• Micro and nanotechnology is an emerging area with applications in many industrial sectors that offers a wide range of solutions ranging from functional materials and systems development, to new manufacturing processes and product innovation.
The Faculty of Engineering is organising a lecture on the subject on Tuesday at the Engineering Drawing Room (EDR) at 5 p.m. The speaker is Prof. Gordana Popovic from the Vienna University of Technology. For further information phone 2340-2061 or e-mail: therese.caruana@eng.um.edu.mt.
• The Geography Division at the Mediterranean Institute and the University Geography Society are currently organising a series of activities to promote interest in Geography.
On October 20 at 1 p.m., Prof. Mauro Soldati from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Maltese students who have experienced studying at Modena as part of the Erasmus exchange programme will give an introductory talk.
On October 21 at 11 a.m. a site visit will take place at Il-Prajjiet to monitor lateral spreading on the coralline limestone plateau.
Another site visit will take place at Marsaxlokk on October 29 at 2 p.m. to observe coastal zone management and shoreline modifications.
• The University's European Centre for Educational Resilience and Socio-Emotional Health in collaboration with the Education Directorates, is holding a half-day seminar on October 23 from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. at the National Curriculum Centre in Ħamrun to present the findings of a three-year national study on social, emotional and behaviour difficulties in Maltese schools from 2005-2008.
The report, entitled 'Engagement Time: A national study of students with social, emotional and behaviour difficulties in Malta', will be distributed to seminar participants on registration.
The registration fee is €7. For further details and registration e-mail Dr Carmel Cefai on carmel.cefai@um.edu.mt.
• The European School of Genetic Medicine (ESGM), University of Bologna, is organising a course in the integration of cytogenetics, microarrays and massive sequencing in biomedical and clinical research between October 23 and 27, which will be webcast from the Main Training Centre in Ronzano.
Participants from Malta will able to attend the course at the Remote Training Centre (RTC) based at the Medical School, Mater Dei Hospital. Those interested may contact the Malta RTC director Dr Isabella Borg via e-mail isabella.borg@gov.mt.
For further information on the course view the website www.eurogene.org.
• The Faculty of Theology in collaboration with the Bioethics Consultative Committee is organising two lectures to launch a new MA course in Bioethics.
The first lecture will be delivered by Prof. Matthias Beck on October 24 in GW Hall E on the subject 'Genetics and epigenetics in the context of psychosomatic medicine and ethical problems in stem cell research'.
At the second lecture, which will be held on October 29 in the Phoenica Ballroom, Floriana, Prof. Gunter Wirt will discuss the 'Institutionalisation of bioethics in European institutions as a challenge for theological ethics'.