THINK - Issue 26

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EDITORIAL

TECHNOLOGY

O

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ur team at THINK has dedicated the last issue of 2018 to technology, the seemingly unstoppable force that has permeated the world around us, for good or bad.

As communicator Jason Silva said: ‘Technology is, of course, a double edged sword. Fire can cook our food but also burn us.’

Technology can be dangerous, but it can also protect us. Swiss artist, filmmaker, and researcher Dr Adnan Hadzi analyses artificial intelligence

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and privacy invasion through art (p.16), while food technologist Dr Sholeem Griffin describes how, together with her colleagues, she is developing algorithms that will allow ready-made food-testing to be heaps faster (p.28). Moving on to seemingly miraculous feats, geneticist Dr Rosienne Farrugia shares some new advancements in gene

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analysis that will potentially help develop treatment and dramatically improve patients’ lives (p.24). Dr Ing Marc Anthony Azzopardi also discusses how tech and innovation may be just what Malta needs to

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bring the manufacturing industry into the 21st century (p.22).

Technology can benefit society through companies. Ideas need to be turned into sustainable businesses. Andras Havasi shares his thoughts on the academic entrepreneur who could spearhead the effort (p.52). Meanwhile, Prof. Russell Smith tackles companies already set, from established plumber services to tech startups, with a new model that assesses their business health. His work could revolutionise how entrepreneurship is taught, saving many from failure (p.46).

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Beyond all this, the issue also discusses the arts (p.44), female empowerment (p.12), climate change (p.13), and the fishing industry

CONTRIBUTE

(p.60)—all to make you THINK about that fire that sustains us.

Edward Duca EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

edward.duca@um.edu.mt @DwardD

Cassi Camilleri

EDITOR

cassian.camilleri@um.edu.mt @CassiCamilleri

Are you a student, staff, or researcher at the University of Malta? Would you like to contribute to THINK magazine? If interested, please get in touch to discuss your article on think@um.edu.mt or call +356 2340 3451

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COVER STORY

CONTENTS ISSUE 26 � DECEMBER 2018 TOOLKIT

Up, up and away

4

WITHOUT BORDERS

Bursting the RRI bubble

6

DESIGN

TECHNOLOGY

Come Here!

Abstract and polychromatic, Gabriel Izzo’s cover for THINK Issue 26 depicts the transfer of power and data through circuit board pathways.

Ultimately this very same power is what moves us forward in the world, a metaphor for enlightenment.

8 Powered by Blockchain

OPINION

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS

Finding the soul in the machine

16

Pushing for Malta's industrial renaissance

22

14

Blockchain: Not just bitcoin

10

Waste's carbon footprint

11

10

STUDENTS

Analysing the building blocks: Gene sequencing for disease treatment

24

What's lurking on your lunch?

28

12

Can the EU empower women in Afghanistan?

12

Food, gender and climate change

13

CONTRIBUTORS TOOLKIT Abigail Galea Dr Ing. Jason Gauci WITHOUT BORDERS Cassi Camilleri Leane Regan DESIGN Prof. Stefano Gualeni Jasper Schellekens OPINION Prof. Aldo Drago Margaret Camilleri Fenech STUDENT SECTION Precious Shola Mwamulima Rebecca Zammit

FOCUS Dr Ing Marc Anthony Azzopardi Cassi Camilleri Dr Owen Falzon Dr Rosienne Farrugia Dr Sholeem Griffin Dr Adnan Hadzi Rebecca Catrin Jones Teodor Reljic Prof. Vasilis Valdramidis FEATURES Dr Trevor Calafato Dr Joseph Giordmaina Dr Dennis Mizzi Dr Stefano Moncada Michela Scalpello

IDEA Leo Chircop Dr Joanna Delia

ALUMNI Kirsty Callan Dawn Borg Costanzi

RIDT Roberta De Angelis Laura Bonnici Prof. JoAnn Cassar Wilfred Kenely Dr Chiara Pasian Jennifer Porter Sarah Spiteri

START UP Dr Edward Duca Prof. Russell Smith

CULTURE Andrew Pace The Valletta 2018 Foundation

LAB TO LIFE Andras Havasi ILLUSTRATIONS Gabriel Izzo Roberta Scerri PHOTOGRAPHY Alex Attard Leonardo Barilaro Elisa von Brockdorff

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Department of Conservation and Built Heritage Dr Trevor Calafato Dawn Borg Costanzi Dr Ing. Stefania Cristina Dr Ing. Jason Gauci Dr Sholeem Griffin Jim Haberman Dan Hudson James Moffett Jean Claude Vancell Dr Stefano Moncada WEBSITE Cassi Camilleri Kirsty Callan Roberta Scerri

FEATURE

FEATURE

The Bible in stone: Excavations of an ancient synagogue in Huqoq, Israel

32

Small islands, big research

38

Tiny countries need bespoke climate change solutions to survive. One size cannot fit all.

Stunning mosaics uncovered at Huqoq could radically change our understanding of what it meant to be Jewish 1,500 years ago.

IDEA

42

The time (for contemporary art) is NOW!

FEATURE

Protecting prisoners from radicalisation

44

Local art appreciation is on the rise— Why?

‘Lock them up and throw away the key!’ does not work. Empathy is critical.

LAB TO LIFE

The rise of academic entrepreneurs

START-UP

A theory of enterprise

Researcher or business owner?

You can be both!

Is your business as sound as you think it is?

46

52

CULTURE

The Maltese time machine: Magna Żmien

RESEARCH

Conserving brushstrokes Restoring a piece of Great Siege history at the Grandmaster’s Palace.

54

58

Archiving people’s memories for posterity.

ALUMNI

Policing the seas TO-DO LIST

What to watch, read, listen to and who to follow on social media Our content picks to stimulate your eyes, ears, and mind.

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THINK I D E A S

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M A LTA

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R E S E A RC H

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P E O P L E

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U N I V E R S I TY

DECEMBER 2018 - ISSUE 26

EDITORIAL

Edward Duca EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Cassi Camilleri EDITOR DESIGN

Roberta Scerri DESIGNER Gabriel Izzo ASSISTANT DESIGNER COPYEDITING

Dr Marija Grech

60

One woman’s contribution to getting a handle on the perils of the fishing industry.

ISSN 2306-0735 Copyright © University of Malta, 2018 The right of the University of Malta to be identified as Publisher of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright Act, 2001.

University of Malta, Msida, Malta Tel: (356) 2340 2340 Fax: (356) 2340 2342 um.edu.mt All rights reserved. Except for the quotation of short passages for the purpose of research and review, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

The publisher has used its best endeavours to ensure that the URLs for external websites referred to in this magazine are correct and active at the time of going to press. However the publisher has no responsibility for the websites and can make no guarantee that a site will remain live or that the content is or will remain appropriate. Every effort has been made to trace all copyright holders, but if any have been inadvertently overlooked, the publishers will be pleased to include any necessary credits in any subsequent issues.

PROOFREADING

Dr Marija Grech PRINTING

Print It, Malta

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Toolkit

TOOLKIT

4

Up, up and away

H

ow do aerospace research engineers test new

the hope of sparking an interest in the field. Earlier this

cockpit technologies without having to actually fly

year, a group of secondary school students flew their

a plane? Answer: flight simulators. These machines give

own virtual planes under the guidance of a professional

pilots and engineers a safe, controlled environment

airline pilot.

in which to practise their flying and test out new technologies.

In 2016 the team at the Institute of Aerospace Technologies at the University of Malta (IAT) started work on its first-ever flight simulator—SARAH (Simulator for Avionics Research and Aircraft HMI).

Its outer shell was already available, having been constructed a few years back by Prof Carmel Pulé.

From there, the team built the flight deck hardware and simulation software, and installed all the wiring as well as side sticks, pedals, a Flight Control Unit (FCU) and a central pedestal.

The team constructing the simulator faced many hurdles. The biggest challenge was coordinating amongst everyone involved in the build: students, suppliers, and academic and technical staff. Careful planning was crucial.

The result is a simulator representative of an Airbus aircraft. However, it can also be easily reconfigured to simulate other aircraft, making it ideal for research purposes and experimentation. The Instructor Operating Station (IOS) also makes it possible to select

Airline pilot testing IAT technology Photos by Dr Ing. Jason Gauci

a departure airport and change weather conditions.

Looking ahead, the IAT plans to incorporate more state-of-the-art equipment into SARAH to increase its

with cockpit automation using touchscreen gestures

capabilities and make the user experience even more

and voice commands. This research was conducted as

realistic. There are also plans to build other simulators—

part of the TOUCH-FLIGHT 2 research and innovation

including a full-motion flight simulator and an Air Traffic

project (read more about this in Issue 19).

Control simulator—and to connect them together to

Going beyond the original aim of SARAH being

simulate more complex scenarios involving pilots and

used for research purposes, the IAT is also using the

air traffic controllers; a scenario that would more closely

technology to educate graduates and young children in

resemble the experience of a real airport.

Preparing for takeoff in a controlled testing environment Photo by Leonardo Barilaro

Toolkit

One of the first uses of SARAH was to conduct research on technology that enables pilots to interact

5

WITHOUT

Without Borders

BORDERS

6

Bursting the RRI bubble communication, and mutual

respect. The same can be said of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). Behind all the new ideas, it all boils down to a group of people, hailing from different walks of life, coming together to try and create a better future for everyone.

At the fourth annual NUCLEUS conference, researchers, academics, science communicators, creatives, and business people flocked to the

‘Valletta is an island on an island,’ Baldacchino said ‘Are universities the same? Are we trying to protect our own?’

Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, said that in her experience ‘we need to look at what universities are already doing and work smart. Win hearts and minds.’ University of Malta’s Nika Levikov also pointed out that ‘there are a lot of people practicing RRI who are not conscious of it.’ And for those who do not believe it to be a priority, for those who do not want to engage? ‘You have to set them aside and show them it is possible in a way they understand,’ says Zoran Marković from MISANU, Serbia.

tiny isle of Malta to share their stories and attempts to embed RRI into their

knowledge more accessible, more

Picking up Baldacchino’s thread on

institutions and communities. As

relevant, and more digestible to a

bringing down the walls of universities

everyone settled in, dialogue flowed

wider audience. But they encounter

and research institutions, Dr Annette

among delegates and the room was

a myriad of challenges. Engaging

Klinkert from Rhine-Waal University

abuzz. University of Malta pro-rector

with publics or policy makers isn’t

of Applied Sciences in Germany

Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino opened

easy. It means addressing different

summed up her main takeaway from

the conference with a question: How

needs in different ways, sometimes

all the discussions. ‘What we can

similar are universities and Valletta, the

even pandering to whims and flights

learn here is that it’s time to burst the

fortified capital that was hosting the

of fancy. Most people noted issues

bubble in which we work. Especially

conference? Having been constructed

with time, funding, and resources,

this field of RRI. It is time to leave

following Malta’s infamous Great

calling for processes to be formalised.

our cosy little community with our

Siege, the Knights encased Valletta in

Others pointed to a lack of creative

results.’ The results are the various

massive bastions, allowing only four

skills and, sometimes, general interest

projects that NUCLEUS has been

small entry points. ‘Valletta is an island

across the board. What also quickly

championing over the past years,

on an island,’ Baldacchino said. ‘Are

emerged was frustration with the

bringing research to its audiences. ‘All

universities the same? Are we trying

term RRI itself, creating confusion

the projects are useless if they can’t

to protect our own?’ The question had

where there needn’t be any.

merge and get out [into society and

many heads nodding in response.

Most people in the room expressed a feeling of obligation to render

With all of these difficulties,

communities],’ she emphasises. ‘If

however, came solutions. Dr Penny

they don’t merge, they’re pointless.

Haworth from the South African

It is time to burst the bubble.’

orff Photos by Elisa Brockd

Without Borders

R

elationships are based on trust,

7

DESIGN Come Here!

A

pointed index finger can mean many things. It can direct our

attention to something, show us which way to go, or demand silence.

It all depends on context—the situation in which it is used. This is what philosophers refer to as ‘indexicality’. And yes, you guessed it, the word ‘indexicality’ comes from the name of that particular finger.

At the University of Malta’s Institute of Digital Games, Prof. Stefano Gualeni has been playing around with this concept. Featuring the voice acting talents of independent game developers Emily Short and Pippin Barr, Gualeni has created a video game called Here, designed for players to engage with (and get confused by) the concept of indexicality.

Here’s gameplay poses the question of what it means when we say ‘here’ in a game world, and how many meanings of ‘here’ can exist side-by-side in a video game. It uses the trope from Japanese Role Playing Games of going on quests to retrieve bizarre items from classic locations. Spooky caves and castles are all part of the repertoire of locations that players can explore. But then, where do you go if ‘here’ is your instruction? What if ‘here’ isn’t where you think it is? What if you’re supposed to go upside down instead?

