicising or extrusion screw. The screw connects to the plastic pellets, squeezing and heating them to convert into a plastic melt with a honey-like viscous consistency. It is important that there are no voids or trapped air. This liquid can then be turned into any desired shape.'

The issue is the size of the extruder screw. Most industrial screws are at least 28cm in length, and the more plastic you have, the bigger and longer the screw needs to be. Compared to the size of the printer, which usually has a build volume smaller than 300mm by 300mm by 300mm,

Finding a way to 3D print using pellets meant that the MALTI3D team had to get creative.

Filament Extruder

the screw would be disproportionate.

Making the screw smaller was the first challenge Curmi faced.

'We had to “break” a few rules to make this work. Traditionally, there is a ratio to calculate the length of the screw, called the length-to-diameter ratio. If we followed this, the extrusion screw we needed would be ridiculously long for a 3D-printing machine,' Curmi explains. The screw was hence decreased in size to fit closer to a 3D printer’s form factor, but in doing so, the extrusion characteristics changed significantly. Calibrating and adjusting for these new features was one of the main challenges for the team.

PLASTICS

Having addressed the issue with the screw, the next challenge was the plastic itself. 'Not all plastics are made equal. They can vary in viscosity, and this needs to be taken into consideration. In some cases, you need to change the screw design completely, for example,' Rochman explains.

Plastics can be divided into 3 categories: commodity, engineering, and high-performance plastics. The MALTI3D team was able to print using commodity and engineering plastic pellets, achieving the same printing results as in filament 3D printing. High-performance plastics can also be successfully 3D printed, but they present their own set of challenges.

'We worked with PEEK Polymer, which is a high-performance plastic. This plastic has a good strengthto-weight ratio, making it a good replacement of metal parts whilst being easier and cheaper to mass produce. It is particularly useful in the aviation industry, where weight is a large factor, as well as certain medical implants,' explains Curmi. Eventually, the team did manage to print using PEEK; however, Curmi admits that high-performance plastics were by far the most challenging material.

Besides managing to reduce printing costs, printing directly from pellets offers another advantage: environmental sustainability. With

Pellet Extruder

filament printing, you have two heating cycles: one to convert pellets to filaments and then another from the filament to the final product. By essentially skipping a heat cycle, 3D printing from pellets reduces the energy consumption, allowing for a greener final product.

The Malta Council for Science and Technology funded the MALTI3D project through the FUSION: R&I Technology Development Programme (R&I-2018-009T) whose main goal is to fund the development of innovative, patentable, and commerciable ideas onto the market. Curmi and the whole MALTI3D team are optimistic that, in the near future, the MALTI3D printer can be commercialised and will offer users a new and cheaper 3D printing system with full freedom in material selection. This will include polymer property modification by adding additives or reinforcing fillers and blending with other materials, as well as in the creation of their own novel compounds and composites.

life

Dear Giuliano

Alessandro’s fingers itched to trace the words, to caress the parchment that had been pilfered from his family generations ago. Had his granduncle been able to read that letter, the history of his family would have been vastly different.

Maybe he wouldn’t be here, staring aimlessly at his grandfather’s name.

DEAR GIULIANO.

The calligraphy was immaculate, but Alessandro’s attention was, as always, drawn to the blotched period; the ink bled outwards, not revealing whether it had been smudged by the harried sleeve of a tunic or smeared by a tear.

If he squinted, he could see the slit in the parchment where a knife had gone through: a small mark of violence auguring the dried blood that crusted the back of the letter, testimony of the parchment’s vain attempt to save its recipient.

The letter reeked of existence and anguish, a testament to their family’s miserable suspension between injustice and ineptitude.

DEAR GIULIANO.

Justice could only be served if the Church relinquished its hold on the letter, but the possibility of its contents revealing the impiety and sacrilege bred within the walls of the Duomo de Firenze held it back. The Church would never demolish the sanctity of the Holy Office by blatantly admitting its hand in the desecration of that Easter Sunday.

It had survived for aeons against rumours, blasphemies, and known truths because no one could ever provide evidence for its transgressions. If it was going to lose its political power, the Church would lose it on its own terms.

