Findings from research projects undertaken by undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University’s Department of Biology will be showcased at this year’s Biology Symposium on Saturday in John Borg Science lecture theatre at the Msida campus. Registration opens at 8.30am.

The research projects cover a wide range of topics, such as the effects on marine flora and fauna of a power station’s thermal effluent; how genetics lab techniques can help to predict eye colour in Maltese people; levels of dangerous chemicals in octopi that may make them unsuitable for human consumption; the amount of pollen in soil related to the abundance of the plants producing it; the ecological characteristics of local mosses; the biodiversity of freshwater rock pools; environmental factors determine plant diversity and abundance; and the ecological characteristics of different species of algae that form a relationship in which one grows on the other.

A total of 13 abstracts have been published in the symposium abstracts booklet. The symposium is of interest to sixth form and university students taking up biology, government and non-governmental organisations that deal with aspects of the environment, and professionals working in environmental consultancy, planning and management.

For details call 2340 2272 or e-mail james.fenech@um.edu.mt.