Design

To try the game yourself, visit

8

www.here.gua-le-ni.com

Top: Here’s start screen Left: Screen grab from Here Bottom, left: Bird character of the game, in idle mode Bottom, right: Wessel, cat character in the game, in commenting pose

Design

All concepts provided by Prof. Stefano Gualeni Artwork by Rebecca Portelli

9

Powered by Blockchain

Blockchain: Not just bitcoin Prof. Aldo Drago

B

lockchain is still a big unknown,

user demands at all levels and scales,

of free data flows, establishing

even for some professionals.

boosting research and innovation

unnecessary monopolies.

applications. Indeed, data is nowadays

Ledger Technology (DLT) have been

considered a key ingredient for

power of data by providing a system

made infamous by Bitcoin, a digital

competitiveness, and this is not

for seamless, efficient and secure data

payment and peer-to-peer monetary

about to change anytime soon.

transactions. It can lead to so many

The greatest bottleneck is data

applications, such as eliminating the

banks and third party endorsements.

sharing. Data production is growing

need for shipping documents in the

But DLT and the Blockchain protocol

and covering many realms but

transportation of goods, and making

can be used for other purposes.

unfortunately most of it remains locked

the freight and logistics industry more

transaction system that bypasses

up in closed databases, enterprises,

time and cost efficient. Data could be

lies in its decentralised architecture.

and institutions. Unofficially it is

funnelled into artificial intelligence

It allows transactions to be shared

estimated that the world generates

systems to create high performance

openly across independent nodes,

16 zettabytes of data annually (that’s

human-machine interfaces, self-

verified by encrypted checksums

16 billion terabyte laptops), but only

automated robots, cars, and ships.

that give each closed block a distinct,

1% is analysed. The problem is that

These devices, with information from

indelible signature. All these connected

data is withheld by data collectors

big data, would be able to learn from

transactions, chained within a common

who consider data hoarding to be a

their mistakes and autonomously

system, make tampering practically

right. Where data is released it does

adapt to changing environments. In

impossible. Blockchain is irrevocable,

not usually flow to users. As a result,

medicine, large data sets would prove

affordable, flexible, and secure.

we now have institutions running

priceless in drug and treatment design,

massive centralised databases,

doing away with the constraints of

of these concepts. What if we were

often conducting data archaeology,

limited sample sizes. The application

to apply such technology to every

compiling it at local, regional, and

of such technologies is limited

data exchange? Data and information

global scales. They address the needs

only by our own imagination.

in the digital age is spearheading the

of different user groups, but they

A new digital revolution is looming

evolution of services and product

also impose licensing procedures

ahead. Are we ready to be amongst the

development, serving a continuum of

that ultimately restrain the power

first to take this leap into the future?

Blockchain’s greatest strength

Opinion

But what about other applications

10

Blockchain can unleash the full

Blockchain and the Distributed

GHG Waste’s carbon footprint Margaret Camilleri-Fenech biogenic carbon (emissions that

were a country, it would rank as the

impact waste has on our

originate from biological sources like

world’s third biggest emitter after the

environment, they usually think about

plants, trees and soil) is deposited

USA and China. Emissions from food

toxic materials in landfills, the land

in landfills. Every tonne of methane

waste amounted to more than double

they take up, and the animals harmed

released into the atmosphere absorbs

the total levels of GHG emissions

by irresponsible waste disposal.

28 times as much heat energy as

from road transportation in the whole

But there is more. Our garbage

carbon dioxide does. Within the EU,

of the USA in 2010 (1.5 G tonnes).

also contributes to greenhouse

this problem is tackled through the

There is no doubt that the world

gases (GHG) in the atmosphere.

Landfill Directive (Directive 99/31/

needs a holistic approach to waste

EC) which requires that all waste

management; one that leaves a

generation tend to be carbon-based.

be treated in Mechanical Biological

positive impact on GHG emissions

Direct emissions include both the

Treatment Plants before landfilling.

from all sectors of the economy

methane released from organic material

These plants serve to both reduce

including hospitality, construction,

deposited in landfills and carbon

volume and stabilise waste, ultimately

manufacturing, and services. More

dioxide emissions from transport,

reducing GHG emissions. Another

proactive approaches, such as that

incineration, and recycling plants. Other

end-of-pipe technology is the collection

being adopted through packages like

potential sources are the combustion

of gases released from landfills.

COM (2014) 398 ‘Towards a Circular

Greenhouse gases from waste

of fossil-derived carbon in incineration

Climate change policies rarely

Economy: A Zero Waste Programme for Europe’, should be lauded.

systems and the release of nitrous

consider waste. We associate waste

oxide during nitrification in compost

generation with material loss, but

Technological, material and

piles (an important step in the nitrogen

carbon and material efficiency go

product innovation is admirable,

cycle where bacteria in soil oxidise

hand-in-hand. The best example can

but we need to make more effort

ammonia and form nitrates and nitrites).

be drawn from food waste which

to pair this with an awareness of

A possible solution can be found in

contributes to 3.49 G tonnes of GHG

the connection between waste and

resource recovery and using the waste

emissions, according to estimates by

GHG. This will have a ripple effect,

we produce as a secondary material,

the Food and Agriculture Organisation

influencing raw material resource

even to replace virgin materials or fuels.

(FAO). This figure includes a full

management, the promotion of

The bottom line: as a country, we need

lifecycle analysis of each commodity.

waste reduction at source, and recycling. Put simply, material

to develop a more circular economy.

FAO made a shocking discovery when

Landfills are major contributors to

comparing projected food waste figures

efficiency and the closing of loops is

GHG emissions. Landfill gas, which

to countries’ total GHG emissions. The

an automatic contribution to carbon

is 50% methane, is produced when

results showed that if ‘Food Waste’

efficiency—waste not, want not.

Opinion

W

hen people think about the

11

STUDENTS Can the EU empower women in Afghanistan?

Rebecca Zammit

T

he European Union’s success

all the available aid programming

improvement, as the attention given

relies on positive relationships—

documents from the last financial

to such issues is rather conservative,

cooperation and good will is key. The

period, and assessed whether the EU

and not equally balanced across all the

EU’s Development and Cooperation

was effectively supporting Afghanistan

SDG targets. For example, the need

Policy exists to support these

to achieve the fifth Sustainable

to increase women’s employment

connections. Its focus is on external

Development Goal (SDG) of gender

is mentioned many more times

relations, establishing partnerships

equality. I adopted a mixed-method

than the need to support female

with developing countries and

approach, using content analysis and

education or political participation.

channelling billions of euros to

descriptive statistics. Basically, this

This is surprising as education is

them every year. The European

meant coming up with a very long list

key to many other improvements in

Commission plays a crucial role in this

of keywords related to gender, and

wellbeing. Nevertheless, I believe

regard, managing and implementing

checking how many times these words

the overall results are encouraging

directives on behalf of the EU.

appeared in the policy documents.

and important, not only to highlight

Whoever invented the ‘ctrl + F’

improvements in the effectiveness of

function saved my academic life!

the EU’s development and cooperation

But what do we really know about the effectiveness of EU aid

The results of my research

countries? And how far is female

were pretty surprising. I found

sentiment that puts into question the

empowerment part of this agenda?

that the EU is now focusing much

EU’s capacity to manage, and lead, in

In short—we don’t know much!

more on gender empowerment

key policy areas. We can only hope

on the ground in Afghanistan

that this continues exponentially.

Research in this area is scarce, and this is what prompted me to tackle this

STUDENTS

question myself, under the supervision

12

policy, but also in reply to a growing

in helping citizens in developing

than it did a few years ago.

According to my data, and when

This research was carried out as

of Dr Stefano Moncada. My specific

comparing this to previous studies,

part of a Bachelor of European

focus was on assessing whether the

it appears that the EU’s commitment

Studies (Honours) at the Institute

EU is committed to gender equality

to supporting this goal is growing

for European Studies, University of

and female empowerment, taking

over time. However, I also found

Malta. The dissertation received the

Afghanistan as a case study. I reviewed

that there is substantial room for

‘2018 Best Dissertation Award’.

Food, gender and climate change Precious Shola Mwamulima

F

ood is one of life’s constants. Yet, what we eat has

mediterranean/pescatarian diets, and the vegan diet. From

major ramifications on global climate. Food production

there, I measured ammonia emissions, land use, and water

uses up major resources: it accounts for more than 70% of total freshwater use, over one-third of land use, and

from cradle to farm gate, with a special focus on gender.

The findings were alarming, indicating that none of

accounts for just shy of 25% of total greenhouse gas (GHG)

the five countries are able to meet emissions reductions

emissions, of which 80% is livestock. Yes, that steak you

under current dietary patterns. If we were to adopt the

just ate has had a direct impact on the world’s climate!

WHO recommended diet, GHGEs would be cut by 31.2%.

There is something of an oxymoron in the world’s

A better result would be gained from a vegetarian diet,

food ecosystems. Overconsumption is linked to major

which would slash emissions by 66%, while a vegan diet

health problems like obesity, cardiovascular disease,

comes out on top with a projected 74% reduction.

diabetes, and certain cancers that together account

Some interesting points that arose were that the Global

for up to 71% of global deaths. On the other hand,

Warming Potential is higher in men in all countries due

there are around one billion people in the world who

to higher meat consumption. Zambia and India would

suffer from hunger and underconsumption. All of this

benefit the most from the proposed dietary shifts in

is compounded by problems of food loss and waste.

absolute terms, while Australia, Malta, and Brazil would

This raises important questions related to the ethics

feel the positive impacts on individual levels in per

of worldwide food production and distribution.

capita terms, reducing carbon footprints considerably.

Food production and consumption is determined by many factors: population numbers, incomes, globalisation, sex (biology), and gender (socio-cultural) differences. The combination of a sedentary lifestyle and an unbalanced diet, high in red, processed meat, low in fruits and vegetables, is a common problem in many developed countries. And this impacts not just human health, but also biodiversity and ecosystems.

If we were to adopt the WHO recommended diet, GHGEs would be cut by 31.2%.

Supervised by Prof Simone Borg, I chose an exploratory Reduced meat consumption substantially lowers

was to analyse the dietary patterns of men and women. I

dietary GHG emissions. We need to prospectively

wanted to critically question the power relations that feed

consider the interplay of sex and gender, and develop

into socio-economic inequities and lead to particular food

climate change, health, and microeconomic policies for

choices. I used both quantitative and qualitative methods,

effective intervention and sustainable diets. Adopting a

modelling the life cycle assessment and scenario emission

flexitarian diet that is mostly fruits and vegetables, with

projections for 2050 in Malta, Brazil, Australia, India,

the occasional consumption of meat, can save lives, the

and Zambia among males and females aged 16 to 64.

planet, and economies—some food for thought!

The four dietary scenarios I took into consideration were present-day consumption patterns (referring to the 2005/7

This research was carried out as part of a Master of

Food and Agriculture reference scenario), the World Health

Science (Research) in Climate Change and Sustainable

Organisation (WHO) recommended diet (300g of meat per

Development at the Institute of Climate Change and

week and five portions per day of fruit and veg), vegetarian/

Sustainable Development, University of Malta.

STUDENTS

research design with embedded case studies. The aim

13

14

Focus

TECHNOLOGY

on topics derived from researchers at the University

has seen us evolve from fire-wielding societies to

of Malta. They talk about the implications of artificial

hyper-linked communities. Our FOCUS touches

intelligence, genetics, manufacturing, and food.

Finding the soul in the machine Alarming developments from the technology zeitgeist

Pushing for Malta's industrial renaissance The key ingredient missing from the local manufacturing industry: Intellect

Analysing the building blocks: Gene sequencing for disease treatment New treatments could be on the horizon as a result of studies of the Maltese population

What's lurking on your lunch Innovative—and FAST—food safety tests for ready-to-eat foods

16

22

24

28

Focus

T

echnology can hurt us but also transform us. It

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FOCUS

FINDING THE SOUL IN THE MACHINE

16

263HUMAN5340 Swiss artist, documentary filmmaker, and researcher Dr Adnan Hadzi has recently made Malta his home and can currently be found lecturing in interactive art at the University of Malta. He speaks to Teodor Reljic about how the information technology zeitgeist is spewing up some alarming developments, arguing that art may be our most appropriate bulwark against the onslaught of privacy invasion and the unsavoury aspects of artificial intelligence.

Hadzi cut his teeth on various art collectives

Right. Let's step back and

around Europe. In London, he spent a sizeable

give this loaded thought a

amount of time in institutions like Goldsmiths

good, proper, well... think.

University, where he rode a wave of collaboration

Does art have any other

with new media art collectives which, among other

function beyond its simple—and often much-

things, seek to eviscerate our relationship with

maligned—ability to allow us to escape the

omnipresent and ever-more invasive technology.

humdrum or unpleasant realities of life by

What emerges from our conversation is just how

offering us an aesthetic transport of some kind?

much the very assumptions we tend to have about

And if we're talking about art on the opposite

both art and the technological hegemony are in

side of the spectrum—the actively political,

dire need of analysis, dissection, and meditation.

the openly provocative—is that stuff not better

'It's not so much about revealing what's out

served by organising protests, by petitioning

there,' Hadzi tells me halfway through our chat,

politicians, by running for office ourselves?

'because I think a lot of what underpins these

Admittedly, this is a very crude characterisation

technologies is actually quite obvious. And it's not

of what art could potentially be and the kind

even about being provocative per se—which is

of force it continues to radiate worldwide.

the first thing that a lot of people mention when

But it's also a handy crucible with which

they look at some of the work I've documented

to preface my conversation with Dr Adnan

or done. I think, really, it's simply about creating

Hadzi, a documentary filmmaker, transmedia

a space in which these things can be discussed.'

artist, and now lecturer on interactive art

It's a discussion, however, that Hadzi fears

(Department of Digital Arts, Faculty of Media

we may be having 'far too late, perhaps.' The

and Knowledge Sciences, University of Malta).

exponential growth of certain technologies we FOCUS

W

hat does art really 'do'?

