Following an established tradition since 1995, the Dean of Science Awards 2016-2017 for outstanding students of the University of Malta's Faculty of Science, was held on 4 May.
The awarded students' relatives and the event sponsors were invited to the ceremony which took place at the ICT Auditorium, Msida Campus. The ceremony started with a welcome address by the dean, Professor Charles V. Sammut, followed by a speech by Rector Prof. Alfred Vella and Parliamentary Secretary for Youth, Sports and Voluntary Organisations, Dr Clifton Grima. This was followed by an acoustical set by the band Carlo Muscat and Diccon Cooper.
Prof. Sammut spoke about the notion of research that is predominantly funded to reach commercialisation in a short time, which is not conducive to innovation in the long-term. Despite the challenges faced, there are a number of ongoing projects within the Faculty of Science, mostly in collaboration with other international projects, such as the €10m project Hybrid Optomechanical Technologies, the first Maltese-led Cost action MyWAVE, while the Geosciences Department have three funded projects under Horizon 2020. Academics of the Faculty are currently involved in over 40 mostly international projects worth in total over €45m, of which the University's share is about €5m.
Prof. Vella congratulated the students and addressed the need for Malta to attract even more students towards Stem subjects. Parliamentary secretary Grima praised the significant research and various outreach activities in collaboration with the Directorate of Curriculum to continuously attract students to science and stated that the university does not only prepare students for the present needs of society but equips them with knowledge and skills for future activities.
Wayne Grech, the recipient of the Technoline special prize for science, thanked his family, friends and staff for the constant support that made his dreams a reality, and was grateful to the quality and quantity of excellent research being conducted at the Faculty. Furthermore, he encouraged students not to let failure stop them but to keep on persevering in furthering their education, as this in itself was character-building.
This year's award winners for the Dean's List were:
Year I
Farrugia Jonathan (Mathematics & Physics)
Mifsud Xandru (Mathematics & Physics)
Zammit Dylan (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
Year II
Abela Nicky (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
Cassar Daniela (Banking and Finance & Mathematics)
Healey Curt (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
Year III
Cassar Alberto (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
Mallia Lyndon (Banking and Finance & Mathematics)
Xerri Julia (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
Year IV
Barbara Abigail (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
Borg Andrè (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
Spiteri Luke (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
The special prize for science, sponsored by Technoline, was awarded in recognition of outstanding performance throughout the B.S.c (Hons) Programme 2013-7 to Wayne Grech (Mathematics and Physics)
The award for the Best Environment final year project, sponsored by ERA, was presented to Claire Grima (Biology) and Mikael Scerri Forte (Biology)
The award for the best final year project in the Numerate Sciences, sponsored by MCA was presented to Andrè Borg (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research).
The award of the Aurobindo Prize for Analytical Chemistry was given to Abigail Aquilina (Biology and Chemistry)
The award of the Medichem prize for organic chemistry was presented to Samuel Muscat (Chemistry).
Certificates of Merit for high standards reached in the final year dissertation were also awarded to Agius Godfrey, Aquilina Abigail, Borg Andrè, Camilleri Marie, Catania Romario, Curmi Jeremy, Fiteni Karl, Hili Maria, Micallef Dale, Muscat Samuel, Spiteri Lorella, Spiteri Luke, Vella Julia and Vella Matthew.