university of malta Archives – Page 2 of 42

Giving Plastic Waste a Second Life Through 3D Printing

Europe’s packaging industry drives 40% of plastic demand, yet Malta’s recycling rates remain alarmingly low. While 3D printing with recycled plastic offers a sustainable, low-carbon solution, repeated recycling degrades the material’s internal structure. Dr Zunaida Binti Zakaria explores this challenge through infrared thermal imaging to unlock the secrets of plastic crystallisation and bridge the gap between waste and reliable production.

From Venice to Malta: MALETH Finds Its Home

Celebrating Maltese artists and their work, the Malta Arts Council’s RETOLD initiative brings the MALETH exhibition back from the Venice Biennale to its homeland. Featuring powerful works by Vince Briffa and Trevor Borg, this series invites local audiences to engage with themes of identity, refuge, and belonging through contemporary Maltese art.

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The EDUWEAR Project: Connecting Rehabilitation and Engineering Across Europe

In a country with more metal bands per capita than anywhere else, you’d expect to hear sick guitar solos and wicked vocals around every corner. But for a group of students in Oulu, Finland, the only sound was the buzz of 3D printers, building the next generation of wearable rehabilitation tech.

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Project HESS: Storing Tomorrow’s Energy

Hybrid Energy Storage Systems is carrying out research on the conversion of surplus renewable energy into hydrogen. This is an increasingly important means of reducing wasted energy, as Malta invests heavily into renewables. Jonathan Firbank speaks with project investigator Prof. Ing. John Licari about this project and Malta’s changing energy landscape.

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Are Solar Panels Cool Enough?

Solar photovoltaic panels are a fantastic invention; they can turn abundant solar energy into electricity. Moreover, they provide shading on building roofs, reducing the heat that penetrates from direct sunlight. Amazing. But, there is one slight hitch – as the panels heat up, they become less and less efficient. A team of researchers at UM are looking into an innovative way to cool PV panels and the roof under the waxing sun.

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In Wine, and Blockchain, We Trust

A bottle of wine goes through many steps before it reaches the glass. Starting from the grape, it is monitored, barrelled, bottled, registered, regulated, stored, moved, and sold. At each stage, people rely on trust instead of checking every detail. This can lead to issues such as counterfeit bottles, lost records, and questions from buyers about the wine’s origin. The main challenge is making wine traceable without adding cost or slowing down the process. Prof. Joshua Ellul and Prof. Gordon Pace at the University of Malta, and their team, are working on this problem.

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Why We Love Horror

You’re alone in a dark room, your laptop casting flickering shadows as a horror film builds to a crescendo. The music tightens. A breath catches. Something is coming. And you? You can’t look away. In fact, no matter how absolutely terrified you are, you’re loving every second of this. How does that make sense?

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What’s Next for MedTech?

Drawing over 2,000 industry leaders, startups, and investors from more than 50 countries, the MedTech Malta Conference is returning from November 12–14. Held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, the conference features two main stages for discussions and a vibrant exhibition floor for networking, sharing ideas, and showcasing innovations in medical technology. Attendees can also expect highlights such as the MedTech World Startup Pitch and the prestigious MedTech World Awards. Not one to be missed for those in the healthcare technology ecosystem.

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The Heart of the Classroom: Learning as the Ultimate Act of Care

THINK meets with National Book Prize winner, Prof. Mary Darmanin, to discuss Maltese children’s profound understanding of teacher relationships and educational justice.

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AI that Moves with You: UN1Q Fitness and the Science of Smarter Exercise

Can artificial intelligence become your next personal trainer? One Maltese start-up is redefining fitness by merging AI, computer vision, and physiotherapy to create a virtual coach that understands your body’s every move – guiding you toward safer, smarter, and truly personalised exercise.

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