How does the deadly Staphylococcus aureus bacterium (MRSA) become resistant to antibiotics? What is the distribution of the protected Noble Pen Shell in Maltese Waters? How does mitochondrial DNA vary in the Maltese population? What is the importance of Comino for Mediterranean bird migration? How rich is the biodiversity of local freshwater pools? What is the value of using invertebrates for composting? How is climate change affecting biodiversity in the Mediterranean? What is the outcome of using molecular genetics to identify shark and ray species? These are some of the questions, which this year’s graduates of the University of Malta’s Department of Biology have attempted to answer, and which will be highlighted during this year’s Biology Symposium, that will be held on Saturday, 7 December in the John Borg Science Lecture Theatre at the University of Malta.

This event, organised annually by the Department of Biology, serves to showcase the findings from research projects undertaken by undergraduate (BSc) and postgraduate (MSc and PhD) students, which this year comprise 18 BSc and seven MSc dissertations.

Oral presentations that will be made during this year’s symposium cover themes related to faunistics and floristics of the Maltese Islands, marine and terrestrial ecology, use of plants extracts, applied biotechnology, aquaculture, conservation biology, genetics, and ecological assessment and monitoring. The Symposium Abstracts booklet includes a total of 25 abstracts. The symposium is of interest to sixth form and university students taking up biology, governmental and non-governmental organisations dealing with aspects of the environment and professionals working in environmental consultancy, planning and management.

Further information on the event can be obtained by contacting Michaela Stivala at the Department of Biology on 2340 2272; e-mail: [email protected]