17

PAGE 18

1 2

3 4

1. Delivery for Mr Assange dual screen view of performance 2. Exhibition: reconstruction of Mr Assange's room - outside 3. Poster illustrating tracking of parcel during performance 4. Exhibition: reconstruction of Mr Assange's room - inside Photos by Mancia/Bodmer, FBMstudio

have invited into our lives may already have brought us to a point

processes that could be broadly described as new media art.

'I believe that art has a very strong

how Deptford.TV 'functions as

doom and gloom, even for a little

an open, collaborative system

claim on these realities, and can

bit, we're all likely to find that a

that facilitates artists, filmmakers,

create a very necessary discursive

better understanding of the evolving

researchers, and participants of the

space which is sorely missing,' Hadzi

nature of the Internet would make

workshops to store, share, edit,

says, bringing up the tragicomic

us feel that little bit more aware, and

and redistribute media. The open

case of how the internal dynamics

that little bit more empowered.

and collaborative nature of the

of complex algorithms—such as

Deptford.TV project demonstrates

those which underpin our financial

interests continue to fuel this strand

a form of shared media practice

system—tend to be opaque even

of inquiry and creation. In parallel

in two ways: audiences become

to those who operate them.

to his research focused on media

producers by managing their

ethics, Hadzi was a regular at the

material, and the system enables

to further refinement by one of

Deckspace Media Lab. There, he

contributors to organise their

Deptford.TV’s collaborators, the

helped coordinate the Deptford.TV

productions and interactions.’

!Mediengruppe Bitnik collective.

project. Together with his subsequent

Focus

The initiative's website explains

of no return. But if we stave off the

Hadzi's work and research

18

creating an online 'data hub' of sorts.

In short, it is a plea for both

It is an approach that is pushed

Hadzi has limited involvement

work on the Creeknet Project,

democratic accessibility of data

with the collective, fully crediting the

Deptford.TV—accessible online—

and a general transparency about

project's founders, Domago Smoljo

engages with the local community

how that data is disseminated

and Carmen Weisskopf, as its main

of Deptford in South London by

and consumed, filtered through

driving force. Yet his close-to-the-

Random Darknet Shopper exhibit Photo by !Mediengruppe Bitnik

Goods bought by Random Darknet Shopper

Detail: items bought by Random Darknet Shopper

Photo by !Mediengruppe Bitnik

Photo by !Mediengruppe Bitnik

bone involvement with the group

main aim of the project was really

ubiquitous use of surveillance

makes him an astute commentator

to delve into notions of privacy.

technology is perfectly fine with

on the implications of their work.

The simple, picaresque journey of

the authorities, then critiquing

the little package, and the small

it becomes even more urgent.

'Indeed, the collective has very

camera that had been snuck into

wide variety of projects, installations,

it to stream its travels live on

strong ties with media law and

and artistic 'happenings'. All of them

Twitter, successfully undermined

ethics experts, and they have fact-

share one thing in common: their

the privacy of all involved.

checkers in place to ensure that

engagement with contemporary

'The postal workers who were

nothing they do crosses any clear

filmed wrapping and delivering

legal lines,' Hadzi adds. But the

the package, they have their own

nature of the beast is that these

certainly Delivery for Mr Assange. The

private spaces and their own rights

lines tend to be murky. An explicit

live video project documented the

too,' Hadzi notes, rights which were

case is the collective's 2014–2016

journey of a package sent by post to

compromised by the recording device

experiment, Random Darknet Shopper.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange,

which captured them as the package

famously exiled within the Ecuadorian

headed to its celebrity recipient.

information technologies.

Among the most prominent was

embassy’s confines in London.

However, Hadzi is also quick

As the title already suggests, the project involved a custommade algorithm sent out into the

Beyond the attention-grabbing effect

to note that the operations of

'Dark Web' (the Internet's black

of featuring Assange himself—'of

the collective are entirely legal,

market) with a budget to purchase

course this added a political currency

suggesting that this is somewhat

stuff at random. As was eventually

to the initiative,' Hadzi says—the

part of the problem. If such a

displayed in an installation based on Focus

Operating between Zurich and London, the collective has initiated a

19

Focus

We've reached a point, perhaps, where the machines are pretty well-fed; they have enough data to evolve and start talking to each other.

20

9 10 11

12

8. Dr Adnan Hadzi (in front of art work What Will Fall by Aidan Celeste) 9. Boattr research project 10. Dr Hadzi fixing and operating the boat 11. Kingswood junction, British Waterways 12. iStreet.TV for Container project, May Pen, Jamaica Photos by Natascha Sturny

the intervention at the Kunst Halle

fed; they have enough data to evolve

like social media on our brains is

Sankt Gallen, Switzerland, a lot of the

and start talking to each other.'

becoming very much apparent.'

algorithm's $100 Bitcoin budget went

It may be an alarming point, but

Among other projects, Hadzi

to relatively harmless purchases.

it's also yet another argument for art

also looks forward to helping

But the randomised system

to be allowed to do its work with full

create an 'immersive pipeline' in

also ended up buying a pack

autonomy–never averting its gaze

Malta, a space for all people to

of ten yellow ecstasy pills.

from contemporary realities and

discuss pressing matters related to

technological developments, while

privacy, surveillance, and artificial

question of whether a pre-

also refusing to 'ingest' them without

intelligence in a welcoming space

programmed but randomly operating

questioning their implications.

that acknowledges the problems

'This of course brings up the

system can be held responsible for

Now that he's settled in Malta, I

but doesn't shy away from them.

Being immersed in the heady and

committing crimes,' Hadzi observes.

find myself asking whether Hadzi

In fact, the artists were eventually

deems the island an interesting

uncertain world can do one's head in.

cleared of any charges, precisely

space from which one can continue

Having spent some years operating

because the public prosecutor

to observe these multidisciplinary—

from a boat on the British Waterways,

believed that the project raised

and highly topical—intersections.

Hadzi and his partner have just

questions that are of public interest.

'Yes, I believe so. One of the

moved from the bustle of Mosta into

main things I find very interesting is

the comparatively sedate enclosure

an urgent concern for Hadzi and

how the academic sphere in Malta

of Fontana, Gozo, and that feels

one that he believes should be

has made it a point to fuse media

somewhat relevant to our discussion.

addressed sooner rather than later.

studies with the cognitive sciences.

The idea of machine learning is

'We've reached a point, perhaps, where the machines are pretty well-

But ignoring these dynamics will not

I think this particularly pertinent

assuage our anxiety. Instead of endless

nowadays, when the effect of things

polemics, let's process it through art.

Focus

8

21

PUSHING FOR MALTA''S INDUSTRIAL RENAISSANCE With all the cranes strewn across the Maltese landscape, it appears that the construction industry is one of Malta’s primary economic drivers. But there are other, less polluting ways of generating income.

Dr Ing. Marc Anthony Azzopardi discusses MEMENTO, the highperformance electronics project that could pave the way for a muchneeded cultural shift in manufacturing.

M

alta had a booming

University of Malta created an advanced

textile industry.

camera system capable of capturing

Factories imported

synchronised high-speed video. It

denim fabric which

works like a ‘time microscope,’ allowing

people sewed

engineers, scientists, and enthusiasts

into jeans for relatively little pay.

to visualise super fast events, analyse

The garments were cheap to make

them, and learn from them. Anything

and cheap to sell, and companies

from ballistic impacts, to lightning

raked in the profits. Years later, the

bolt propagation, the inner workings

economics changed: cost of living

of human cellular machinery, crack

on the island shot up and higher

propagation in fracturing materials,

wages saw thin profits dwindle.

and plasma physics experiments—

The denim industry died in 2007.

these microsecond events can all

The lesson Malta should have learnt from this is that we need to add more

consists of multiple cameras connected

produce, in order to make the effort

via high-bandwidth fibre-optic links to

sustainable and profitable. But the

a central real-time processing hub that

same mistakes are being repeated now.

also provides them with a precise time

The local manufacturing industry is still

reference,’ explains Andre Micallef, MST

suffering and underperforming in terms

Audio Visual Ltd. director and electronics

of growth and return on investment.

designer. Going into more detail on

It needs an intellectual renaissance.

the time reference, Azzopardi explains:

for the MEMENTO Project.

Led by Dr Ing. Marc Anthony Azzopardi, the engineering team at the Focus

‘The system is unusual in that it

value to the items we develop and

This was the starting point

22

be observed with MEMENTO.

‘We need precise synchronisation to guarantee correspondence between the frames captured from different cameras—and we own the IP

Third Row (left to right): Jamie Willoughby, Andrew Spiteri, Karl Galea Second Row: Luke Vassallo, Marc Azzopardi, Reuben Mizzi Front row: Alec Fenech, Andre Micallef, Andrea Vella, Michael Brockdorff Absent: Darren Cachia, Roberto Drago

With MEMENTO the focus is

[Intellectual Property Rights].’ This is

Maltese context, the industry, and the

important when the video needs to be

University’s R&D setting, the team chose

on producing high-end, high-value,

processed for 3D video reconstruction

its target market segment carefully—

and low-volume products built on a

of the recorded event, for example.

speciality electronics—to ensure that

protected local IP and considerably

the system is commercially competitive,

more unpublished knowhow. ‘These

can process the footage in real-time

while being environmentally

kinds of products require extensive

and export the raw video stream at

sustainable and holistically

advanced engineering—highly

full resolution and full frame rate.

beneficial to the local economy.

trained minds—but relatively little in raw materials,’ Azzopardi notes.

Applications for this tech are varied.

‘Engineers strongly influence the

The stream can be used for machine

direction that their industries take and

vision, allowing a fast robot to

must therefore act responsibly. Our

generated intellectual value to every

manipulate items around it. We see

country is suffering under some heavy

€1,000 of imported materials, and

this in action on factory assembly lines

industries that do not generate enough

not the other way around, because

where robot arms rapidly sort through

income in relation to the environmental

that is the only way we can sustain

items, discarding defective parts.

impact and the number of people they

good salaries in the future, without

employ,’ says Azzopardi, pointing a

trashing the beautiful country we

finger at the construction industry.

want to live in,’ adds Azzopardi. ‘That

‘Malta is also small. Other heavy

kind of decision must be taken at the

Taking things a step further, the fast video stream can be used to mimic human hand-eye coordination—visual

‘We want to add €10,000 of locally

servoing. With more cameras and

industries like oil refining, metal

project planning stage. MEMENTO

low latency, the system can control

smelting, or nuclear reprocessing

is our first contribution in this

complex operations. Think driverless

cannot be accommodated without

direction—and won’t be the last.’

vehicles on the highway, cruise

jeopardising all our lives in the process.

missile control, satellite rendezvous

We need to generate value by putting

MEMENTO is a consortium between

operations, or keeping supersonic

our minds to things rather than risking

UM and MST Audio Visual Ltd. It

trains like the Hyperloop on track

polluting everything we have. However,

secured close to €200,000 of funding,

while levitating magnetically.

we also need to move away from

covering a three year period of

producing items and services that

intense development, from the Malta

has set its sights on lofty goals, but

are based on foreign IP, because that

Council for Science & Technology

Azzopardi stands firm. Fully aware of

saps away from the value that can be

through FUSION: The R&I Technology

the strengths and limitations of the

added to our local economy,’ he adds.

Development Programme.

Some might say that the team

Focus

The MEMENTO camera system

23

ANALYSING THE BUILDING BLOCKS:

Focus

GENE SEQUENCING FOR DISEASE TREATMENT

24

A staggering amount of diseases can be traced back to a genetic cause.

Dr Rosienne Farrugia talks to THINK about her team’s efforts to use genome sequencing to eventually secure timely treatment for some very serious conditions.

B

eing able to plan ahead is crucial

genetic variants become over-represented, whilst

in the field of medicine. Think of

others are completely missing. This has resulted

all the debilitating (and potentially

in the Maltese population being burdened

life-threatening) diseases that can be

with some rare conditions, such as atypical

nipped in the bud with a full, time-

phenylketonuria, a serious hereditary disease.

sensitive analysis. As it happens, a Maltese team of

Farrugia and her lab have been engaged in

researchers have been leading the way in high-

identifying the causes of a particular disorder

throughput sequencing (HTS), which can shed light

called polycystic kidney disease (PKD). This is

on the true causes of some prevailing ailments.

a renal disorder that affects millions across the

Using HTS, researchers can read a person’s

globe, causing an accumulation of kidney cysts

entire DNA sequence and identify differences in

which lead to kidney shutdown and the need

the code which may be the cause of diseases.

for lifelong dialysis. Honing in on a number of

Through their decade-long research, geneticist

Maltese families that suffer from the disease,

Dr Rosienne Farrugia, her colleague Dr Stephanie

Farrugia and her team have analysed their DNA,

Bezzina Wettinger, and their team of students have

using HTS to identify a novel mutation that has

been looking at ways to tackle 15 different diseases

been causing the disease. Understanding the

using HTS technology. Should the work proceed as

genetic cause for such a disorder in a family

planned, the results could be life-changing for many.

will allow the team to run tests on family

NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK

members before symptoms arise so as to

The Maltese population is genetically unique.

