Science teachers from several Church schools recently toured some of the laboratories at the University of Malta’s Faculty of Science.

The teachers first visited the Department of Biology, where they were guided by the department head Prof. Joseph Borg, who gave a brief overview of the laboratories and the study and research opportunities his department offers.

The teachers also visited some of the research laboratories of the Physics, Geosciences and Chemistry departments, where they met researchers and discussed ongoing research taking place at the Faculty of Science.

The teachers were impressed by the changes they saw, particularly at the Department of Physics, which has given rise to a new Department of Geosciences, and the significant advances in applied electromagnetics, astrophysics and quantum optomechanics, apart from the establishment of the Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy.

The teachers were impressed by the changes they saw

Prof. Charles Sammut, dean of the Faculty of Science, who is also the Rector’s Delegate for Science Popularisation, said the faculty was keen to encourage future collaborations between science educators and the faculty. He said local demand for scientists has been constantly increasing over the past decade, and the faculty’s research effort has been responsible for generating significant demands for young researchers to sustain its growing research potential.

This tour was held as a follow-up of a training seminar entitled ‘Scientix and Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) careers’ organised by the Secretariat for Catholic Education. The programme included a presentation by Jeannette Axisa from Transport Malta on Stem careers in Malta and a presentation by Dr André Xuereb on the degrees offered by the Faculty of Science.

The teachers were informed about the ‘Scientix 3 Project in Europe’ and the ‘Pop Science at UoM’ initiative held in collaboration with the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Education for students in Year 9. The teachers were also involved in a workshop to develop projects and initiatives to promote Stem careers in the classroom.

Stephanie Maggi-Pulis, head of the Department of Physics at the Secretariat for Catholic Education, helped organise the tour.

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