Faculty of Science marks 90th anniversary

The Faculty of Science at the University of Malta has marked its 90th anniversary as a separate faculty.

The faculty board first met to discuss the new faculty's business on September 17, 1915 and the first dean was Sir Temi Zammit, professor of chemistry, later appointed rector.

Science and mathematics had been part of the university curriculum from the inception of the university. The unification of science and mathematics into a separate faculty paved the way for the consolidation of studies in these areas as specialist disciplines.

The faculty has seven departments: biology; chemistry; mathematics; physics; statistics and operations research; computer information systems; and computer science and artificial intelligence.

It offers four-year joint honours Bachelor of Science degrees in two areas of study as well as postgraduate programmes - Masters and Doctoral degrees in each science area.

The faculty is still involved in the teaching of mathematical and natural sciences to students of the professional degrees, such as architecture, pharmacy, education and engineering.

Moreover, members of the faculty participate in research work which, over the years, has led to many publications in international journals and the award of a number of European and other research grants.