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UM’s First SEA-EU Blended Intensive Programme

In February 2025, the University of Malta hosted its first Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) on tourism sustainability in conjunction with the International Office and SEA-EU Office. THINK Editor Rebekah Zammit caught up with Dr John Ebejer from UM’s Department of Tourism Management to ask a few questions about the BIP.

History of THINK

How much do you know about the history of THINK? If you’re a THINK superfan, then you know that the first edition wasn’t called THINK. Read on to learn more about how THINK evolved over the last decade.

“What Would Music Look Like?” An AI-Driven Leap From Malta to Berlin

When sound becomes sight, music finds a new language. Maltese composer and producer André Tabone has turned this idea into reality with an AI-driven project that lets algorithms ‘imagine’ what music might look like. His work, developed during his studies in Berlin, blurs the line between performance, engineering, and visual art – transforming every note into motion.

How Board Games Rediscovered Imagination, Sociality, and Play

Board games have, for a long time, been overshadowed by the rise of digital entertainment. In an age of constant feedback loops and the fraying of social connective tissue, Prof. Gordon Calleja, designer, author, and academic at UM’s Institute of Digital Games, unravels why modern board games can play an essential role in developing our imagination and strengthening social connections, in a time where such connections might be slowly fading.

The EDUWEAR Project: Connecting Rehabilitation and Engineering Across Europe

In a country with more metal bands per capita than anywhere else, you’d expect to hear sick guitar solos and wicked vocals around every corner. But for a group of students in Oulu, Finland, the only sound was the buzz of 3D printers, building the next generation of wearable rehabilitation tech.

Project HESS: Storing Tomorrow’s Energy

Hybrid Energy Storage Systems is carrying out research on the conversion of surplus renewable energy into hydrogen. This is an increasingly important means of reducing wasted energy, as Malta invests heavily into renewables. Jonathan Firbank speaks with project investigator Prof. Ing. John Licari about this project and Malta’s changing energy landscape.

Are Solar Panels Cool Enough?

Solar photovoltaic panels are a fantastic invention; they can turn abundant solar energy into electricity. Moreover, they provide shading on building roofs, reducing the heat that penetrates from direct sunlight. Amazing. But, there is one slight hitch – as the panels heat up, they become less and less efficient. A team of researchers at UM are looking into an innovative way to cool PV panels and the roof under the waxing sun.

In Wine, and Blockchain, We Trust

A bottle of wine goes through many steps before it reaches the glass. Starting from the grape, it is monitored, barrelled, bottled, registered, regulated, stored, moved, and sold. At each stage, people rely on trust instead of checking every detail. This can lead to issues such as counterfeit bottles, lost records, and questions from buyers about the wine's origin. The main challenge is making wine traceable without adding cost or slowing down the process. Prof. Joshua Ellul and Prof. Gordon Pace at the University of Malta, and their team, are working on this problem.

What’s Next for MedTech?

Drawing over 2,000 industry leaders, startups, and investors from more than 50 countries, the MedTech Malta Conference is returning from November 12–14. Held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, the conference features two main stages for discussions and a vibrant exhibition floor for networking, sharing ideas, and showcasing innovations in medical technology. Attendees can also expect highlights such as the MedTech World Startup Pitch and the prestigious MedTech World Awards. Not one to be missed for those in the healthcare technology ecosystem.

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