Thirteen research projects on topics such as genetics, floral and faunal biodiversity, marine pollution, terrestrial and marine ecology and the influence of anthropogenic activities on marine life were presented at the annual symposium of the University’s Department of Biology.
The symposium enabled undergraduate and postgraduate biology students to showcase the results of research they conducted in the months leading up to their graduation.
The first session, chaired by Prof. Patrick Schembri, featured marine biology research projects related to studies of epiphytic algae, assessment of heavy metal levels in the octopus and of the impact of thermal effluent on marine life in its vicinity.
The second session, chaired by Dr Sandro Lanfranco, featured botanical research concerning pollen profiles from garrigue plant communities, plant community composition in terrestrial and freshwater habitats and an in-depth study of species richness among the bryophytes. Another project investigated the possibility of predicting human eye colour by applying biogenetic techniques.
Opening the symposium, Environment Minister Leo Brincat emphasised the importance of collaboration between the Biology Department and the ministry to maximise EU and other funding opportunities. This was already yielding results in the form of joint participation in the EU-funded project Life Bahar for N2K, a research programme on mapping and characterising marine benthic (seabed) habitats in Maltese waters to support Natura 2000 marine site designation.
Brincat said the department’s contribution in training biology professionals was crucial to ensure the availability of expertise to manage living resources in Malta.
The event was also addressed by pro-rector for research and innovation Richard Muscat and department head Joseph Borg.
Victor Axiak delivered a presentation entitled ‘Three decades of the Department of Biology – a personal view’ to commemorate the Faculty of Science’s centenary.
The symposium was attended by undergraduates, academics, researchers, professionals from the private environmental consultancies, teachers and sixth-formers.
To purchase a copy of a booklet containing abstracts of the projects, call the department on 2340 2272.
The symposium was supported by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority’s Environment Protection Directorate and several projects were supported by the University’s research fund.