‘We have atypical genetic variants and a particular

find out who can benefit from potential new treatments that would delay the disease.

Parkinson’s disease is another condition the

population structure owing to founder effects

research team is investigating. So far, they have

followed by an exponential population expansion

pinpointed a unique genetic variant: LRRK2

that started 500 years ago,’ says Farrugia.

p.N618S. This variant appears to increase the

Founder effects happen when a new population is

risk for Parkinson’s disease and seems to be

established by a very small number of individuals.

unique to the Maltese population. Previous

When this population expands, some rare

work coordinated by Bezzina Wettinger also

Focus

This has resulted in the Maltese population being burdened with some rare conditions, such as atypical phenylketonuria, a serious hereditary disease.

25

DNA sequencing

identified LRRK2 p.G2019S—a

late 1990s, she was investigating the

that is known to cause Parkinson’s

blocks sexual maturation and has also

genetic cause of two rare diseases

disease. But what does this mean

attracted the attention of the lab. The

that led to severe neurological

in practice? As it turns out, the

condition can result in infertility, leaving

degeneration and cerebral palsy.

discovery can help with diagnosis.

the patient bereft of secondary sexual

Her results showed that both were

characteristics. In collaboration with

metabolic conditions that could be

p.G2019S variant could help doctors

local endocrinologists, the team plans

treated through dietary control and

and patients determine whether

to recruit all known Maltese patients

daily medication. Amazingly, early

the genetic defect is present,’ says

with this condition to find out the local

treatment and strict compliance

Farrugia. This said, Parkinson’s disease

genetic causes. ‘IHH research is still

led to normal development and a

is a complex disorder; the result of

at an early stage. So far, we identified

vastly improved quality of life.

environmental and genetic interaction

candidate genetic variants, but none

where variants may be present in a

of them completely explain the clinical

making the leap from speculation

number of genes. To date, the genetic

picture. We need more time to find the

to reality—involves translating the

cause in many patients remains

more elusive causes,’ asserts Farrugia.

genetic and biological findings into

unknown and testing is inconclusive. As

KNOWLEDGE IS MORE THAN POWER

practical medical applications. It is

work progresses, the team will be able to identify more variants, with patients benefiting from better testing. In a few

What Farrugia stressed repeatedly

The first stage of this process—

a process whose initial stages are currently being put into practice by the Department of Applied

years, all we will need is a single test—

during our talk is the far-reaching

Biomedical Science at the University

one experiment that will sequence

potential applications of her team’s

of Malta. Farrugia concedes that

all the patient’s genes. ‘We are

research, and its ability to change

real breakthroughs only occur

currently recruiting young individuals

people’s lives for the better.

when the research gives way to

who have Parkinson’s disease to get this work started,’ says Farrugia.

Focus

reading for her MPhil. Back in the

hypogonadism (IHH) is a condition that

‘Testing individuals for the LRRK2

26

Idiopathic hypogonadotropic

different pathogenic mutation

Her passion for this type of research developed many years ago when

usable medical solutions, and this is why ‘understanding the genetics

‘Dopamine was given to wheelchairbound paralysed children, and an hour later, they were walking again!’

Dr Rosienne Farrugia Photo by James Moffett

thoroughly is so important,’ she

in all of them: a severe loss-of-

of high-throughput sequencing

says. ‘It underpins the treatment and

function mutation in a key enzyme in

data. All of this will hopefully lead to

development of the right drugs.’

dopamine synthesis,’ Farrugia says.

concrete treatments for patients.

These individuals had a genetic defect

FUTURE CHALLENGES

scene out there is a total drought;

that made them unable to produce

certain treatments are already

dopamine. ‘This means that now

available and can be repurposed

individuals at risk can be genetically

is quick to emphasise that a lot

for other conditions provided the

tested at birth and treated earlier,

more needs to be done. They

genetic defect and the pathway

avoiding the irreversible effects

need to do more exploratory work

it disrupts are spotted through

if the disease is identified late.’

into further fields, and set up the

the intelligent analysis of gene

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

necessary structures that will see

sequencing technology.

So what’s the next step? Farrugia

this research area flourish.

Farrugia cites a striking example

Genomic data is bulky. All of a

in which patients had been told that

person’s genes contain enough data

to be a focus on bioinformatics, a

they would spend their entire lives

to fill several DVDs. Processing

specialised field that underpins all

in a wheelchair until a specialist

all of this data requires a lot of

biological research that generates

neurologist suggested a dopamine

time and effort. Time and effort

big data sets. For genomics research

trial, dopamine being a natural

that is far beyond what any one

to achieve its maximum potential,

chemical needed for brain cells to

individual can realistically manage.

bioinformatics has to grow and develop

transmit messages. ‘Dopamine was

It requires nothing short of an entire

in parallel. And this is only possible if

given to wheelchair-bound paralysed

bioinformatics workforce, so to speak.

one adopts a ‘triangulated’ approach

children, and an hour later, they were

Thanks to TrainMALTA, an EU

According to Farrugia, there needs

between researchers from various

walking again!’ Farrugia’s research into

funded H2020 Twinning Grant,

disciplines—a collaboration between

the genetic causes of the disease will

Maltese scientists are being trained

life scientists, bioinformaticians,

help diagnose other children before

in bioinformatics and the use of

and statisticians—to ensure that

they become wheelchair bound.

model systems (by the University of

the most is made out of this rich

Cambridge and Katholieke Universiteit

field, and that data is analysed in a

Leuven) for the analysis and validation

timely and accurate manner.

‘Genetic analysis of the patients’ genes singled out a common defect

Focus

That is not to say that the

27

Focus

’s t a on h W ng ? i h k c r n lu r lu u o y

28

In our modern, fast-paced lives, more of us are turning to convenient readyto-eat meals. But with short shelf lives and high demand, food safety tests just aren’t quick enough anymore. Dr Sholeem Griffin tells Becky Catrin Jones how an innovative collaboration between microbiology and computing is tackling this challenge.

Biomedical engineers Dr Owen Falzon and

our lunch from scratch every single

Prof. Kenneth Camilleri, and quantitative

day. Although meal prepping trends

microbiologist Prof Vasilis Valdramidis from

are slowly catching on, bags of ready-

the University of Malta are working with local

to-eat salad, dips, and cheeses remain

dairy product producer Farm Fresh Ltd. on a

very tempting—especially when they can stop

new method of online testing. Rather than

you from consuming last week’s lasagne. Such

waiting a week for bacterial culture results,

convenient healthy choices mean that we

why not determine what might be growing

don’t need to think as hard about what’s going

on the food right now? Their idea combines a

into our lunchbox. But is this food-on-the-

novel imaging technique with new algorithms

move culture really as healthy as it seems?

to produce a real-time map of any bacterial

As with all perishables, bacteria and fungi will slowly multiply on your food long before you actually see anything ‘growing’ on them. With

or fungal growth. This is possible through a technology known as hyperspectral imaging.

Hyperspectral cameras and the DSLR you take

most things, this can be controlled at production

on holiday work similarly, making use of light at

thanks to batch testing which screens for

different wavelengths to produce a picture. While

any pathogens that could develop into bigger

your camera can only pick up what your own eyes

problems later on. This happens with ready-to-

can see, visible light with wavelengths between

eat foods too; the trouble is that turn-around

450 and 700 nanometers (nm), hyperspectral

on the results cannot keep up with production.

imaging can record a far wider range. This means

The way these tests are conducted in pre-packed

that visual and infrared light can all be picked up

foods also differs—assessing batches rather

by the same system. Microbes, the common term

than individual items. This means that foods are

for all bacteria or fungi that grow on our food,

often already in our shops and fridges when a

can reflect light at these higher wavelengths. By

problem is identified. In these cases, suppliers

scanning the products with this light, one should

have to recall the items, resulting in both angry

be able to see exactly where the microbes are.

customers and serious fiscal repercussions.

With this idea and some funding support

The need to speed up this analytic and

from MCST, Falzon and Valdramidis identified

laborious microbial process is clear. But if culture

a capable young scientist who was up for the

tests performed in food safety checks aren’t

challenge. Dr Sholeem Griffin was on the lookout

quite making the cut, what else can be done?

for a project that would bring her a wealth of Focus

L

et’s be honest: very few of us make

29

From left to right: Dr Owen Falzon, Prof. Ing. Kenneth P Camilleri, Dr Sholeem Griffin, Prof. Vasilis Valdramidis Photo by James Moffett

new skills. ‘I started looking for

arrived, my first instruction was to

postdocs in Malta. When this one

learn how to make ġbejna,’ Griffin

came up it really appealed to me,

recalls with a smile. ‘So I spent the

and luckily I got it!’ she says.

first few weeks making cheese,

Griffin’s PhD was in immunology

them to compare it to shop-bought

dairy cows and ways to encourage

ġbejna to work out whether I was on

milk production. With a background

the right track. It was good fun!’

FOCUS

in general microbiology and

30

feeding it to people and getting

and metabolism, studying infertile

And so the food microbiology lab

molecular techniques, she was keen

at the Faculty of Health Sciences at

to undertake a project that would

Mater Dei turned into a mini cheese-

combine this experience with the

production plant where Griffin tried to

opportunity to learn more about

work out a way to make reproducible

coding and high-performance

cheese in a sterile environment.

bioinformatics—both essential

Making ġbejna takes around two days,

expertise for a future life scientist.

and the cheese can then be matured

When starting a new project, it

for as long as desired for it to acquire

is critical to get a good grasp of the

its unique flavour. Unpasteurised milk

field by spending some time reading

is combined with rennet and bacteria

literature on the topic. Griffin thought

called lactobacilli. With some mixing

she would have at least a week or

and incubating, these combine to

two after arriving in Malta to get

make curds, paving the way for the

the required reading under her belt

cheese. This mixture is then potted

and get going. But reality trumped

in small slotted cups and left to drain

expectations in this case. ‘When I

for around 24 hours. Cheeselets

Their idea combines a novel imaging technique with a high-power computer and new algorithms to produce a real-time map of any bacterial or fungal growth.

The Maltese cheeselet inspected for microbes using hyperspectral imaging Photo by Dr Sholeem Griffin

Griffin and Falzon are developing

industries; it is already used to

algorithms to analyse the data, turning

distinguish tainted from edible

a mass of numbers into a much more

fruits and to highlight any damaged

sterile lab, surely we shouldn’t see

consumable format. These algorithms

areas during processing. Applying

any microbial growth? ‘The important

can be adapted based on the subject

this on a microscopic level is what’s

thing to note is that ġbejna is made

food and can account for the presence

new and exciting. But what makes

from unpasteurised milk,’ highlights

of bacteria that we know belongs on

this project really unique is the

Griffin. ‘The milk is not sterile, so

the cheese. ‘There’s no use flagging up

complex algorithms that are written

no matter what conditions the

lactobacilli for example, when without

to make sense of all this data. ‘The

cheeselet is kept in, things will start

it we wouldn’t get cheese production

collaboration between IT and life

cropping up after about a week.’

in the first place!’ says Griffin.

sciences is still not commonplace,’

and can then be used for study.

But if the cheese is produced in a

When this happens, the cheese can

The plan is to have these readings

Griffin remarks. ‘Projects like

be scanned using the hyperspectral

translated in real time and use them

this provide the opportunity for

imaging techniques. Light emission

to spot any differences while each

young scientists to learn and move

is recorded from all around the

cheeselet is being scanned. However

with the changing climate.’

item and combined so as to give as

at such an early stage in the project,

much information as possible. The

the main challenge for Griffin is

has a long way to go before mass

aim is to differentiate clean from

understanding how to write code

food production can be revolutionised

contaminated cheese, and then

specific to the question at hand:

by hyperspectral imaging. But

identify which organism might be

‘My greatest achievement at the

with such a sound theory and an

causing the problem. Scanning in this

end of the project will be to look

enthusiastic collaboration between

way produces masses of data which

back and say that I have conquered

(micro)biology and computing, it’s

needs to be collected and sorted into

some coding,’ Griffin notes.

hard to imagine that we won’t all be

a format that is easier to understand.

This is where the coding comes in.

Hyperspectral imaging is not a foreign concept to food production

It’s still early days and this project

scanning our salads for unwanted colonies in the near future.

FOCUS

are given another 24 hours to dry,

31

32

FEATURE

THE BIBLE IN STONE EXCAVATIONS OF AN ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE AT HUQOQ, ISRAEL Buried inside an unassuming hill in Israel’s Lower Galilee is a magnificent ancient synagogue with splendid mosaic panels that have been hidden away for over 1,600 years. Dr Dennis Mizzi writes about the project that is bringing them to light. synagogues of the so-called ‘Galilean’

place for most. But

type emerge in Palestine? Traditionally,

the agricultural village

synagogue buildings were divided into

has held its own since

three major architectural types, with

biblical times, some

‘Galilean’ synagogues considered to be

saying it was nestled at the very heart

the oldest. Boasting a basilica plan with

of Jesus’s Galilean ministry. In 2011,

three aisles and a nave, these types

Prof. Jodi Magness (University of

of structures were often classified by

North Carolina at Chapel Hill) set her

experts as dating back to the second

sights on the village for excavation.

and third centuries CE. Architectural

The visible remains scattered among

parallels with Roman temples in

the surface rubble, the accessibility

Syria and Asia Minor reinforced

of the site, and the fact that it had

this notion. But hard evidence on

never yet been excavated made

the ground suggests otherwise.

