Photo caption: (left to right): Prof. In摹. Bertram Mallia; Prof. In摹. Stephen Abela; Prof. In摹. Joseph Buhagiar; Prof. Pablo Ortiz; Daniela Casta帽o Jaramillo; Prof. In摹. Maurice Grech; and Dr In摹. Paul Refalo
Prof. Pablo Ortiz, from the Department of Chemical and Food Engineering within the Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de los Andes (Bogot谩, Colombia) carried out an Erasmus+ ICM teaching mobility at the Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering (DMME), University of Malta between Monday 29 May till Friday 2 June 2023. This visit follows a staff teaching mobility at Universidad de los Andes by DMME academics Prof. In摹. Bertram Mallia and Prof. In摹. Joseph Buhagiar in September 2022.
The two departments have common research interests including the development of materials for sustainable water treatment. During this semester, Ms Daniela Casta帽o Jaramillo, an undergraduate student from Universidad de los Andes, benefited from an Erasmus+ student mobility for studies at the University of Malta to carry out her final year project under the supervision of Prof. In摹. Maurice Grech and Prof. In摹. Stephen Abela related to water treatment using solar energy.
Prof. Ortiz had the opportunity to visit the recently opened Materials laboratories. He lectured on aspects of sustainability, semiconductor materials and the development of materials that will benefit renewable energy generation. He shared his knowledge and experience on life cycle assessment for energy generation and water treatment, and on photocatalysis fundamentals for water treatment.
The visit by Prof. Ortiz further strengthened the bi-lateral relationship between the institutions and helped lay the groundwork for future research collaboration particularly in the development of photocatalytic surfaces intended for water treatment.
