Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/294639
THIS WEEK TRUTH is stranger than fiction. Researchers at the Universit y of Malta are building technologies that will help robots speak and understand Maltese, others are finding out if there is life in outer space, or using fruit f lies to under- stand human disease, while some are discovering what makes local honey Maltese—all in the latest issue of Think magazine (http:// bit.ly/ISSUUThink08). Maltese honey comes in three f lavours. They all depend on the f lowers the bees feed on. Since Malta is an island the combination of f lowers that grow are unique. This makes three different honey t ypes with unique tastes and pow- erful health properties. Insects feature twice. Fruit f lies have been genetically engineered to help scientists learn more about the most common genetic killer of human infants, a neuromuscular degenerative disease known as spinal muscular atrophy. Dr Alessio Magro is studying something even more unusual. He developed computer algorithms to hunt for life in outer space. Read the magazine to find out if life ex- ists out of our solar system. One of the biggest research projects at Universit y is by en- gineers trying to make our skies cleaner and safer. A different team of computer scientists and lin- guists are building tools to make tomorrow's robot communicate in Maltese. Ethnomusicologists are asking if our culture gets the rhythm: can music bridge the divide between Libya and Malta? Other research- ers are seeing how societ y deals with personal and cultural mem- ory loss. The magazine gives students a voice. John Gabarretta writes about the vital need of commu- nicating research to the public, an endeavour that will help im- prove everyone's knowledge about science and our country. Maria Camilleri tells us about her visit to Facebook in Dublin and how that inspired her to realise the need for more innovation in Malta. A recent EU report studying innova- tion places Malta towards the very low end, research in Malta is hun- gry for more investment. All this research is stemming from the Universit y of Malta. Think may be picked up for free in newsagents around Malta and Gozo and in Agenda bookstores, viewed on Issuu (http://bit.ly/IS- SUUThink08), downloaded here (http://www.um.edu .mt/think08), followed on Twitter @ThinkUoM ( ht tp://t wit ter.com/ T H I NK UoM) or liked on Facebook (http://www. facebook.com/ThinkUoM) maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 APRIL 2014 35 THIS WEEK Pjazza Teatru Rjal to host Easter Sunday concert An Easter Sunday Concert by Rino Cirinnà and Animae gospel choir will be held at Pjazza Teatru Rjal on Easter Sunday Rino Cirinnà BORN in Hartford, Connecticut in the United States, Rino Cir- innà comes from a musical fam- ily through three generations and studied clarinet at the conservato- ries of Catania and Rome. In 1984 he won a competition as a soprano saxophone at the prestigious Na- tional Band of the Carabinieri of Rome. It was in Rome that he had the opportunity to work with some of the most important Italian musi- cians, including M. Urbani, S. Sat- ta, M. Giammarco, D. Terenzi, A. Salis, A. D'anna, and studied with A. Galigani. He also participated in some RAI TV broadcasts and forms part of the tour of some of the most popular Italian singers (Nino Buonocore, Tullio de Piscopo). In 1989 he moved to the USA where he lived for 10 years; he stud- ied at the Berklee College in Boston with teachers such as J. Bergonzi and C. Banacos. In the US A he im- mersed himself in Blues, Jazz, Eth- no and collaborated with Ibraima Camara T. Bennett, Y ' N'Dour, J. Loockwood. Back in Italy, in ad- dition to his personal projects, he collaborated with Peppe Arezzo and orchestra of twelve lands, Mediterranean jazz Orchestra that was conducted by G. Gruntz, G. Basso, M. Schneider, B. Mintzer. He has also performed two tours in the United States and was awarded the honorary citizenship of the city of Little Rock and took part in vari- ous Jazz Festivals in France. Animae Choir Animae Gospel Choir is a vo- cal ensemble made up of 22 of the finest performers from around the Maltese islands. Formed in March 2008, the initial 10 singers who brought it to life managed to put their voices and souls together to create a Gospel sound that is very well-received by its listeners. The soulish harmonies created leave an impeccable impression and en- tice the audience to join in, clap and sing. Whatever the occasion Animae's good vibes and positive energy provide their audiences with a taste of 'the true soul music'. This upcoming event happening on Easter Sunday will feature the choir in a mini-concert full of worship and Gospel songs. The concert will be held on Sun- day 20 April at 20:00. Entrance is free PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLINT SCERRI HARKINS Cultural calendar for Maltaculture.com THE Malta Council for Culture and the Arts (MCCA) is in the process of collecting data on cul- tural events that are scheduled for July, August and September 2014. Cultural/artistic event organis- ers are kindly requested to send details of activities scheduled for July, August and September 2014. Organisers are also kindly re- quested to send a three-line de- scription of each respective event (preferably in English). Please clearly indicate date, time and ven- ue of event. The write-up must be in Word format. All information should reach the offices of The Malta Coun- cil for Culture and the Arts, Casa Scaglia, 16, Triq Mikiel Anton Vassalli, Valletta (attention Ms Isabelle Gatt) or by e-mail on isa- belle.gatt@maltaculture.com by not later than May 9, 2014. MCCA does not guarantee inclusion of any material that it may receive af- ter this date. Further information may be ob- tained from Isabelle Gatt on tel- ephone number 23 397046 From Maltese honey to Maltese robots YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt