Scientists and chemists from 18 countries gathered in Malta for the 3rd Scientific Meeting on Supramolecular Chemistry in Water between the 9 − 11th of November 2013 at the Old University Building on St Paul Street in Vallettapeer-reviewe

Magri, David C.

English

Academic staff from 18 different departments and institutes gathered for a forum to present and discuss their research interests. The research disciplines spanned science, art, entrepreneurship, social studies and engineering. The symposium was held on January 30th, 2014 in the Conference Room at University House, Msida campus, University of Malta from 3:00 to 5:30 pm. The meeting consisted of two sessions of 11 speakers each presenting a brief 4 minute overview of their research and professional interests with an intermission for socialising and networking between colleagues. A kaleidoscope of topics were presented including the design of intelligent transport systems, lanthanide crystal engineering, youth and social wellbeing studies, surface coatings for mechanical gears and historic artifacts, dance studies, genetically modified fruit flies for studying neuromuscular disease, creativity and entrepreneurship, fluorescent intelligent molecules, input-output economic analysis, antioxidants, auxetic materials, gender studies, blood disorders and food safety. The symposium promoted multi disciplinary collaborations while developing new friendships. Participants were invited based on contributions to research, society and gender balance. The symposium was financially supported by the Malta Chamber of Scientists.peer-reviewe

OAR@UM

Xjenza Online - Journal of Malta Chamber of Scientistswww.xjenza.orgDoi: http://dx.medra.org/10.7423/XJENZA.2013.2.03News Article1st Lecturer’s Mini-SymposiumDavid C. Magri11Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malta1 IntroductionAcademic staff from 18 different departments andinstitutes gathered for a forum to present and discusstheir research interests. The research disciplinesspanned science, art, entrepreneurship, social studiesand engineering. The symposium was held on January30th, 2014 in the Conference Room at UniversityHouse, Msida campus, University of Malta from 3:00to 5:30 pm. The meeting consisted of two sessions of11 speakers each presenting a brief 4 minute overviewof their research and professional interests with anintermission for socialising and networking betweencolleagues. A kaleidoscope of topics were presentedincluding the design of intelligent transport systems,lanthanide crystal engineering, youth and social well-being studies, surface coatings for mechanical gears andhistoric artifacts, dance studies, genetically modifiedfruit flies for studying neuromuscular disease, creativityand entrepreneurship, fluorescent intelligent molecules,input-output economic analysis, antioxidants, auxeticmaterials, gender studies, blood disorders and foodsafety. The symposium promoted multi-disciplinarycollaborations while developing new friendships. Partic-ipants were invited based on contributions to research,society and gender balance. The symposium was finan-cially supported by the Malta Chamber of Scientists.List of Participants and Order of PresentationsL1: David Magri - Department of ChemistryL2: Giuseppe Di Giovanni - Editor-in-Chief ofXjenza/Department of Physiology & BiochemistryL3: Joanne Cassar - Department of Youth & Com-munity StudiesCorrespondence to: D. Magri (david.magri@um.edu.mt)c© 2014 Xjenza OnlineFigure 1: The poster is compiled from figures from the variouspresentations given at the Lecturer’s Mini-Symposium on January30th, 2014 in the Conference Room at University House, Msidacampus, University of Malta.L4: Ruben Cauchi - Department of Physiology &BiochemistryL5: Daniel Vella - Department of Metallurgy &Materials EngineeringL6: Joanne Butterworth - Department of DanceStudies, School of Performing ArtsL7: Vasilis Valdramidis - Department of FoodStudies & Environmental HealthL8: Maria Attard - Department of Geogra-phy/Institute of Climate Change & SustainableL9: Joseph Borg - Department of Applied BiomedicalScienceL10: Bridget Ellul - Department of PathologyL11: Edward Duca - Editor of ThinkNetworking BreakL12: Alex Felice - President of the Malta Chamber ofScientists/Department of Physiology & BiochemistryL13: JosAnn Cutajar - Department of GenderStudies/Cottonera Research CentreL14: Ulrich Baisch - Department of Chemistry1st Lecturer’s Mini-Symposium 104L15: Leonie Baldacchino - Edward de Bono Institutefor the Design and Development of ThinkingL16: Neville Vassallo - Department of Physiology &BiochemistryL17: Ann Zammit - Department of Metallurgy &Materials EngineeringL18: Ian Cassar - Department of EconomicsL19: Daphne Attard - Metamaterials UnitL20: Kenneth Scerri - Department of Systems &Control EngineeringL21: Claire Shoemake - Department of PharmacyL22: Richard Muscat - Pro-Rector of Research &Innovation/ Department of Physiology & Biochemistryhttp://dx.medra.org/10.7423/XJENZA.2013.2.03 www.xjenza.org