Samson carrying the gate of Gaza Photo by Jim Haberman

this a prime location. But when the

Time and again project director

digging started and long-lost treasures

Magness has called for a revision of

were unearthed—intricate mosaics,

synagogue chronology, but deeply

pottery, coins—a slew of crucial

entrenched ideas are hard to let

questions also arose. Questions

go of in the highly contentious

that would revolutionise the study

field of biblical archaeology.

of ancient Judaism and of JewishChristian relations in antiquity.

Originally, our team set out to

In this specific case, the challenge to traditional chronology has serious ramifications for the understanding

answer a humble, but highly loaded,

of Jewish-Christian relations in

question: when did monumental

late antiquity. The excavations at FEATURE

H

uqoq is an unimpressive

33

‘The mosaics decorating the floor of the Huqoq synagogue revolutionise our understanding of Judaism in this period,’ says Magness.

Volunteers hauling rock from excavation Photo by Jim Haberman

Huqoq sought to shed light on this issue of chronology—but then, the discovery of mosaics gave the project a new dimension altogether.

THE SITE Huqoq’s story starts several millennia ago. Archaeology and literary sources show that the site was inhabited as early as the Bronze Age, with subsequent occupations in the Iron Age, the Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Medieval, and Ottoman periods, as well as during Dr Dennis Mizzi

Prof. Jodi Magness

the British Mandate of Palestine.

The synagogue itself was buried under 1,600 years of history—literally!

The building was abandoned, but it is

Passing sandbags Photo by Jim Haberman

unclear when this happened or why. But while it lay derelict, life in the adjacent village at Huqoq—parts of which have been exposed in our excavations—went on. Then, between the twelfth and thirteenth century, a large monumental building was constructed a metre above the synagogue, reusing some of its walls. This building fell into disuse over centuries until eventually, a thick layer of fill accumulated across the entire area, burying the building. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the resultant open space was used for cooking, and it was characterised

FEATURE

by numerous tabuns (bread ovens)

34

and fills of ash. This occupation layer

was sealed by the modern village of Yakuk, which was established in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, destroyed by fire in 1948, and then bulldozed in the 1960s. In the early 2000s, the mound of rubble from the demolished village was the most distinguishable feature on the surface.

But, readers may ask, how did we know that there was an ancient synagogue of the Galilean type

One of the field-school students at work

here? Partly, this was deduced from

Photo by Jim Haberman

the scattered architectural remains on the surface. By the end of the very first season, the team had unearthed a few nicely cut stone blocks which proved to belong to the eastern wall of the synagogue.

Excavations in subsequent years also confirmed Magness’s thesis: despite the fact that the Huqoq synagogue was of the Galilean type, pottery and C-14 dating indicated, in no uncertain terms, that it could not have been constructed before the fifth century.

AND THEN, THERE WERE THE MOSAICS… The discovery of mosaics was unexpected, albeit not completely surprising. We knew that the synagogue

A detail from the Tower of Babel panel, showing a wood carver

A detail of the "Elephant Mosaic", showing a regal figure whose identity remains disputed

Photo by Jim Haberman

Photo by Jim Haberman

was paved with a mosaic floor because of the hundreds of loose tesserae collected as we were going down. But finding loose tesserae is never a good thing! It means that the floor they belonged to has been heavily damaged, if not completely destroyed. So it was rather exhilarating when one fine day in June of 2012, one of the field-school students scraped the hard surface of a mosaic still in situ. Staring straight at him was a face that hadn’t seen the light of day in centuries! Since then, summer after summer, the team has exposed one stunning mosaic after another. In contrast to other sites with similar features, the Huqoq mosaics and exceptional visual content.

A detail of the Helios-zodiac panel showing Capricorn and the personification of the month Tebet Photo by Jim Haberman

FEATURE

stand out because of their rich, diverse,

35

Right: Aerial view of the Huqoq synagogue Right, opposite page: Plan view of the Huqoq synagogue Photos by Griffin Aerial Imaging

So far, we have excavated approximately two thirds of the synagogue, and it will take up to three or four more years to complete its exposure.

Many of the panels portray episodes (or variations thereof) taken directly

FEATURE

and—in the Jonah scene—harpies

be a first for synagogue mosaics.

(large birds with female heads and torsos representing storm winds).’

from the pages of the Bible, including

‘The mosaics decorating the floor of

the story of Noah’s ark (Genesis 6–9),

the Huqoq synagogue revolutionise our

There are several indications that the

the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11), the

understanding of Judaism in this period,’

artistic programme was influenced by

drowning of Pharaoh’s soldiers in

says Magness. ‘Ancient Jewish art is

macro-regional trends, and there are

the Sea of Reeds (Exodus 14–15),

often thought to be aniconic, or lacking

evident links with far away centres

the sending of the spies into Canaan

images. But these mosaics, colourful

such as Antioch. The fact is that Jews

(Numbers 13), Jonah and the fish

and filled with figured scenes, attest

borrowed motifs from the Graeco-

(Jonah 1–2), as well as a representation

to a rich visual culture as well as to the

Roman world and made them their

of the eschatological prophecy in Isaiah

dynamism and diversity of Judaism in

own, much like Christians did when

11:6, accompanied by an inscription

the Late Roman and Byzantine periods.’

they started to represent Jesus. In the

reading ‘a small child shall lead them.’

36

non-biblical episode, which would

The Huqoq mosaics also shed light

current politically charged climate,

These scenes are extremely rare or

on a vibrant Judaism that was not

where ‘foreignness’ is perceived as

completely unique in the setting of

afraid to borrow ideas and motifs

a serious threat to European and

ancient synagogues. In addition, there

from the surrounding Graeco-Roman

local identity, this is a stark reminder

is one panel—what we have dubbed

culture. As Magness notes, ‘one of

of the fallacy of cultural purity.

the ‘elephant mosaic’—which has

the distinguishing features of the

now become synonymous with the

Huqoq mosaics is the incorporation

long-lost traditions and appreciate the

project owing to its exceptional quality

of numerous classical (Graeco-Roman)

fact that the past comes to us highly

and elusive nature. There is a strong

elements such as putti, winged

filtered. Some of the biblical scenes, for

probability that this panel depicts a

personifications of the seasons,

example, depict a variation of the biblical

The mosaics also help us unearth

the circulation of supplementary traditions. The panel of Jonah shows

THE ROAD AHEAD Archaeology is a destructive science,

three or four more years to complete its exposure. After that, our hope is that the site will be developed for tourism by the Israeli government.

him being swallowed not by one, but

and so the responsible practice is

by three fish! This actually reflects an

usually to leave a substantial part of

interpretative tradition which plays

the site unexcavated, so that future

of the colourful nature of society,

creatively with the original Hebrew text.

archaeologists with better techniques

past and present. Many often assume

Before Huqoq, the earliest attestation

and technology can test the original

that Judaism was a monolithic entity

of this tradition was in some Jewish

results. This was our plan as well. But

in antiquity. This includes scholars,

and Islamic medieval manuscripts.

the mosaics changed everything.

many of whom are influenced by

Huqoq serves as a pointed reminder

rabbinic texts, which are, of course,

Our discovery demonstrates that

As Magness explains, ‘once we

it was already in circulation in the

discovered the first mosaics in 2012,

biased and selective. But synagogues

fifth and sixth centuries, and it

it became clear we had to uncover

like the one at Huqoq are recovering

was popular enough to find itself

the entire building, as leaving parts

alternative Jewish voices and counter

depicted on a costly mosaic floor.

unexcavated would have immediately

narratives. This is why we cannot

attracted other archaeologists

emphasise enough the importance

programme and the monumental

looking for spectacular mosaics,

of our archaeological findings. The

nature of the synagogue show that the

thereby defeating the purpose of

site invites us to challenge the

notion of a declining Jewish population

leaving it for future generations.’

notion of monolithic identities, to

In the end, the richness of the mosaic

So far, we have excavated

refute sweeping statements, and

Christian rule is inaccurate. Jews actually

approximately two thirds of the

to never accept what we are told,

flourished in the Byzantine period.

synagogue, and it will take up to

or what we read, uncritically.

suffering under the oppression of

FEATURE

episodes that reach us today, indicating

37

FEATURE

SMALL ISLANDS, BIG RESEARCH

38

Small island developing states are vulnerable and need unique solutions to overcome the hazards of climate change. Dr Stefano Moncada writes about research which tries to find the right answers to a complex problem. countries to become more resilient and to bounce

states (SIDS) in the world, of which

back while increasing their standards of living;

38 are members of the United

or do these policies actually hinder this? We also

Nations. While they may differ in

consider remote and isolated communities, often

many ways, these countries also

neglected by other researchers, and assess if

share certain features that distinguish them

indigenous knowledge could provide sustainable,

from other country groups. Most of their socio-

context-specific solutions. All this work has

economic activity is centred around bustling

culminated in the publication of a special issue

coasts and is reliant on ocean resources. This

of the International Journal of Climate Change

makes their fragile, smaller markets vulnerable

Strategies and Management on the theme of

to extreme weather and climatic shocks.

‘Climate Change and Development in Small Island

We rarely hear about SIDS in the mainstream

Developing States.’ The aim of this publication was

media. We mostly encounter them on those list

not only to contribute to the academic debate,

articles that rank ‘20 places you HAVE TO visit

but to also inform policy and provide guidance to

before you die.’ Vanuatu, Fiji, Mauritius, Maldives,

governments when faced with choices in SIDS.

Jamaica; you were probably day-dreaming about

TAKEAWAYS

one of these before coming across this article.

Sadly though, their beauty, much romanticised, is increasingly at risk. Their high degree of vulnerability and exposure to external shocks is

The special issue contains contributions from experts around the world.

Sociologist Godfrey Baldacchino points to some

severely impacting people’s livelihoods, challenging

of the problems that arise when climate change

existing infrastructure, and making everything

impacts are based on a Western understanding

relatively more expensive when compared to larger

of what ‘the future’ means. What the ‘future’

states. With climate change, SIDS are experiencing

looks like in a rich Western country is often very

a further layer of complexity which poses a threat

different from that of a developing country. This

to their very existence. Some islands simply cannot

is perhaps amplified further in SIDS, where the

cope with extreme weather events; others are

adoption of outsider-imposed plans, concepts,

slowly disappearing due to rising sea levels.

and priorities to address local concerns on

Our research tries to understand

climate change can waste time and effort.

these problems and find solutions.

Geographer Aideen Foley reiterates the

Our team investigates the links between climate

importance of made-to-measure solutions

change and development in SIDS. We identify

in reference to climate impact assessment

climate impacts and try to understand how

methods. She believes that these systems need

communities react to them. We question existing

to be better adapted to the size, boundedness,

policies: do they provide adequate support, helping

and isolation of many SIDS. Systems applied at FEATURE

T

here are 52 small island developing

39

In a world of instant everything, patience and the ability to build on incremental knowledge has never been more important.

should be integrated into formal educational and vocational training.

The reality is that the perception of the threat that comes with climate change varies from person to person.

Rory Walshe, Adam Bumpus, Joelle Auffray, and Denis Chang Seng argue

broader scales cannot simply be

promote community and nature-

that the difference in perceptions

downscaled to island settings.

based solutions. Knowledge can

on climate change issues, solutions,

come in all forms and the merging of

personal vulnerability, and the

and Roselyn Kumar investigate

science and indigenous knowledge

comprehension of science can help

operationalising interventions

is important to raise awareness

to tailor policies and solutions.

capable of ensuring effective and

and enhance perception of climate

sustainable livelihoods. They propose

change in island communities.

contributed to our present reality.

Picking up on the need to

International political theorist Milla

Adding to this, Patrick Nunn

harnessing the comparatively high degrees of social coherence,

communicate effectively with a local

Vaha explores how climate justice

closeness to nature, and spirituality

audience, Stuart Capstick, Sarah

literature addresses the concerns

present in island societies.

Hemstock, and Helene Jacot des

of SIDS losing their land from the

Combes examine the role of the

perspective of potential relocation.

also presents alternatives to

visual arts in communicating the

Do SIDS actually have legitimate

resource extraction and options for

effects of environmental change in

rights-claims towards the international

climate compatible development

SIDS. In their view, different tools,

community? Two endangered states,

in the Pacific. This would be based

such as storytelling, are needed to

like Kiribati and the Maldives, identified

on harvesting local knowledge to

engage with communities and these

New Zealand and Sri Lanka respectively

Feature

Bioanthropologist Hilary Bambrick

40

Of course, other countries have

Dr Stefano Moncada Photo by James Moffett

Coastal erosion in tourist beaches of Mauritius Photo by Dr Stefano Moncada

Dr Moncada conducting participatory focus groups with coastal communities in the Mauritius Photo by Dr Stefano Moncada

as potential new homelands. Vaha

the best possible solutions. Such

and in touch through social media

investigates the responsibilities

projects have also been labelled ‘a quick

[Facebook @um.ccplatform; Twitter

involved in these hypothetical proposed

solution to an acute problem.’ While

@umccplatform] or send us an email

scenarios, suggesting that there is a

support and donors can be attracted

at ccp.research@um.edu.mt.

complex relationship between the

to such visible projects, excited by

potential hosts and the relocating

the ‘cutting the ribbon’ effect, we

Read more:

communities which cannot be ignored.

need to foster an element of patience

‘Climate Change and Development in

Doing so could lead to extreme

that will see us reaping the rewards

Small Island Developing States’, Journal

hardships and loss of human life.

of effective long-term projects.

of Climate Change Strategies and

BACK TO BASICS

In a world of instant everything,

Management. Website:

patience and the ability to build

www.emeraldinsight.com/

on incremental knowledge has

toc/ijccsm/10/2

never been more important.

