The Faculty of Science held the Dean鈥檚 Awards Ceremony for Academic year 2017-2018 on Friday 17 May 2019 in the ICT Auditorium. Every year the outstanding students are awarded for their achievements. Awardees and their relatives were invited to the ceremony which was also attended by the Faculty of Science鈥檚 academic, administrative, technical staff and post graduate students.
The ceremony started with a welcome address by the Dean, Professor Charles V. Sammut, followed by a speech from the Pro-Rector Prof. Ing. Saviour Zammit where Ms Danielle Martine Farrugia, Research Support Officer, science communicator and PhD. Student acted as a compere during the ceremony.
Prof. Sammut congratulated the awarded students with pride at his twelfth ceremony since being appointed Dean of the Faculty of Science. With over 40 currently ongoing projects and others in preparation, mostly in collaboration with international partners, the combined worth of these projects amounts to about ERU 35 million , almost 6 million of which being the UM鈥檚 share. To further increase the research output, huge efforts are being made in close collaboration with MEDE, and other entities to attract more students towards STEM careers.
Pro-Rector Prof. In摹 Saviour Zammit, congratulated the students and stated that the University of Malta has been petitioning for a national fund of around 25 million Euros per annum in order to sustain bottom-up research including the sciences. This would mean a ten-fold increase in research funding in Malta and would increase the national research and development expenditure by 0.2% of GDP.
Ms Julia Xerri, the recipient of the Technoline special prize for science was represented by her father Mr Charles Xerri in her absence and expressed her regret for not being able to attend. In her message for the event, Ms Xerri emphasised that the University of Malta provides not only a good education but a foundation in order to build a successful life and to strive for success and not perfection.
Furthermore, success is the result of hard work, perseverance, learning and self-belief. Her post-graduate studies abroad have made her realise that the University prepares students for whatever life has in store.
At the end of the ceremony, Professor Sammut thanked the Faculty administrative staff for the organisation and the sponsors; Technoline Limited, Environment and Resources Authority, the Malta Communications Authority (MCA), Aurobindo, Medichem, Methode Electronics, The Entomological Society and Agenda Bookshop.
After the ceremony, guests were invited to a short reception accompanied by a musical repertoire by the Cordia String Quartet.
This year鈥檚 award winners for the Dean鈥檚 List were:
Year I
Aquilina Marilyn (Mathematics & Physics)
Grech Flores Nicole (Chemistry)
Zammit Darren (Mathematics & Physics)
Year II
Briffa Rebecca (Mathematics & Physics)
Vassallo Martina (Mathematics & Physics)
Zammit Dylan (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
Year III
Cassar Daniela (Banking and Finance & Mathematics)
Galea Dylan (Computing Science & Mathematics)
Healey Curt (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
Year IV
Cassar Alberto (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
Fayek Steve (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
Xerri Julia (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)
The special prize for science sponsored by Technoline was awarded in recognition of outstanding performance throughout the B.Sc. (Hons) Programme 2014-2018 to Ms Julia Xerri (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research).
The Methode Electronics Masters Distinction Award, sponsored by Methode Electronics, was presented in recognition of outstanding performance during M.Sc. studies to the following students:
Calleja Dimitri (Metamaterials) Grech Wayne (Mathematics)
Ciantar Jurgen (Applied Oceanography) Mallia Lothar (Chemistry)
Curmi Stefania (Applied Oceanography) Pollacco Daphne A (Physics)
Grech Linniker (Statistics) Van Hooren Rachelle (Chemistry)
The award for the Best Environment Final Year Project, sponsored by ERA, was presented to Andrea Farrugia (Biology) and Denise Saliba (Biology & Chemistry).
The award for the Best Final Year Project in the Numerate Sciences, sponsored by MCA, was presented to Ryan Vella (Mathematics & Physics).
The Aurobindo Prize for Analytical Chemistry was awarded to Ms Chantelle Spiteri (Biology and Chemistry).
The Medichem Prize for Organic Chemistry was awarded to Mr Duncan Mifsud (Chemistry).
Certificates of merit were awarded for high standards reached in their final year dissertation to the following students: Lynn Marie Barbara, Noeleen Buttigieg, Elena Callus, Wayne Jordan Chetcuti, Andrea John De Marco, Nicole Venetia Farrugia, Steve Fayek, Benji Fenech Salerno, Michael Gauci, Craig Linstead, Duncan Mifsud, Yanica Said, Chantelle Spiteri, Julia Vella, Ryan Vella, Kevin Wood and Matthew Anthony Xuereb.
