Research recently conducted by Maltese geologist Daniel Sultana for the award of a PhD from the Department of Earth Sciences at the Royal Holloway University, London, was described as outstanding in both depth and quality by his examiners, Prof. Martyn Pedley and Dr Georg Warrlich.

[attach id=693157 size="medium" align="right"]Daniel Sultana[/attach]

During the research for his PhD thesis, entitled ‘Exploring the roles of sediment production and transport on carbonate platform evolution: a numerical modelling and outcrop-based investigation (late Miocene, Upper Coralline Limestone Formation, Malta)’, Dr Sultana developed and applied a novel step-by-step quantitative method that integrates numerical forward modelling with outcrop observations. This enabled the strengthening or rejection of conceptual models, the investigation of alternative hypothesis as well as issues of non-uniqueness.

The thesis also demonstrated that quantitative approaches may replace qualitative conceptual methods and models. This shift would improve the understanding of platform evolution and may help direct and refine further research on platform evolution and oil exploration.

Dr Sultana said Prof. Daniel Bosence and Prof. Peter Burgess, who mentored his research, were a source of inspiration throughout his PhD. He added that their academic contributions have shaped the fields of geology and numerical modelling.

Dr Sultana is an assistant lecturer at the University of Malta’s Junior College and a senior environment protection officer at the Environment Resource Authority. He has an MSc (Hons) in Petroleum Geology from the University of Aberdeen and a BA (Hons) in Geography from the University of Malta.

His PhD was funded by the Malta Government Scholarship Scheme (MGSS).

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