Duvat V.K.E., Salvat B., and

However, a promising stream of research is demonstrating how

The University of Malta, with its

Salmon C., ‘Drivers of shoreline

nature can become a strong ally in

Islands and Small States Institute, the

change in French Pacific Atoll

the battle against climate change.

Institute for European Studies, and

Reef Islands’, Global and Planetary

Soft responses and nature-based

the Climate Change Platform, is at the

Change, 158, 2017, pp. 134-154.

solutions, such as change in crop

forefront of international research

types, managing land use changes

on climate change in SIDS, leading

Jackson, C.W., Bush, D.M., and

more sustainably, and replanting

international publications, research

Neal, W.J., ‘Documenting Beach

mangroves can promote better climate

projects, and promoting agreements

Loss in Front of Seawalls in Puerto

change adaptation and increase the

with universities and research centres,

Rico: Pitfalls of Engineering a

livelihoods of coastal communities.

in Europe and in SIDS, to strengthen

Small Island Nation Shore’, in

As Duvat writes: ‘Nature still works.’

networks, advise institutions, and

Pitfalls of Shoreline Stabilization,

promote the exchange of best

Dordrecht, Springer, 2012, pp.

practices. Get involved in our work

53-71. 158, 2017, pp. 134-154.

Big engineering projects such as sea walls or break waters are not always

Feature

Our findings show that what we know is still relatively too scarce.

41

PROTECTING PRISONERS FROM RADICALISATION

Curbing extremism and violence is high on the global agenda. With prisons known to be a breeding ground for recruiters, are we doing enough to protect our inmates? Michela Scalpello writes.

T

his year, on the afternoon

FEATURE

a search for meaning and identity,

of May 29, Benjamin

the tragic loss of three innocent people,

opening a window for those recruiting

Herman went on a

was an outcry—why was Herman

people into extremist causes. At the

rampage in Liège,

granted leave from prison? How did

University of Malta, prison volunteer Dr

Belgium. He stabbed

no one realise something was wrong?

Joseph Giordmaina (Prison Education

Prisons are known to be breeding

and Re-Entry Programme, Faculty of

two female police officers, then shot

42

Amidst the outpouring of grief for

them dead with their own guns,

grounds for radicalised violent

Education) and former probation officer

before killing another civilian. Claims

extremism. Their populations are

Dr Trevor Calafato (Department of

from the Islamic State’s propaganda

vulnerable and susceptible to

Criminology) are working on a project

agency said that Herman was a

influence, with little to no family

dedicated to fighting the spread of

‘soldier of the caliphate.’ Speaking

ties and support networks. They’re

extremist ideologies among inmates.

to the media, federal magistrate

often also marginalised, burdened

Wenke Roggen said the attack was

with identity issues and psychosocial

the FAIR (Fighting Against Inmates’

considered a ‘terrorist murder and

problems. The prison environment

Radicalisation) project wants to

attempted terrorist murder.’

can exacerbate a personal crisis and

educate prison operators, as well

Funded by the European Union,

Dr Joseph Giordmaina Photo by Dr Trevor Calafato

Dr Trevor Calafato Photo by Michela Scalpello

Michela Scalpello Photo by Dr Trevor Calafato

as inmates, on the concept of

radicalisation. Tempering this major

allow us to hone in on early signs

radicalisation within a European

security risk has been our priority.

of radicalisation and implement the

setting. While at the Corradino

The ball started rolling when I,

Correctional Facility, as in Malta

Michela Scalpello, joined the team

in general, radicalisation is not a

as a research support officer. My

written for use primarily among prison

big issue, the power of knowledge

experience within the penitentiary

staff, this is definitely not the only

should never be dismissed. FAIR

sector proved critical in collecting

social group who will find it useful.

uses education as its weapon

data from all nine countries involved

The tools it outlines can be used by

of choice, making people aware

and building eleven key lessons.

regular citizens, empowering them

something regrettable happens.

Giordmaina’s interest in education

The manual raises awareness and

Although this manual is being

to act and potentially play a hand

builds on knowledge related to the

in recognising signs and avoiding

whole spectrum of radicalisation—

crises in their communities.

Many terrorism acts could have

as part of inmate resettlement,

from recognising the early signs,

intertwined with Calafato’s

to the resettlement of released

been controlled had individuals

knowledge of the criminal justice

inmates. There’s also a programme

recognised the risk. Would the

system, saw them focusing on

for prevention and disengagement

victims still have lost their lives had

terrorism and security studies

from radicalisation for detainees and

the Belgian authorities recognised

to contribute to a solution that

for gradual transition towards their

that Benjamin Herman had become

will address the realities of

release. Mentoring sessions are one

radicalised in prison? Would they have

radicalisation. Many are quick to

of the tools that we outline. Inmates

offered him prison leave? What if

judge inmates; ‘Lock them up and

meet mentors who provide them

citizens had recognised his behaviour

throw away the key!’ they say. But

with support, helping them through

and spoken to the authorities? These

this attitude, and the isolation it

deradicalisation. There are also sessions

are all questions nobody can answer

results in, is what leads to terrible

that focus on their future transition

but one thing is certain—the Liège

consequences in the first place.

into the community, aiding with

tragedy is not a one-off. It is only

With this philosophy firmly

daunting tasks such as job seeking.

with proper education, knowledge,

in mind, the team sought to put

Ultimately, the FAIR practices

and empathy, that harrowing events like these can be prevented.

together a training manual outlining

collection will be shared with the

an innovative and eclectic approach

European Radicalisation Awareness

for prison operators. The manuals

Network (RAN), to create a

Note: For further information

that are currently available do not

collaborative synergy. This assessment

regarding the FAIR Project, the

do this, and prison staff often admit

will form the basis of efforts to scale

Manual, or following training

that they do not feel competent

up current practices and to outline

sessions send us an email at

enough to deal with radical views and

a coherent system of detection, to

michela.scalpello@um.edu.mt.

FEATURE

of the warning signs before

right disengagement strategies.

43

IDEA THE TIME FOR CONTEMPORARY ART IS NOW!

IDEA

Document No. 38, 1786 Artwork/photograph by Alex Attard. 2017

44

Atlas Artwork/photograph

by Dan Hudson. 2015

Many feel that our country is changing at an unprecedented rate. Some would even say that it has become unrecognisable. Valletta Contemporary’s Dr Joanna Delia writes about the growing appreciation for contemporary art in Malta. contemporary fine art photography by

is behind this

Alex Attard, is a magnificent homage

to interact with the here and now

new movement?

to old documents from the 600-year-

through media as diverse as the world

These new

old collection at Malta’s Notarial

and our societies. It presents myriad

ways of

Archives. The work deals with art’s role

of views. The exhibits at Valletta

in archiving precious objects that may

Contemporary change every month,

have lost their original function and

and artists from all disciplines and

time to start questioning things—to

become unrestorable. These objects are

backgrounds are chosen to participate.

rethink our priorities, not just as

shown to still retain their importance

Run by a foundation whose only

individuals but as a community. We

by being transformed into artworks.

aim is to provide the space and

do not only need to think laterally,

Dan Hudson’s video show, That

thinking in the local art scene?

Contemporary art tells us that it is

opportunity for people to experience

but three dimensionally and with

Golden Stain of Time, tackles the eternal

all that contemporary art has to offer,

multiple senses. META foundation

presence of the life-giving sun. Many

Valletta Contemporary also promises

opened its Valletta Contemporary

perceive the sun as an instrument that

to become a patron of new ideas, of

galleries on East Street, Valletta, in

marks the passage of time, as if the sun

the thought-germinating, concept-

April. Three of the exhibitions held

were designed and constructed for this

shaking world that is contemporary

since then—Electromorphologies,

purpose—as a timepiece that serves us.

art. Times are changing and we

Parallel Existences, and That Golden

Such attitudes ignore the obvious fact

are all on board for the ride.

Stain of Time—all dealt with the

that the sun predates us and will maybe

concept of the passage of time.

out-live us. The work thus questions

Valletta Contemporary will be hosting

human attitudes of entitlement and the

a fundraising initiative showcasing

back at some of the most renowned

importance we attribute to ourselves.

some of the best art by Maltese and

pioneering videos in the media art

Ultimately, it pushes us to ask whether

Malta-based artists and launching

world, showcasing works by artists

we may have sacrificed our heritage for

its first catalogue with these

such as Mona Hatoum and Bill Viola.

the gods of economic success and the

works. For more information visit:

Parallel Existences, an exhibition of

short-lived pleasures of innovation.

www.vallettacontemporary.com.

Electromorphologies is a look-

IDEA

W

Contemporary art invites people

hy now? What

45

START UP

f o y r o e h t A prise r e t en

46

More often than not, new businesses fail. Worldwide, over half of all new startups fail to make it to the three year mark. A new business assessment model

by Prof. Russell Smith wants to reverse this trend, and he and his team have already proven that it works. Dr Edward Duca writes.

succeed—‘its physiology,’ he explains. After that,

for Entrepreneur Europe, NYC-based

the next step was for Smith to figure out ‘how [to]

communications professional Derrek

diagnose what’s wrong and make recommendations

Newton compiled a hilarious list of

and interventions,’ giving advice on how and when

metaphors linked to the startup process.

one should keep a business alive, or abandon

People likened it to chess and football—tough sports that require mental acumen and strategy.

it quickly. A model was slowly being built.

The Incumatrix™ Business Adviser was the

Others said that ‘starting a business is like climbing

seed Smith helped grow with Prof. Philip Wragg in

a mountain,’ while yet another person compared

Oxford, a long-time colleague and entrepreneurship

it to joining the priesthood because it requires

co-lecturer. Smith came up with five key points for

devotion and dedication! But there’s also a darker

businesses, honed and tested while working ‘with

side to all this: nearly one in three entrepreneurs

5000 business founders from around the world,

suffer from depression because of their work.

all of them with incredibly diverse backgrounds.’

Prof. Russell Smith (Centre of Entrepreneurship

The Incumatrix™ model could turn ‘70% failure

and Business Incubation, University of Malta)

at 5 years to 70% success,’ explains Smith. Amongst

wants to make building and running a business

their many students from diverse backgrounds were

less stressful and more accessible. But how?

army veterans. In memory of a fallen friend, they

He comes from a long line of teachers and

trained over a thousand forces personnel many

engineers, so, he says: ‘I am used to taking things

of whom had ‘lost one, two, or three limbs.’ These

to pieces, figuring out how they work and putting

military personnel have strong values: ‘good at

them back together again.’ He couples this skill set

training, teamwork, planning, they don’t quit when

with a unique take on the human body: ‘I don’t

it gets cold and dirty, they understand about setting

think medical research is any different [from setting

objectives and milestones, about when to withdraw.’

up a business],’ both are machines of sorts. While

These qualities overlap with those needed to run a

working for a pharmaceutical company and teaching

business successfully. Smith helped them link this

at various universities, including Oxford, he saw

skill set to the expertise entrepreneurs need to

business patterns everywhere. His experience

start a business, giving them another lifeline. War

allowed him to create a conceptual framework of

veterans could reintegrate into society and enhance

the basic components that a company needs to

their pension or benefits. Whatever walks of life

START UP

L

aunching a business is hard work. Writing

47

they were from, they were able to acquire ‘the skills that are translatable to put together a business concept.’ Their approach was universal enough to apply

want it? Do the customers perceive the

THE ENTERPRISE FRAMEWORK

benefits? Can the enterprise generate value [profit] for itself? Should you do

So, what is The Enterprise Framework? It is composed of two parts:

[…] and we realised that we had got it.’

the first is The Incumatrix™ Business

A universal business model was born!

Adviser that Smith and his team have

questions (and answers) through

used to assess the health of thousands

the model. Each of the 25 points in

values, a golden opportunity came from

of businesses. As a model, it is composed

the Incumatrix™ Business Adviser

the University of Malta (UM). ‘Through

of 25 squares representing the qualities

describes a business quality, such as

European funding, we could do what we

that a business needs to consider. The

value proposition, sales management,

couldn’t do in Oxford.’ Smith and Wragg

second part is a set of 25 hexagons

cash flow forecast, commercial

wanted to ‘have more of a community

that assess the right support structures

strategy, financial control, and so

focus’ and develop a course and

that a business needs to succeed,

on (see picture). The intriguing thing

business model that could ‘put bread

or its progress pathway through the

about the model is that it can also be

on the table’ but also scale up to the

Business Environment. To understand

used to tell the story of a business.

next unicorn: a billion dollar business.

the beauty of how these two panels

‘If we do have it right, and have got

intertwine, we need to go back to basics.

