Dean of Science awards

The Dean of Science awards for outstanding students of the University of Malta’s Faculty of Science was held on 5 May, following an established tradition since 1995. The awarded students’ relatives and sponsors were invited to the ceremony which took place at the ICT Auditorium, Msida Campus. The ceremony started with a welcome address by the dean, Professor Charles V. Sammut, followed by a speech by the prorector Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino and the Minister for Education and Employment, Evarist Bartolo. This was followed by an acoustical set by the band Jack’s Fusion.

Prof. Sammut spoke about the increase in the number of postgraduate researchers due to several government-funded programmes, with seven Ph.D. students graduating from the Faculty of Science, making up 25% of all the Ph.D.s from this University. Notwithstanding demographic issues and having to compete with foreign institutions which can provide much better funded doctoral and post-doctoral positions, this year a further six Ph.D.s and up to 46 Master’s students will graduate in science and mathematics. Mr Bartolo highlighted the important work of the Faculty of Science and welcomed the various successful activities carried out in collaboration with the Curriculum Development Directorate. Prof. Baldacchino spoke about how this event marries the purely academic and the applied features of University work, in celebrating student talent with industry and practitioners from both public and private sectors, recognising the outstanding students.

At the end of the ceremony, Professor Sammut thanked the Faculty administrative staff for the organisation and the sponsors: Technoline Limited, Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), the Malta Communications Authority (MCA), Aurobindo, Medichem, Methode Electronics, Entomological Society of Malta (ESM) and Agenda Bookshop.

This year’s award winners for the Dean’s List were:

Year I

Abela Nicky (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research) Cassar Daniela (Banking and Finance & Mathematics) Galea Dylan (Computing Science & Mathematics)

Year II

Cassar Alberto (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research) Mallia Lyndon (Banking and Finance & Mathematics) Xerri Julia (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)

Year III

Borg Andrè (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research) Curmi Jeremy (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research) Grech Wayne (Mathematics & Physics)

Year IV

Apap Denise (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research) Sant Jaromir (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research) Sciortino Monique (Mathematics & Statistics and Operations Research)

The Technoline Special Prize for Science was awarded to Monique Sciortino, who thanked the Faculty for a highly profitable experience during the four years of her B.Sc. (Hons.) course.

The Best Environment Final Year Project, sponsored by ERA, was awarded to Maria Ylenia Farrugia and Christine Marie Galea.

The Best Final Year Project in the Numerate Sciences, sponsored by the MCA, was awarded to Edera Pauline Degabriele, Andrew Finch, Jaromir Sant and Monique Sciortino. Clarissa Brincat was awarded the Oxford University Press Prize for Achievement in Chemistry 2016.

The Aurobindo Prize for Analytical Chemistry was awarded to Alison Catania.

The Medichem Prize for Organic Chemistry was awarded to Clarissa Brincat.

Certificates of Merit were also awarded for high standards reached in the final year dissertation to the following students: Agius Matthew, Apap Denise, Azzopardi Anamae, Brincat Clarissa, Calleja Andrej, Camilleri Thomas, Caruana Melissa, Catania Alison, Cumbo Nicholai, Cutajar Antonella, Degabriele Edera Pauline, Farrugia Anita Patricia, Finch Andrew, Gatt Claire, Gauci Gabriel, Pollacco Daphne Anne, Psaila Kevin, Sant Jaromir, Sciortino Monique, Spiteri Rebecca and Zahra Julia.