But the letter was proof enough to eradicate those terms. Their avid guarding of it revealed that much.

DEAR GIULIANO.

‘Giuliano received a letter mere moments before the carriage set off, but he had promptly pocketed it in his breast, promising himself to read it on the morrow so that he could continue a conversation with his brother…’

His father’s voice, crackly with age and strangled by the burden of carrying the loss (and the vendetta) from generation to generation, echoed in his mind.

It was Alessandro’s job to remember now.

DEAR GIULIANO.

Realising that winning against the Pazzis and the rest of the conspirators was impossible, Lorenzo – the brother of Alessandro’s grandfather – sought shelter in the sacristy. Wood splintered as pews were thrown or overturned. A cacophony of footsteps and screams and hysteria and chaos and carnage and death slammed against the door of the sacristy, but it held, emboldened by Lorenzo’s obliviousness of his brother being slaughtered right outside.

Blood spilled down Lorenzo’s neck and into his tunic. He had been wounded.

Giuliano had been stabbed nineteen times. His body lay a few steps away from the altar, another one of Abraham’s beloved sons. God had not intervened this time. Instead, the Pope had spoken in his stead, bidding others to raise the dagger in His name.

Lorenzo learned of his brother’s demise hours later. He had not embraced his brother as he breathed his last, as the warmth left his limbs and the blood from his veins painted the hallowed floor: red and bright and virile. No, Giuliano’s last embrace was by the cold, marble floor, forever tainted with sin.

When Lorenzo found him, there were only bloody fingerprints where the letter had been.

How could the conspirators have known about it?

Why would they take it if it were not proof of their actions?

DEAR GIULIANO.

The events of that day came to be known as The Pazzi Conspiracy.

Despite the common knowledge that the Pope’s nephew and an archbishop had been among the conspirators, the Church still hid behind its silver tongue, denying that Pope Sixtus had ever sanctioned the murder of the Medici.

And he hadn’t.

He had simply expressed his wish for the Medici to be removed from their position of power and then offered his support to those able to do it.

How could he have known that their plan would involve murder?

DEAR GIULIANO.

The broken seal made Alessandro grit his teeth – audibly, on bad days. Giuliano had never opened it, so the Church had not only stolen it, but also read through a dead man’s last communication before ‘honouring Giuliano’s memory’ by putting it on display in the same sacristy that had saved Lorenzo’s life.

Encased in a glass box, the letter’s proximity taunted every Medici that stepped foot inside the room.

Unless opened with its own unique key – which was kept on the Pope’s person at all times – the box would supposedly incinerate all of its contents with the sacred flame of the Holy Spirit.

Alessandro scoffed whenever anyone repeated that superstition; if the letter truly burned, it would burn with a regular flame.

Yet, the unknown always held a grander allure than it actually had. Wasn’t that how Lorenzo De Medici had acquired his moniker? Nobody knew how he had managed to maintain the Italic League, nor comprehended his profound love for art, but the mysteries behind him – and his infallibility in the public eye – only served to cement his reputation as the Magnificent One.

DEAR GIULIANO.

On the 26th of April, 1478, Lorenzo failed to save his brother. The letter reminded them of that failure.

It whispered in their ears: accusations and grief and responsibility slithering sliding stumbling in their brain. Remember Giuliano de Medici.

DEAR GIULIANO.

The parchment was immaculately preserved, but Alessandro knew that the edges would crinkle under his fingers, stiff with secrets despite being rendered soft with age.

Maybe the letter was not proof of the Church’s guilt.

Maybe it was a letter from a lover.

Maybe it was a final goodbye from someone who had known, but could not reveal his knowledge.

Maybe it was Lorenzo’s last words to his brother.

Lorenzo had had enough political influence to force the Church to display the letter in the same place that had ensured the survival of the Medici line: a testament to the Medici’s power and a daily reminder that despite hearing and absolving countless confessions, priests were not above committing deadly sins.

Irony was the language of politicians.