An entrepreneur can come to these

Smith takes two plumbers in partnership as his starting point for our business narrative. Smiling, he

the Theory of Enterprise, then it should

The basis of enterprise, according

be used right across the board. So I see

to this model, is that an entrepreneur

says, ‘I’ve never met a poor plumber,

this working equally in large companies

identifies a problem and the product

at least in monetary terms.’ This earns

and for a person working out of their

or service that would act as a solution,

them 4 points (marking ranges from

room.’ And they think that they might

providing benefit to the customer. This

0=absent to 4=proficient) on production

have ‘a chance to do something special

leads to some simple questions: ‘Can

control and strategy. But they only

here in Malta.’ And this is where The

you [the business] deliver the solution to

get a 1 on owner’s control as ‘they

Enterprise Framework comes in.

solve a problem? Do enough customers

don’t have a partnership agreement.’

PRODUCTION

Start Up

question is: ‘does it make you happy?’

to each student: ‘they got what we said,

After developing the core idea and

48

this?’ For Smith the most important

This simple model can be used to

They also have ‘no idea about brand

back to Apple. Apple was essentially

and business marketing.’ With hardly

making everything they could make.

map what people have done, assess the

a name or a logo for their business,

I think there were 34 products in

current health of a business, and figure

they fail to get any marks for this.

total.’ At this time, Apple was focused

out what they need to do in the future.

Through the Incumatrix™ Business

on production, leaving innovation

Smith has created a business oracle.

Adviser Smith can give ‘a rating

to die: no innovation management,

from 0 to 100.’ A low mark indicates

no production strategy, and a waste

A BUSINESS TREATMENT

an unhealthy business in need of

of resources. ‘Steve Jobs drastically

rapid intervention or abandonment.

reduced the amount they were making.’

for Entrepreneurship and Business

The plumbers in our story ranked

He fired thousands of people, axed

Incubation (CEBI) that runs TAKEOFF,

in at 66/100. They were making

production by 70% and turned a $1

the UM’s Business Incubator filled

money, but they could do better.

billion loss in 1997 into over $300

with dozens of startups. By regularly

Today, Smith directs Malta’s Centre

million in profit in 1998. According

calculating a business’ scores, he can

quickly switches to one of the largest

to the Incumatrix™, Jobs shifted

both assess the health of a business over

companies on Earth: Apple. Smith

from ‘Business Resources’ coming

time and compare it to others. Like a

uses the model to describe how Steve

in and too many products going

family doctor, the scores let him look at

Jobs returned to Apple in the 1990s

out, to ‘Business Intelligence’ and a

current symptoms and suggest relevant

after having been fired and turned the

‘Commercial Strategy.’ He unveiled

treatments to keep the business healthy.

dying company into one of the most

much fewer products, like the colourful

successful businesses of our time.

iMac in 1998 and iPod in 2001, then

hand with their description of what a

After talking about plumbers, Smith

The Incumatrix™ goes hand in

shifted to the next two squares on the

business needs to do; from creation of

feature of the model (or 3 by 2 square

Incumatrix™ covering marketing and

the enterprise, to its culmination—be

area). While circling the squares

‘Brand Control.’ The ‘Think Differently’

it selling the company or floating it on

from ‘Innovation Management’ to

campaign remains one of the most

the stock exchange. In addition to this,

‘Production Control’, he said: ‘this is

famous marketing campaigns in history,

the progress pathway mentioned earlier

what Steve Jobs saw when he went

cementing Apple’s brand worldwide.

is a hexagonal model that describes

Smith used the business process

SHIFT

BRAND

Schematic showing how The Incumatrix™ Business Adviser can be used to describe the process Steve Jobs went through when he arrived back at Apple in 1997. A 3 by 2 square can describe a ‘business process’, the figure shows how Jobs shifted control from one side of the matrix (production) to the other side (brand).

Start Up

Production > Shift > Brand

49

Prof. Russell Smith holding his invention: The Enterprise Framework, that can assess the health of any business Photo by James Moffett

START UP

Take the leap as Ing. Joe Bartolo did skydiving. Bartolo is the manager of TAKEOFF at CEBI, University of Malta

50

'Steve Jobs drastically reduced the amount they were making.’ He fired thousands of people, axed production by 70% and turned a $1 billion loss in 1997 into over $300 million in profit in 1998. what environment a business needs to

be held in November 2019. This

sees the model’s future as being online

develop. When assessing TAKEOFF, the

activity will ‘bring together ideas

and having a touch of blockchain

business incubator received excellent

that are ready for investment (equity

technology integrated within it.

scores in its support structure through

finance) with investors to showcase

Smith wants ‘Malta at the centre

mentorship of companies, but failed

them and match them together,’ he

of the map.’ Imagine a digital system

when it came to raising private equity

says. This could launch some highly

that lets entrepreneurs ‘answer 25

and venture capital. This means that

successful companies in Malta, all

questions very quickly to give them

startups at the UM are mostly getting

of which will be ‘helping each other,

a report and recommendations’ for

stuck at the incubation and acceleration

using a common framework.’

their business. And all for free.

The idea could have a ripple

Entrepreneurs can repeat this every

to change its laws to allow investors

effect, turning Malta into a hub of

month to assess business health

to invest in local companies without

innovation. Dozens of companies

simply and cheaply, improving the

being taxed. ‘You have to match that

would germinate here, then come

whole island’s economy. The next

[business growth] with the environment

to fruition all over the world. Malta

feature of the digital system will

they need to thrive,’ says Smith, and

‘can fly’ but only with an ‘integrated

involve ‘answering 625 questions

Malta has a tonne of potential.

approach that fits everything together.’

to issue a report, a certificate

STARTUP MALTA

THE FUTURE IS DIGITAL

that entrepreneurs can take to

Smith, Wragg and their team at

The beauty of a simple model to

the bank or investor.’ They plan to couple this system with blockchain

CEBI have trained ‘over 100 MEnts

assess a company is the speed with

technology to provide unique and

(Masters in Entrepreneurship) on

which answers can be given. Smith

secure business reports. Smith

the island. So [...] we launch the next

thinks that ‘if all of those hundreds of

wants to automate himself.

stage.’ They can shift entrepreneurs

components [the Incumatrix™ expert

from ‘starting a business themselves to

model uses a 625-point analysis] were

model] to help as many people as

helping others set up their business’—a

to be considered at once people would

possible,’ Smith says. He believes

train-the-trainer approach for business

never come back, so we have a rule: if

that entrepreneurship should be

that is built on the models Smith has

you come and talk about your business,

‘available for everyone in Malta;

created, which he has dubbed ‘the

unless we have solved your problem in

from school children learning about

world’s first integrated programme.’

less than an hour then we don’t know

enterprise, to family businesses

what we are doing.’ And TAKEOFF

and high growth [companies].’ For

will contribute to training hundreds

manager Ing. Joe Bartolo reportedly

him, business is a way for people

of budding entrepreneurs on a

performed 1000 hours of mentoring

to free themselves and become

model shown to help businesses

last year. Smith admits he can't

happier; a revolutionary idea that

survive and succeed. Smith wants

‘squeeze anything more out of him,’ so

could see the UM becoming ‘a world

this momentum to culminate in an

apart from having short handouts and

leading centre’ both for plumbers

event called MedFest which will

a book awaiting imminent release, he

and for the next Steve Jobs!

If successful, these new mentors

‘I really want to use [this business

START UP

phase. To amend this, Malta needs

51

lab to life

EN

52

A

F

MIC DE CA

THE RIS EO

LAB TO LIFE

TR

EPR E N E

S R U

What is it that separates innovation in the lab from successful multi-million euro ventures that make money and have a positive impact on the world? The Knowledge Transfer Office’s Andras Havasi writes. part of it all: having an aptitude for

and entrepreneurship courses

grounds of

taking calculated risks. Most of the time,

on campus. Also needed is the

research have

scientists stop dead in their tracks. A

facilitation of industry-academia

been laid

few rise to the occasion; they become

collaboration while having accessible

and a new

both researcher and business person

business knowledge and support for

combined—an academic entrepreneur.

researchers. But more could also be

invention is proven in the laboratory, the possibility of a new journey opens

done. We need to encourage academic

up: from the lab to life. This entails

entrepreneurship by acknowledging

transforming inventions into products

researchers’ willingness to take the

and services that create profit for

risk of the lab-to-life journey. Patents,

companies and benefit society. This

spin-outs, and commercialisation efforts

is the infamous valley of death that

should count towards promotion.

Several international role models

separates multi-million euro ventures from inventions that never stand a

have proven that academic and

chance of returning the invested time

entrepreneurial activities are compatible

and funds. But what separates two

if you can learn the necessary skills.

projects at either end of the spectrum?

Researchers from Ohio University,

What are the key ingredients that

Stanford, and MIT played a huge role

make that very important difference?

in the development of GPS technology, Google, and the Internet respectively. It

Only a mere fraction of new inventions and technologies reach the

can be a real win-win situation for those

market. These stories of victory are all

who desire both academic freedom

unique. There is no secret recipe for

and the excitement of inventing new

guaranteed success. However, most of them have one thing in common: a lead researcher who plays a major role throughout the whole process.

Andras Havasi Photo by Jean Claude Vancell

As with most of life’s choices,

things and seeing one’s inventions in the hands of users. As for research institutions, if they want to strengthen their integrity in the triple helix model

They drive the research beyond

becoming an academic entrepreneur

of innovation—the academia-industry-

the walls of the lab into the outside

is personal. It requires careful self-

government relationship—then this

world where it can be put to use.

examination, an assessment of your

is definitely the way forward.

Developing a product and selling it

abilities and a consideration of your

There is a risk in leaving the comfort

on the market is very different from

position in life and in your career.

zone of research behind, but even

conducting research. It is business

There’s more to consider beyond one’s

in the worst case scenario there

we are talking about here, and it is

own individual skills and dedication

are gains to be had. The adventure

severely competitive. The qualities and

when starting a business venture that

might leave a researcher somewhat

skills you need to maneuver through

has a high chance of failure. In fact, the

battered and bruised for a little

the business world are new to most

challenges that come with this move are

while, but they will emerge armed

researchers. The first is being able to

so formidable that it is crucial to have

with invaluable experience that

see a business opportunity. This must

a supportive academic environment

will ultimately make them a better

be followed up with the ability to react

that embraces entrepreneurship. Key

researcher. As for the best case

to the opportunity and create value for

steps include setting up technology

scenario? The only limits to that are

customers. Then there is the scariest

transfer offices, business incubators,

one’s own imagination and nerve.

lab to life

W

hen the firm

53

Research

54

MSc student Helene Nuland conserving a Baroque wall painting cycle in the Chapel at Palazzo de la Salle in Valletta, the focus of a previous conservation project carried out by the Department of Conservation and Built Heritage.

Photo by the Department of Conservation and Built Heritage

g n i v r e s n Co s e k o r t s h s u r b A new conservation project will soon start work on one of Malta’s most significant historical artworks. Laura Bonnici meets Prof. JoAnn Cassar, Jennifer Porter, Dr Chiara Pasian, and Roberta De Angelis to find out why conserving the d’Aleccio Great Siege Wall Painting Cycle is of national importance. they accurately depict styles of dress, armour,

Siege, the Order of St John commissioned

weaponry and the ships of the period. The

Matteo Perez d’Aleccio, a disciple of the

narrative is developed visually through key

school of the world-famous Michelangelo,

events which play out over a series of frames.

to capture key historical moments of the

At their core, the paintings ‘constitute an

infamous siege for the principal hall of the then

extraordinarily important historical document,’

newly-built Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta.

Porter says. They are also defining for the

The work lasted six years and almost certainly took into account eyewitness statements from war veterans. According to Emmanuel Magro

history of art in Malta. However, the passage of time has not been kind to these works of art.

Over the centuries, these monumental paintings

Conti, Senior Curator of Maritime and Military

have deteriorated. A project launched in 2001 by

History at Heritage Malta and historical consultant

the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts in Germany

on this conservation project, d’Aleccio’s efforts

conserved around two-thirds of the cycle, before

resulted in what is arguably the best and most

the project stalled due to funding problems and

accurate representation of Malta’s famed siege.

the illness of the project’s director Prof. Heinz

DEFINING WORK

Leitner. Now, a group of conservators in Malta is

‘The paintings depict 12 key moments from the four-month-long Siege,’ explains the project

gearing up to tackle the remaining third part of the cycle, to finally complete the whole project.

‘The paintings and the Dresden project are very

leader Jennifer Porter from the Department

well-known in our field and, as a department, we

of Conservation and Built Heritage at the

have always revered the d’Aleccio painting cycle,’

Faculty for the Built Environment, University

explains Porter. ‘We have been dreaming of the

of Malta (UM). These include the arrival of the

possibility of undertaking this project for some

Ottoman armada, pivotal battle scenes, and

years and are thrilled that we have managed to

the arrival of a relief force from Sicily, which

make it happen, with the support of the UM, the

effectively convinced the Ottomans to lift the

Research, Innovation and Development Trust

siege. The paintings are extremely detailed and

(RIDT), Heritage Malta, and the Office of the

Research

I

n 1575, just a decade after Malta’s Great

55

Detail of a battle scene from the Perez d’Aleccio Great Siege wall painting cycle in the Grandmaster’s Palace, Valletta.

