The European Robotics Week is an innovative event coordinated by the European robotics community and supported by the European Robotics Coordination Action (euRobotics). The event, funded by the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme on Information and Communication Technology will be held between the 28 of November and the 4 of December
The European Robotics Week is an innovative event coordinated by the European robotics community and supported by the European Robotics Coordination Action (euRobotics). The event, funded by the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme on Information and Communication Technology will be held between the 28th of November and the 4th of December.
This event will take place simultaneously over 16 European countries, including Malta. The aim is to encourage and engage robotics technology stakeholders, such as manufacturers, universities and research institutes, to organise outreach activities targeting students and the general public concerning the theme of robotics. The objective is to highlight the importance of robotics as an emerging technology in modern application areas, and the use of robotics platforms as a vehicle to promote students to take-up careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Malta has teamed up with two commercial entities in order to organise a series of activities for this event. In addition to offering course modules on robotics and related technologies to engineering students, the Faculty of Engineering has been leading research activities and engineering projects on robotics for several years. University students also contribute directly by promoting robotics technology under the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Student Branch.
For the past three years, the student branch has been organising a Robot Wars Contest where teams of students design and construct mobile robots which then battle each other out in a series of combat matches. From the commercial side, the local entities participating in this event are extensively involved in the sales and distribution of robotic equipment for the educational sector, and in the provision of private education on robotics and IT.
The key objective for the European Robotics Week is to raise awareness amongst the general public and society’s younger generations while encouraging them to pursue careers in STEM. Local activities will include organised tours of robotic laboratories in the Faculty of Engineering for secondary school children, exhibits on robotic courses and educational equipment from commercial organisations and one-to-one meetings with University students who participated in this year’s Robot Wars competition. Public talks by leading university academics working in this area will also be held.
Programme of activities
European Robotics Week 2011
Monday 28 November, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malta:
09:00 – 12:00: Laboratory tours for school children. Schools need to book in advance for this activity.
09:00 – 12:00: Robotics-related commercial stands on show.
11:00 – 12:00: Robot Wars 2011 participant displays.
Tuesday 29 November, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malta:
09:00 – 12:00: Laboratory tours for school children. Schools need to book in advance for this activity.
09:00 – 12:00: Robotics-related commercial stands on show.
11:00 – 12:00: Robot Wars 2011 participant displays.
Wednesday 30 November, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malta:
15:00 – 16:00: Robot Wars 2011 participant displays.
15:00 – 16:00: Robotics-related commercial stands on show.
16:00 – 17:00: Public talks on robotics and related activities at the University of Malta. (Room EB7, Engineering Building)
Thursday 1 December, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malta:
09:00 – 12:00: Interactive workshop for school children in the Control Systems Lab and tour of the Robotics and Industrial Automation Laboratory. Schools need to book in advance for this activity.
09:00 – 12:00: Robotics-related commercial stands on show.
European Robotics Week: http://www.eurobotics-project.eu/cms/index.php?idcat=71
Further information about the local events may be obtained by contacting [email protected]
Prof. Simon G. Fabri, Head, Department of Systems & Control Engineering, Faculty of Engineering - University of Malta.
Local cyber awareness campaign
Last week the ICT GM Project launched a cyber awareness campaign and resource suitable for the Maltese islands. Rather than reinventing the wheel, the ICT Gozo Malta Project’s free online portal will group together the links for the best free cyber awareness information from around the world – all in one central place.
US President Barack Obama has personally driven the US Government’s campaign, and October each year is USA Cyber Security Awareness Month by Presidential Decree.
The new online resource provided by ICT GM will be of benefit to everyone who uses a computer and the Internet, from the latest new user through to the experienced users. The resource will act as a clearinghouse where everyone will quickly find the level of information that is relevant to them. Users can see what is offered locally in Malta and explore what is offered abroad in Europe and in countries such as the USA, UK, Australia, Canada and more.
Mr. Joe Grech, President of the Gozo Business Chamber said that, “this new initiative by ICT Gozo Malta is important to every household in Malta. The links will allow access to very easy to follow information for families, including parents, grandparents and students of all ages, as well as much more detailed information for educators, companies and organisations.”