But in the scenarios that Alessandro was conjuring, the letter would not contain a shred of irony.

Grief would twist the sentences until they were simply scratches of ink, drowning in misery yet devoid of emotions. Angered to the point of numbness at the world that had taken Lorenzo’s brother from him.

(‘Lorenzo would never allow such a letter to potentially fall in the enemy’s hands,’ his father would say.)

Alessandro shook his head. What was the point of dwelling on what the letter could be? The seal had been purposefully damaged; there was no way of knowing who had sent it unless the writer had signed his name inside.

The bells rang, their jubilant chorus calling the flock to gather for mass and wrenching Alessandro back to the present.

Losing himself in those fantasies was ridiculous. The letter was not a heart-warming declaration of love. He knew what it was.

DEAR GIULIANO.

On some days, Alessandro resisted the urge to simply reach in and grasp the letter, foolishly believing that he could save the paper before the flames of hell ravaged it.

On other days, he was convinced that the fire was a myth; fear was an incredibly powerful deterrent, and the Church wielded it like no other. (Regardless, he would never risk destroying the sole reminder left of his grandfather.)

Most of all, he wondered if the family would have moved on had the letter not existed. Maybe it was a curse rather than a blessing to believe that vengeance could be achieved.

DEAR GIULIANO.

To remember is to wear a mantle of misery, but nobody wants to be forgotten. So people leave marks. On the world. On each other. On walls. On canvases. Anything to force the world to acknowledge their existence, no matter how short or insignificant it was.

The letter was an acknowledgement.

An acknowledgement of life and death: of the fact that mortal sin was not an obstacle in the road to Power. Never was, never will be. The Catholic Church was a testament to that.

The letter was an unyielding, flaming sword of justice yearning for the blood of the Pazzi conspirators.

For the blood of human nature. For what is it to be human, but to demand immediate gratification in the name of Goodness, yet be willing to forge it through the tears and anguish of others?

****

A quincentenary later, the letter was opened.

It was a warning: unread, unheeded.

It was justice’s scales tipped irrevocably towards guilt, yet decrypted only by injustice’s hand.

Coding Up the Career Ladder

Coding (as in computer programming) is a rewarding, high-demand skill set that takes commitment from a person to master. With the right motivation, however, anyone can rise to the challenge of reaching a high-ranking programming position. THINK explores how someone goes from classroom coding enthusiasm to running a programmers’ team at one of Malta’s most prestigious authorities.

When Shirley Cini went to secondary school in the late 2000s, information and communications technology as a subject was already an emerging field. Teachers started encouraging students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as subjects for in-depth study. That was the time when tech started getting good PR as the online world was maturing globally; the Smart City concept in Kalkara was revealed locally in 2007 (coincidentally, the first iPhone hit the market that same year).

Tech buzz was in the air. ‘I chose computer science as one of my optional subjects at school, as I had already been a bit tech savvy. I found myself genuinely enjoying the concept of being able to build a program from scratch. The sentiment of translating

your thoughts into a working program got stuck so much that I continued pursuing the subject at university,’ Cini tells THINK. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence from the University of Malta and today leads a team of developers at the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) as a software development manager. She has come a long way since her first, experimental code, such as displaying ‘Hello World!!’ on a black screen. Enthusiasm is essential, but merely attending classes and courses on programming will not take a student far. Commitment towards this field of science is imperative, as classes teach students how to program, but excellence is hard to reach without investing due time into continuous learning. Still, a good lecturer can do loads to kick-start a student’s learning curve. ‘Lecturers can create the

spark that ignites the fire of passion for programming. This is essential to ensure that someone becomes an expert in this field,’ Cini says.

MIND THE GAP

What makes a good lecturer? Cini says that the best lecturers are those who are part-time coders and part-time educators; they have the hands-on experience that helps bridge the gap between academia and the workplace. The gap she mentions has been widely discussed in modern business. The most recent corporate sentiment concerns a significant skills shortage in the labour market, making it difficult for companies to hire well-equipped talent. The whys and hows of upskilling are hot topics in the corporate world. Closer collaboration between education and business can help. Cini advocates more synergy in the form of traineeship and internship collaboration between

academic institutions and the business landscape. ‘Student placements ensure that there is a knowledge exchange between academia and the labour market,’ she says.

