Traffic! How does one even approach the problem of limited road space? For one start-up, the answer lies in the way we use roads and the data behind it. Zippy Tseng from THINK gets in touch with Claire Cianco from Greenroads to find out more!
Continue readingA Car Country
alking or cycling are challenging in Malta’s car-dominated infrastructure. ‘Active Travel’ is a University of Malta (UM) scheme that encourages students and staff to ditch cars in favour of healthier, greener alternatives. But changing Malta’s car culture is no walk in the park. Prof. Maria Attard (Director, Institute for Climate Change & Sustainable Development, UM) and Raphael Mizzi (UM’s Green Travel Plan Coordinator) speak to Jonathan Firbank about the project.
Continue readingTranshumanism: A Dangerous Two-Way Street
What is the next evolutionary step for humanity? One possibility is the merging of man and machine. But is humanity ready for transhumanism, and how should we prepare for it? Christian Keszthelyi finds out!
Continue readingThe SIMPOL Solution?
Global problems such as climate change cannot be tackled solely at an individual level. For meaningful change to occur, nations need to coordinate their efforts. Andrew Izzo Clarke takes a look at game theory to suggest a SIMPOL solution.
Continue readingMeta things go wrong
A few of us can still remember a world without Facebook, but can we imagine a world where Facebook doesn’t exist anymore? For some, Facebook is an invaluable marketing tool; for others, it is a way to stay connected; and for some, it is the digital boogeyman.
Continue readingWhat COVID-19 has taught us about education
While sitting in my living room and staring at a computer screen split into 4 squares (each with its own head), I talked with Dr Charmaine Bonello, Dr Tania Muscat and Dr Josephine Deguara from the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education (DECPE), at the University of Malta (UM). I was curious about the changes in the education system during the pandemic. While the pandemic has allowed some of us to work from home, the education sector has faced certain challenges. I talked with the three researchers about how the pandemic has affected the education system, with a focus on five particular stakeholders in Early and Primary Education.
Continue reading“Blockchain Island”
Malta’s steps towards becoming the ‘Blockchain Island’ have seen some criticism lately. Dr Joshua Ellul is the chairperson of Malta’s Digital Innovation Authority and co-ordinates UM’s Masters Degree in Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies, both new enterprises. Jonathan Firbank is in conversation with Dr Ellul about Malta’s efforts.
Continue readingPeeling Away the Layers of Time
THINK takes a trip to explore research and archaeological work taking place at Borġ in-Nadur, overseen by Heritage Malta, which will see the Neolithic site freed from modern-day debris and accumulated material to show the original prehistoric structure in all its glory.
Continue readingAn Ancient History of Bread (part 2): Bread for an Emperor
If our mutual friend Bread could pass a global decree I believe it would include the mandatory separation between dining and politics. It would absolutely prohibit political discussions when consuming bread. Even if politics is your favorite topic, from its cheap slogans and broken promises, it’s still not a good idea to discuss with your friends while enjoying a soft loaf. It brings back painful memories of a controversial time in Bread’s life–a time when it felt used, helpless, like a puppet in the hands of manipulative elites.
Continue readingThe Psychology Behind Conspiracy Theories
When times are hard, frustrated people question why. Conspiracy theories offer attractive answers, sometimes false and sometimes true. Andrew Firbank explores the psychology behind conspiracy theories: Why are they so enticing? What are the risks? And should they be challenged?
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