Dr Joseph Caruana, from the Department of Physics and Institute of Space Sciences & Astronomy (ISSA) of the University of Malta participated in this year's prestigious Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting. Each year, a select group of the best young scientists are selected in a global competition. These scientists go on to engage in discussions with Nobel Prize winners over a whole week of intense scientific exchange.
"It was a truly unforgettable experience. Apart from a number of remarkable talks by the Nobel Laureates themselves, a large amount of time is devoted to focused discussions between the participants and Nobel laureates, which really allows for the exchange of ideas", Caruana commented.
The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings were established in 1951 and are held in the small Bavarian town of Lindau, Germany. This year's meeting was devoted to physics.
"There was an infectious atmosphere of genuine curiosity about nature; one was constantly surrounded by people who are hugely motivated to ponder some of the toughest problems in physics today. Some of the conversations we had were truly fascinating."
Dr Caruana, a resident academic at the University of Malta, researches the early universe, particularly focusing on some of the first galaxies that formed in the cosmos, and in particular the effect that these objects had on the universe at large.
"It was fantastic both to have the opportunity to discuss my research with other top-calibre scientists, and also to serve as ambassador for the Department of Physics and ISSA. I was proud to be representing Malta, which in recent years has seen a sustained growth in its research efforts. Aspiring physics students have wonderful opportunities available to them when they choose to follow a course in physics, with excellent prospects for advancing their studies through Master and PhD programmes with the Physics department and ISSA".
The Department of Physics and ISSA regularly hold outreach events for the public, such as talks and night-sky observing sessions, with the aim of spreading interest in the sciences and communicating the research being done at university. More information can be found on the Department of Physics and ISSA webpages: http://www.um.edu.mt/science/physics
and http://www.um.edu.mt/issa