Mr. Rodney Naudi, Department Manager at the Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA) believes that today’s world and social tools give us a presence in the cyber community and our friends’ network knows no physical barriers. “An event that takes place in any location in the world is instantaneously relayed across all interested parties. We live in a connected world – a click away from a vast world of information and opportunities,” adds Mr. Naudi. All this has its own trade-off. Our well being is not only determined by the community that we live in but now we also need to be vigilant of unscrupulous individuals and organisations that roam this cyber space. “I see this initiative as another concrete step that the local industry is doing in conjunction with the Maltese Government to increase awareness,” adds Mr. Naudi. He believes in the Maltese saying ‘bniedem avżat nofsu armat’ (someone who’s alerted is half prepared).
To emphasise the international aspects of cyber awareness, the ICT Gozo Malta website will each week feature selected awareness campaigns and themes from around the world. The first featured campaigns will be Malta’s own “Be Smart Online” campaign http://besmartonline.org.mt and the UK Government’s “Get Safe Online Week 7 - 11 November 2011. http://www.getsafeonline.org. Both of these campaigns provide simple and straightforward information for everyone, even for new Internet users.
Future featured campaigns and themes will include free curriculum and resources developed overseas for primary and secondary school students and teachers, and much more. As we wish to continually improve this online resource for the Maltese population, we invite anyone with additional relevant information or suitable links to email us at [email protected]
The cyber awareness page was developed by the project co-founder, Synaptic Laboratories Limited, who also offers ongoing voluntary support and contributions to the ICT Gozo Malta project in general. GBC President, Mr. Joe Grech said “We encourage all readers to make use of the free resource being made available to them. It will only take some little time for everyone to become more cyber aware, but it could possibly save you, your family and your business lots of money and heartache. Cyber awareness is essential for us all and it is good for the entire Nation.”
For further details about the project please contact Mr. David Pace on
+356 79630221 or email [email protected]. Website: www.ictgozomalta.eu
ICT Gozo Malta, co-founded by The Gozo Business Chamber and Synaptic Labs Limited, is part financed by the Government of Malta - Ministry for Gozo through Eco-Gozo – A Better Gozo Action plan 2010-2012. Further details can be found at www.eco-gozo.com.
David Pace, ICT Gozo Malta Project Manager
The Malta Independent ICT Feature
Budget day is fast approaching and in today’s ICT Feature we explore how the Ministry of Finance, the Economy and Investment (MFEI) are riding on the opportunities and networking possibilities which social media can offer. Through social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, citizens can participate in the consultation process by putting forward their suggestions, ideas and recommendations online.
This week we are thrilled to have an exclusive feature on Malta’s participation in this year’s European Robotics Week. This is the first time that Malta, through the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Malta, will be joining other European countries in raising awareness about robotics during the euRobotics Week held during the last week of November.
We will also look at the newly launched cyber awareness campaign by the ICT Gozo Malta Project.
Roderick Spiteri is Marketing and Communications Manager at MITA and editor of Malta Independent ICT feature
Malta budget on social media
The budgetary process has assumed a completely new dimension over the past years
A process which until the start of the decade was shrouded in mystery and anticipation has gradually opened up into a transparent process where civil society and the general public contribute directly to the drawing of the budget. This democratic exercise reflects budget’s role not only as a financial exercise but rather as an economic policy tool which gives direction to the country’s resources and priorities.
This consultation takes various forms but involves mostly consultation sessions with the general public, with businesses, civil society and other stakeholders, besides regular meetings with the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.
This year, Government is going one step further. By creating a Facebook page, titled Malta Budget, as well as a Twitter profile (@maltabudget) social media users are just a click away from putting forward their recommendations, suggestions or queries.
Moreover, they will be able to follow events as they unfold during the hours preceding the Budget as well as following the commencement of the speech in Parliament. Internet users will be able to put forward their reactions and request clarifications on the initiatives announced in Budget 2012 and will be able to get feedback in a relatively short time span.
Another innovation is the launch of apps for iPhone, iPad and Android users, bringing the latest news on your mobile phone.
Therefore our invitation is to Like the Malta Budget Page on Facebook, to Follow us on Twitter and to download the Malta Budget apps to keep yourself updated on Budget 2012.
Keith Zahra is Communications Coordinator at the Ministry of Finance, the Economy and Investment