1st lecturer's mini-symposium

On Thursday September 26 at 4 pm the inauguration of Science in the House opened at the Grand Master’s Palace, Valletta. A poster exhibition entitled “Science in the House” was inaugurated under the auspices of the Office of the Speaker at the House of Representatives in the Grand Master’s Palace, Valletta. The exhibit was organised by Dr. David Magri (University of Malta) on behalf of the consortium “Researchers’ Night – Science in the City” The researchers were greeted by the Deputy Speaker the Hon. Censu Galea in the presence of Project Coordinator for Science in the City and Chair of the Malta Chamber of Scientists Prof. Alex Felice, University of Malta Pro-Rector for Research & Innovation Prof. Richard Muscat, Chief Executive of the Research Trust
(RIDT) Wilfred Kenely, and Members of Parliament.  Following the opening speeches, the Deputy Speaker was taken for a tour of the posters. A set of 12 posters were consistent with the theme “Today’s Science, Tomorrow’s Jobs” and the slogan of the Research Trust “Brighter thinking, broader future”. Each poster showcase a particular research study, the team involved in the research, and the societal contribution the research may make our lives. The exhibition aims to provide a unique opportunity for Members of Parliament and the public to meet scientists and learn how the research is contributing to a better quality of life. The “Science in the House” exhibition will be open for public viewing tomorrow (today) during Science in the City from 6.00pm to 9.00pm and on the 5th October during Notte Bianca. During the week of the 30th
September, the exhibition will be open for viewing by the parliamentarians. Science in the House is a forum for networking and cause for celebration involving Maltese research scientists, Representatives of the House and Members of Parliament. It is also a poster exhibition highlighting some of the exciting scientific research currently conducted in Malta, particularly at the University of Malta. The event encourages and supports the achievements of Malta’s early-stage research scientists, engineers and technologists - arguably the “creative engines” of future innovation and development in Malta. During the following week the exhibition is open for viewing by the parliamentarians and afterwards left on display in the Grand Master’s Palace over the Notte Bianca festival, thus allowing the general public including students, parents and tourists to be more aware of local research endeavors. The event was sponsored by the Malta Chamber of Scientists, the Research, Innovation & Development Trust (RIDT) and the University of Malta.peer-reviewe

Science in the house 2013

Xjenza Online - Journal of Malta Chamber of Scientistswww.xjenza.orgDoi: http://dx.medra.org/10.7423/XJENZA.2013.2.03News ArticleCOST Action Chemistry Conference on Supramolecular Chemistry inWaterDavid C. Magri11Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malta1 IntroductionScientists and chemists from 18 countries gathered inMalta for the 3rd Scientific Meeting on SupramolecularChemistry in Water between the 9 − 11th of Novem-ber 2013 at the Old University Building on St PaulStreet in Valletta. The conference commenced Satur-day morning with a presentation by Prof. Kay Sev-erin of the E´cole Polytechnique Fe´de´rale de Lausanne,Switzerland on the principles of constructing chemosen-sors for detecting small chemical species such as lithiumions and caffeine. The Sunday morning plenary lecturewas given by Prof. David K. Smith of the University ofYork, UK on nano-sized self-assembled arrays for bind-ing DNA and heparin, a common blood thinner. Thefinal plenary lecture on Monday morning was presentedby Felix Mu¨ller of Evonik Industries on the practical ap-plications and commercial successes of using detergentsfor removing bad odours in laundry and in the air. Dur-ing the conference over 25 oral communications and 28posters were presented including five research projectsfrom University of Malta students. The local organiz-ing commitee consisted of the host academic Dr. DavidMagri, a senior lecturer in the Department of Chem-istry, and the staff of the Conference Support Unit atthe University of Malta under the coordination of Luci-enne Bugeja. The scientific program was organised by aconsortium of researchers within COST Action CM1005.There were over 90 participants in attendance.Correspondence to: D. Magri (david.magri@um.edu.mt)c© 2014 Xjenza OnlineFigure 1: Researchers during a coffee break in the hallway of theOld University Building on St. Paul Street in Valletta at the 3rdScientific Meeting on Supramolecular Chemistry in Water betweenthe 9− 11th of November 2013.

(david.magri@um.edu.mt) c© 2014 Xjenza Online Figure 1: Researchers during a coffee break in the hallway of the Old University Building