Everything within our physical existence is composed of matter – a complex arrangement of particles defined by mass and volume. Yet it is only through research that these building blocks can be understood and perhaps moulded. In the hands of a researcher, matter is decoded. It becomes a medium that can be meaningfully shaped in response to our societal needs.

At its core, research is a systematic process of inquiry. The value of research lies in its ability to replace guesswork with evidence, allowing communities to solve problems, innovate, and make informed decisions based on reliable data rather than intuition or tradition. It is through the rigours of research that a raw material can become part of a solution or cure.

In the sciences, researchers explore the transmutation of materials and the transformation of bodies, and in the humanities and social sciences, they study the ontological concept of becoming and the development of language, laws, and education systems. In Issue 49, THINK asks its own questions: What matters? What is changing? 

When THINK was first published under the title Research Matters in 2011, the magazine set out to bridge the knowledge gap between the University of Malta and the general public. Fulfilling the need for accessible research became our cornerstone, and we’ve been doing so ever since. And so, returning to our questions: What matters? What is changing? – We firmly believe that research matters, and everything is changing.

‘This issue is just an initial snapshot – there is more going on at our Alma Mater – much more than meets the eye. We promise to tell you all about it!’

– Prof. Juanito Camilleri
(Rector Emeritus of the University of Malta)