16/12/2015 – Page 3 of 3 – THINK Magazine

National Excellence

My 100 word idea to change Malta by Prof. Frank Camilleri

To see the details, to hear the sounds, to taste the flavours, to smell the scents, to feel the textures of the urban and rural environments, ecologies, and cultures that constitute the material assemblage called Malta. To be aware of the histories, to be respectful of the diversities, to be participant in the trajectories that have shaped, are shaping, and will shape the movement called Malta. In concrete terms, to improve Malta through the appreciation of who and where we are, which can only be achieved through the aspiration for excellence in every aspect of society. In other words, education.

2015 education Frank Camilleri malta national excellence think Think Magazine

Do plants feel pain?

Pain is defined by humans as a highly unpleasant physical sensation caused by illness or injury—something that humans usually try to avoid.Continue reading

2015 Alexander Hili pain plant plants feel pain think Think Magazine toxins

Don’t Think — December 2015 Edition

By Dr Ġorġ Mallia

2015 comic gorg mallia think Think Magazine

Engineering modern life

From improving life quality to solar panels that decrease temperature, researchers at the Department of Environmental Design in the Faculty for the Built Environment (University of Malta) have come up with some ingenious ideas to strengthen modern building design. Natasha Padfield learns more.

Continue reading

airflow alternative energy built environment special focus Computational Fluid Dynamics Daniel Micallef Department of Environmental Design energy efficiency Environment faculty for the built environment green technology malta mathematical modelling natasha padfield offshore technology renewable energy solar energy solar panel university of malta UoM wind engineering wind turbine

Of Science & Literature

Prof. Rena Balzan (Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery, University of Malta) stands out as one of the first women in Malta to carve out a scientific research career. She is also the author of numerous poems and novels in Maltese. Research colleague Dr Gianluca Farrugia delves into her backstory underlying her lifelong pursuit of both Maltese literature and science, which includes research on the anti-cancer properties of aspirin using Baker’s Yeast. Illustrations by NO MAD.

Continue reading

anti-cancer apoptosis Applied genetics aspirin baker's yeast biochemistry biology biotechnology camilleri podesta cancer Cransfield University e. coli escherichia coli Faculty of Medicine & Surgery Gianluca Farrugia James Watson malta maltese literature milan mitochondria molecular Neville Vassallo non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug NSAID oxidative stress poetry programmed cell death rena balzan S. cerevisiae saccharyomyces cerevisiae state university of milan tumour university of malta UoM William Bannister yeast

Make games, make yourself

Want to lose weight? Then design a game. Preliminary data by Dr Stefano Gualeni edges towards game design as a self-transformative experience that could change political views or even our capability to excel at that dreaded organic chemistry. Words by Ashley Davis.

Continue reading

architect artificial enviroment ashley davies attention bias evaluative conditioning Fast Food game game design game designer go/no go Gua-Le-Ni healthy food implicit-attitude test institute of digital games malta Michel Foucault philosophy Rebecca Portelli Stefano Gualeni The Horrendous Parade Tony Tough and the Night of Roasted Moths unhealthy food university of malta UoM video game virtual world Virtual Worlds as Philosophical Tools Yasmin Cachia

Spaces & places

Cities are constructed from spaces pulsing with energy. They rely heavily on culture and innovation, which act as their lifeblood. Cities are in constant flux as they would stagnate without change. The role of the city is to drive the whole country forward. When it comes to city growth, culture is pivotal, be it in the form of art or phenomena that impact culture, such as the economy, or widespread immigration. Word by Victoria Galea.

Continue reading

community Copenhagen cultural change cultural mapping Gdansk immigration malta migration Old Abattoir Oleg Koefoed sustainability UNESCO valletta Valletta 2018 Foundation Valletta Design Cluster Victoria Galea

The futsal challenge for ALS

This time last year, the Ice Bucket Challenge made ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) one of the hottest topics across the world. Who had not watched videos of people dumping buckets of ice-cold water over their heads to raise funds for ALS? ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that causes the death of the body’s motor neurons, and which in turn causes mobility problems that can lead to death in the space of just three to four years. Words by Sarah Spiteri.

Continue reading

ALS ALS Malta Foundation amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Bjorn Formosa Faculty of medicine and surgery futsal Futsal Malta Association National League Gayle Lynn Callus ice bucket challenge KSU kunsill studenti universitarji malta university sports club Mdina Knights Football Club motor neurone disease MUSC neurodegenerative disease neuron ruben cauchi sarah spiteri think Think Magazine university knights university of malta University’s research trust UoM