Recruitment is difficult, as skilled talent is scarce. ‘When it comes to choosing a career, there are numerous considerations, from wages to job stability and other benefits. Apart from these considerations, it is important for me to work in a fastpaced environment that keeps me on my toes – offering me challenges that strengthen both my technical abilities as well as provide me with the opportunity to progress further in my career,’ she adds.

As digitalisation and artificial intelligence continue to pervade every industry and business process, the skills shortage is amplified. Upskilling and life-long learning are not catchphrases but required building blocks in a person’s mindset to help

them retain expertise in any field. When technical skill development is the focus, Cini believes that investing time in mastering coding languages is essential. ‘You have to keep on learning new languages. We attend courses to ensure that we are up to date with the latest coding languages while we focus on managing the workload as well,’ she says.

Furthermore, digitalisation creates possibilities and a lot of challenges in development. ‘The most challenging part of digitalisation is understanding the business needs. We have to bridge the gap between the technical people and the business users,’ she says. Essentially, the most critical task is to understand what practical solutions businesses need and translate that demand into the technicality of coding, all while ensuring that, when the final digital product is produced, it fulfils the requirements of its respective function. ‘It is a continuous conversation

between the developer and the business. We receive feedback, factor it into our product-in-development, and continue to the next phase,’ Cini says.

FROM CODER TO MANAGER

The MFSA, which Cini says has undergone significant modernisation and transformation since she joined, has been a welcoming environment for her. The authority supported her professional development as she joined the watchdog without having prior financial services experience or knowledge. ‘As a team, we identified several gaps in the business processes and revamped the systems in place. We also worked on improving the security posture of the MFSA’s information systems. It was a tough journey, requiring a great deal of teamwork in a purely technical environment,’ she says.

Her work paved the way for her career progression. The diligent developer dashed up the career ladder

and broke the glass ceiling; she is now a manager responsible for a team of software developers. ‘The process of becoming a leader is a rewarding journey. It involves continuous learning and self-development,’ she says.

As a student and a programmer at the beginning of her career, Cini would focus on developing her technical skills and on staying abreast of the latest technologies. At the beginning of her career, she would never have imagined that she would lead a team of developers. However, her prompt and quality work stood out, and she rose through the ranks. With time and experience, she shifted from a technical role to a managerial one. It was a natural progression; it came with the flow.

With that, her tasks have also changed. ‘Now, my role is more focused on analysis and planning. I am responsible for quantifying work effort and planning sprints to help

the team accomplish goals instead of working solely on the technical aspects of a project,’ she says. But analytical, strategic, and people skills did not overtake technical skills; instead, they were built on this firm foundation.

‘We have to understand our team members when assigning them tasks. We need to understand what they love in programming and what they are technically capable of doing,’ she says.

The recent years, both on the academic and business fronts, have seen an emerging promotion of including more girls in STEM subjects at school as early as possible, to break down the stereotype of science, technology, engineering, and maths being boys-only arenas. This is even more prevalent in the programming world, which is predominantly male. However, Cini met no discrimination during her studies or in her workplace.

And while coding is chiefly a boys’ club, many say it should not be so.

Almost a decade ago, your author attended a background discussion of experts working for the Hungarian sister company of a US-based investment management and financial services giant. C-level executives (chief executive officers and chief operating officers, for example) unanimously cried for more women programmers, as they said women’s code is cleaner, more logical, and shorter. ‘I tend to agree with that comment; women are more organised. Even in decision-making –women take a decision much before men, who tend to overthink,’ Cini says.

Cini’s merit-based progress up the career ladder comes at a time when most developers are still men, according to figures by Statista, a German think tank. Ensuring equal opportunities of outcome in any field requires a collective effort from educators, parents, and the business landscape. It is time we practise what we preach.

Ensuring equal opportunities of outcome in any field requires a collective effort from educators, parents, and the business landscape.

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