Forthcoming events

• Between May 4 and 10 the European School of Genetic Medicine's 21st course in medical genetics is being webcast from the main training centre in Bertinoro Di Romagna, Italy. Local participants can attend the course at the Malta Remote Training Centre and will be eligible for local CME accreditation. For more information e-mail isabelle.borg@gov.mt or visit: www.eurogene.org.

• The Association of European Insular Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Gozo Business Chamber, in collaboration with the University's Islands and Small States Institute are organising an executive training workshop in Gozo between June 5 and 6.

The workshop is aimed at senior and middle management level officials operating in the private or public sector institutions to familiarise them with issues of insular development and to offer them the instruments to support their organisation. For further information contact Prof. Lino Briguglio on 2134 0375 or e-mail lino.briguglio@ um.edu.mt.

• Prof. Edward de Bono, the Maltese-born inventor of Lateral Thinking, will conduct the Edward de Bono Seminar to be held in Malta between June 9 and 11.

In today's fast-changing world it is important to become more creative by using the important human resource of creative thinking.

The seminar will be useful to all those interested in improving and expanding their potential for innovative, conceptual, critical and creative thinking and to learn practical strategies to apply in their professional, social, academic and personal lives.

It is also an opportunity to learn more about the University's Master of Arts in Creativity and Innovation in which Prof. Edward de Bono also participates. The next course starts in October.

For more information, e-mail instituteofthinking@um.edu.mt, tel 2340 2434 or visit the website: http://home.um.edu.mt/create/confersding.html

• A summer school about Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Data Infrastructures is being organised at the Old University Building, Valletta, between July 14 to 25, to prepare for the INSPIRE EU directive, which encourages member states to develop databases are containing spatial (geographically referenced) information about land use, population distribution, health, transport infrastructure, services and others.

Geographic information is increasing its relevance as a means of collecting and displaying information as today's society is increasingly becoming dependent on access to quick and reliable information.

Academic faculty from the University of Malta, Aalborg University and the Dublin Institute of Technology are combining to explain how the three countries are handling geographic information and spatial data infrastructure development.

The summer school is being co-ordinated by the Malta University Holding Co. Ltd. For more information, registration and fees, visit www.fis.com.mt/gis, call 2123 0793 or e-mail programmes@fis.com.mt