Tech Archives – Page 9 of 27

Very Intimate Imaging

Author: Dr Claude J. Bajada

Mater Dei Hospital is a stone’s throw away from the University of Malta. In a new and exciting collaboration between the two institutions, the university invested in a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner for brain research, tumour detection, and many other crucial studies.

Speaking the language of machines

How does artificial intelligence figure out human language to create its own learning curve? Christian Keszthelyi talks to one of Malta’s leading AI researchers, Dr Claudia Borg.

artificial intelligence Dr Claudia Borg inspiration machine learning maltese language March 2020 Think 31 women in STEM

Moving energetically ahead

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

air-conditioner Daiva Repeckaite december 2019 engineering Francarl Galea Joseph Micallef LED Library National Energy and Climate Plan photovoltaic renewable energy solar energy solar panels sustainability think 30

Lasers bonding layers

fused filament fabrication, laser, Laser Engineering and Development Ltd., 3D printing, Iren Bencze, Gabor Molnar, Arif Rochman

3D printing Arif Rochman december 2019 Gabor Molnar innovation LASeeeR laser Laser Engineering and Development think 30

Living in Maltese

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

bilingualism december 2019 european commission Klabb Kotba Maltin literature maltese language maltese literature Mark Vella teachers Teodor Reljić think 30 translation writer

Allow yourself to get lost

Author: Maria Elena Galea

In the fast-paced world of today, the word ‘slow’ often conjures negative feelings. When on holiday, many people rush attractions, taking snapshots to create proof of their visit for social media. In Malta, popular tourist apps guide visitors to overcrowded beaches, while there are a lot of small villages that tourists never discover. As a passionate traveller, I chose to integrate the concept of slow living into my dissertation and explore how user interface design can help people appreciate the place they are visiting.

datsuzoku december 2019 graduate Maria Elena Galea mobile app slow travel think 30 tourism zen

Where Archaeology, Physics, and Artificial Intelligence Meet

Author: Dr Marc Tanti

Ancient Egypt is famous for the mummies of Pharaohs, but did you know that there are many mummified animals? Studying them offers scientists a wealth of knowledge on the method and motivation behind this practice. But mummies are fragile artefacts, and museum curators don’t generally appreciate archaeologists dissecting their specimens. To get around this, X-rays help researchers peek inside the mummies without damaging them.

After finishing my Ph.D. in artificial intelligence, I started working as a research support officer at the University of Malta on a collaborative project with archaeologists at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), a research institute in France. These archaeologists are studying animal mummies from museum collections, such as the Museum of Grenoble, in order to learn about their structure. This institute is better known for its particle accelerator, which sets electrons flying at nearly the speed of light to understand the shape of drugs and other molecules. So, what’s the link with mummies?

ancient animals artificial intelligence december 2019 Egypt Egyptians Marc Tanti microtomography mummies think 30 without borders x-ray

Steam, Ships, and Emissions

Author: Chris Styles

On one of the highest spots in Gozo there proudly stands a lighthouse. Built in 1840, it continues to warn nearby ships away from the shallows. After a long night shift, the lighthouse has another crucial role to play. A team of researchers from the University of Malta, led by Prof. Raymond Ellul, has converted this historic piece of Malta’s heritage into a remote laboratory.