In May 2025, His Excellency Fabrizio Romano, Ambassador of Italy to Malta, paid an official visit to the Faculty of Science at the University of Malta. The visit formed part of broader efforts to enhance academic and scientific collaboration between Italy and Malta, reflecting the enduring cultural and educational ties between the two countries.
The Ambassador was warmly received by faculty members and researchers, and was given a guided tour of key departments and laboratories engaged in high-level scientific research. In the Department of Geosciences, Ambassador Romano visited the Geophysics and Seismology Laboratory, coordinated by Prof. Sebastiano D鈥橝mico, and the Oceanography Laboratory, led by Prof. Alan Deidun. He subsequently toured the Department of Chemistry, where he was introduced to the Green Chemistry Laboratory (Prof. Giovanna Bosica) and the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory (Prof. Emmanuel Sinagra). The Department of Physics presented the activities of the Electromagnetic Laboratory (Prof. Lourdes Farrugia), the Quantum Physics Laboratory (Prof. Tony Apollaro), and ongoing research in Astrophysics and Cosmology, developed in collaboration with the Institute of Space Science and Astronomy (Prof. Alessio Magro).
Research demonstrations were conducted by Dr Matthew Agius, Dr Emanuele Colica, Mr Alessio Marrone, Dr Chiara Torre, Dr Daniela Farrugia, and graduate students from the Faculty of Science.
Ambassador Romano expressed his appreciation for the faculty鈥檚 scientific achievements and ongoing collaborations with Italian universities and research institutions. In discussions with faculty leadership, the Ambassador highlighted the importance of expanding joint research programmes, encouraging student and academic exchanges, and pursuing collaborative funding opportunities within European research frameworks.
The Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof. Emmanuel Sinagra, concluded the visit by outlining recent successes and future ambitions in Italy-Malta scientific cooperation. A copy of the faculty鈥檚 latest publication, The University of Malta: Legacies and Bearings, was formally presented to His Excellency.