Bottom, left: MSc student Lara Walker uncovers the lower border of the painted frieze in the Chapel at Palazzo de la Salle Bottom, right: MSc student Helene Nuland conserving the coat of arms of Grandmaster de Vilhena in the wall painting cycle of the Chapel at Palazzo de la Salle

RESEARCH

Photos by the Department of Conservation and Built Heritage

56

The d’Aleccio paintings serve as enduring symbols for the identity of the nation today.

The UM and Heritage Malta are

out such a project without the support

from the Restoration Directorate.’

joining forces to create a unique

we have been offered,’ remarks Porter.

The project made the headlines

learning experience for students

‘These projects require specialised

earlier this year when it sought

on the Master of Science (MSc)

equipment and materials. Lighting,

€300,000 in funding. At the project’s

degree in the Conservation of

electrics, scaffolding, or photographic

official launch in July, HE The President

Decorative Architectural Surfaces.

equipment. It is often impossible for

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca applauded

‘MSc students spend 50% of their

universities to undertake projects of

efforts to conserve the d’Aleccio

time in practical training, which is

such a scale due to the need to work at

Great Siege Wall Painting Cycle

essential to form skilled conservators.

a slower pace than professional teams

and encouraged more companies

During our conservation projects,

since we are teaching and training

and entities to come forward and

they always work under the close

students at the same time.’ Teaching and

contribute to the conservation of

supervision of the department’s team

research institutions like the University

the piece and of Malta's heritage.

of professionally-trained wall-painting

of Malta have the resources and time

conservators,’ Porter explains. Porter

to properly study the paintings and

secured from The Gasan Foundation,

herself is the coordinator of this

their treatment, and to glean as much

a lead sponsor found with the help of

course. Key figures from Heritage

from the experience as possible.

the RIDT, preliminaries for the start

Malta involved in the project include

of the project commenced. The team

Principal Conservator of Paintings

close proximity to a work of art is a

had two main objectives: conservation

Anthony Spagnol and Senior Curator

truly privileged situation for both the

of the cycle, and providing one-of-a-

Emmanuel Magro Conti. Professional

professional conservators and the

kind training to future conservators.

wall paintings conservators will also

students. In the case of the d’Aleccio

A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

be engaged to keep up the project’s

Great Siege Wall Painting Cycle, we

momentum while the students follow

are in the presence of history. To be

the theoretical part of the course.

able to conserve this piece of Malta’s

When a generous sponsorship was

The d’Aleccio paintings are

‘Spending so much time in such

This combination of collaboration

heritage, and use it to train the next

a scenario of their own, bringing

and sponsorship marks a new frontier

generation of conservators, is hugely

together institutions that have not

for conservation projects at the UM.

exciting and we hope it will inspire the

worked side-by-side in this way before.

‘It would be impossible for us to carry

conservation projects of the future.’

exceptional and as such have created

RESEARCH

President, as well as logistical support

57

The Maltese Time Machine: Magna Żmien Andrew Pace for the Valletta 2018 Foundation

A

s I write this article, a box

and Late Interactive. In the driver’s

about: England vs East Germany. Some

full of 8mm film has just

seat is Armchair Voyager Wistin (Jacob

minor detective work has revealed

been delivered to our

Piccinino). Behind the scenes is the

that this recording was made on 24

studio. On these tapes

professional studio that makes it all

November 1970 when England beat

is local home footage

happen, digitising open reel tapes,

East Germany three goals to one.

featuring carnival celebrations from

audio cassettes, vinyl, Super 8 and

the 1960s, a visit by the UK’s Queen

8mm film, photographs, negatives,

seem inconsequential, but of all the

Elizabeth II, and an assorted series of

and slides at high resolution. Since

voice recordings we have heard,

family events recorded around the

February 2018, we have digitised over

they are perhaps among the most

Maltese Islands. These films are valuable

2,000 items from 51 different donors,

honest. Recorded in a busy, alien

historical records opening a window

in addition to receiving a further 600

environment under strict time

onto the unfiltered and uncensored

digital files from private collections.

constraints, the speakers didn’t have

perspective of Maltese citizens.

Magna Żmien is a Valletta 2018

the luxury of retakes before their voices were forever fixed on vinyl.

Magna Żmien will continue to collect

throughout 2018, including at Science

Andrew Alamango and a collective of

and the City and Malta Café Scientifique,

sounds, images, and videos like these,

like-minded individuals. The purpose

only scratch the surface when it comes

and present its research in innovative

of the project is to collect and preserve

to the sheer volume of material we

contexts beyond 2018. We want to

historic Maltese content recorded

have been allowed to copy by donors.

continue engaging citizens in the

One thing we often encounter is

technical and cultural components at

equipment over the past century. Left

the personal voice message—greetings

the heart of our project. Agreements

neglected, these personal documents

between diasporic Maltese. Dating

are also underway to establish a

containing evidence of Malta’s changing

back to the 1950s, these appear most

formal association between Magna

landscapes—physical, social, and

frequently on open reel and audio

Żmien and the National Archives,

political—might have been lost and

cassette tape, but also on special vinyl

ensuring the longevity of this material

forgotten. Instead, the team is reusing

discs. One particular recording is by a

as public documents are accessible to

them, reinterpreting them through art.

man named Charlie who recorded his

all. What we collect, after all, belongs

message in a Calibre booth on a platform

to the Maltese people at home and

available fading analogue memories

at London Waterloo station. In the

abroad. The recordings contain an

is physically manifested through ‘The

message, Charlie sends wishes to his

essence of our national identity that

Magnificent Memory Machine’—the

family and regales them with tales of

cannot and should not be lost.

Kapsula Merill, designed and built by

all the football matches he is attending,

Matthew Pandolfino, Andre Vujicic

one of which he is particularly excited

The move to digitise and make

Culture

stories to tell. Our performance events

project coordinated by artistic director

on home sound, image, and video

58

The collected material has many

Messages such as these may

For more, visit: www.magnazmien.com

Culture

Both images: Magna Ĺťmien Photos by Elisa von Brockdorff

59

P Alumni

S

60

O

T H G E N I SE A IL C

Living on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean, chances are that fish are an integral part of your diet. But do you think about how the fishing industry actually works? Kirsty Callan talks to Dawn Borg Costanzi about the need for safer, more ethical practices.

Record of fishing vessels and a questionnaire for

next tuna steak, will you be

countries to report their progress in fostering

thinking about where the fish

responsible fishing practices. The goal was

came from, and how it was

to crack down on illegal, unreported, and

caught? Will you be thinking

unregulated fishing. Together with her team, she

about the fishermen’s working conditions? The likely

presented the prototype of the Global Record at

answer is no. But these are ‘real problems in the

the Committee on Fisheries in 2014, a biennial

global fishing industry,’ says Dawn Borg Costanzi.

meeting attended by representatives from all

Working from the London hub of the international

fishing countries to take decisions on fisheries

NGO 'The Pew Charitable Trusts,’ Borg Costanzi and

management. ‘It was met with very positive

her colleagues are on a mission to end illegal fishing.

feedback—it was a great moment,’ she says.

A SERIES OF COINCIDENCES Borg Costanzi found herself working in fisheries

But as time rolled on, Borg Costanzi slowly became more involved in policy-making. Today, this is her primary work with ‘The Pew Charitable

policy after completing a BSc in IT (specialised

Trusts.’ ‘We want to ensure the sustainability

in computer science and artificial intelligence).

of three things: the fish, boats, and people,’

After graduation, she got a job with a Maltese

she explains. They do this by trying to get

software development company, and she started

policy agreements through the UN and other

working on a project tracking fishing vessels

international fisheries management bodies.

for the government’s Department of Fisheries

SHINING LIGHT

and Aquaculture. By the end of the project, she and her team had re-developed the electronic

‘When you say illegal fishing, people think

register of fishing boats for the Maltese Islands.

about some boats catching too many fish. That

The project attracted the attention of the

is a big problem but it’s not the only thing,’ Borg

United Nations. The Food and Agriculture

Costanzi adds. Ships are fishing where and when

Organization (FAO) wanted to develop a similar

they shouldn’t, the catch is not always reported

register for the whole of the Mediterranean,

accurately, and some areas simply have no fishing

and needed someone from the Maltese team to

rules or regulations. Some fishing methods can

consult with them for a year and share their local

damage the seabed, and safety is a major problem.

experiences. Borg Costanzi rose to the occasion.

There are human rights issues that should

The relationship continued to flourish when FAO

also be considered. Fishing is the second most

set its sights on a global register of fishing vessels.

dangerous occupation in the world with 24,000

Borg Costanzi moved to Rome for six years to

deaths annually and people often go missing at

work with FAO on the software development

sea,’ she says. But it gets worse. In some parts

side of things. She helped build the Global

of the world, ‘fishermen are offered contracts Alumni

W

hen you sit down to eat your

61

Dawn Borg Costanzi

but payments aren’t honoured.

Sometimes they can be stuck on board for years at a time, practically locked up in cages, with not enough food and working 20 hours a day.’

Sometimes fishing becomes slavery.

‘Consumers can do their bit in fighting against this by showing interest,’ Borg Costanzi insists. Ask your fishmonger: is this a local fish?

Is it farmed? How was it caught? Was it transported? Was it frozen? ‘These questions show the supply chain that the consumers care, and that makes them [the industry] clean up their act,’ she says. Look out for certification and eco-labels on pre-packaged food, as an indication of sustainable fishing.

On a personal level, she encourages people to eat a variety of local fish that are in season. This is something people are becoming more aware of.

However, habits are still hard to break and this is why some fish, like tuna, is now close to becoming endangered.

Ultimately though, Borg Costanzi concedes that consumers have little way of knowing whether their seafood has Alumni

been caught illegally. It is the authorities

62

FISH4TOMORROW Created out of concern over the state of Maltese and European fisheries, fish4tomorrow is an NGO that conducts research, lobbies and campaigns with one aim in mind: to foster a culture of sustainable seafood consumption.

One of their most useful endeavours was the Quickfish guide, currently available on their website. Compiled with the help of scientists, fisheries, and other experts in the field, it is a rich, practical resource for consumers to use when consuming fish. It uses a rating system that tracks environmental sustainability and includes information on the health of fish stocks, fishing methods and their consequences, social consequences, and any other environmental impact of fishing, farming, and importation.

For more, visit: www.fish4tomorrow.com/quickfish-guide

that must set up appropriate checks at

period when she stepped outside

the ports and when authorising ships for

the fishing world to work for an

fishing. Seafood suppliers should ensure

online university. She soon realised,

the traceability of their supply chains—

however, that her heart wasn’t in it. ‘I

everything also needs enforcement.

thought I’d go back to doing IT full-

REFLECTING…

time. I thought the fisheries projects had just been a short stint, but I soon realised I wasn’t making good use of

kind of work Borg Costanzi does was

my experience and I went back.’

not something she always aspired to.

Borg Costanzi now feels very

‘When I started doing IT, I didn’t know

committed to the work she’s doing

the world of fisheries management

combating the illegal fishing industry.

even existed,’ she says. ‘But it’s only

‘These are serious problems that we

when you actually enter an industry that

are tackling and there is a huge team

you get to know the full extent of the

behind it all,’ she says, noting that it will

opportunities available. You just have

take a long time to resolve these ‘if it is

to be open to new experiences.’ On this

even possible.’ But she remains hopeful:

note, ‘it’s important [for others] to know

‘small efforts make a big difference when

that you don’t have to be restricted

you combine them,’ she continues.

to what you study. It's OK to feel like

‘It’s the idea that you’re doing

you'd prefer to do something else and

something for the greater good,

decide to change paths. As long as

which is a bit cliché but also true,’ she

you can show [that] you are adaptive

continues. ‘I can see a clear path of

and can learn easily, and are interested

how my work can take us from working

in other things, it doesn’t matter,’ she

on illegal fishing to really improving

says—some healthy career advice.

food security and making sure people

Speaking candidly about her own path, Borg Costanzi recalls a brief

have enough food to eat—for me, that’s very, very important.’

Alumni

Skipjack and yellowfin tuna being offloaded from a fish carrier in a port in Bangkok, to be taken to a processor for canning Photo by Dawn Borg Costanzi

Despite her success in fisheries, the

63

TO-DO LIST MUSIC

BOOK

You’d be forgiven for thinking that British rock band The Darkness is not usual fare for this office. But it’s the ultimate millennium throwback that we cannot say no to.

I do believe in a thing called love.

Yes, I do!

Protagonist Eleanor, from Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, is the most distinctive character we’ve met all year. There may be something very dark beneath it all, but Eleanor emerges as a bright light.

MOVIE

In post-truth times like these, a film about defending the press and its freedom to expose corruption is a must-watch. Steven Spielberg’s The Post. Put it on your list!

TV

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

If you’re a fan of pop culture and video essays, Pop Culture Detective’s critical lens should hit the spot. Politics, entertainment and masculinity feature often.

You have been warned.

PODCAST

To-do list

Global Pillage is about the diversity of human experience. It’s a panel show with weird (but true) facts about the human race.

AND they have comedians.

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Beaches, museums, places of cultural significance: this is what regular tourists flock towards. Then there are those who are more attracted to places historically associated with death and tragedy. These are the people featured in Dark Tourist…

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All the pretty things made by the people in the @Adobe community are featured on their feed. And it’s a good 'un!