CONTENTS
ISSUE
18
Research for Education
SPRING
5 2013
COVER STORY
With an Eye on the Sea
Malta's beautiful seas explored
B
ringing them out like hot cakes: fresh, sweet smelling, and with great fillings. We hope an analogy for this issue of Think. Within these pages we have found even more great stories from University. Last summer Dr Gambin introduced me to The Roman Villa of Żejtun. Two site visits and six interviews later I found out about Bronze Age silos, ancient goddesses worshipped in Malta, and many more treasures. A couple months ago, I heard about another great story: how food can be cleaned with sound. It seemed incredible to me, blast sound waves and out comes disinfected food. I’m sensationalising, but the technology being used is stunning. Other researchers are talking about monitoring Malta’s beautiful seas to preserve them for our future, or how Malta’s huge traffic issues could be solved. This issue even has opportunities for writers and career tips. What about the editorial’s title: how can research improve education? More pilot studies are an easy answer. Every new introduction to our educational system, from science reform to tablets, should be rigorously studied to see if they work and to be adapted correctly. The results then feed into policy. Better-funded labs will also give better student projects. Summer placements could be introduced before undergraduates undertake final year projects. Some labs already do this; University already performs wonders on its budget. Top Universities also have the world’s best researchers who can draw from personal experience in their lectures. This experience comes from years spent trying to solve research problems. By investing more in research the quality of University education will rise. Our students will receive better degrees.
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EDITOR
edward.duca@um.edu.mt @DwardD
The Roman Villa of Żejtun Ancient olive oil, Punic pottery, and Bronze Age silos
42
COVER STORY
Music for Clean Food Using oregano, plasma, and sound to disinfect food
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Edward Duca
COVER STORY
ALUMNI
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