Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/310131
Events 36 maltatoday, Sunday, 11 May 2014 FameLab Malta names finalists Manuele Biazzo, Norbert Bonnici, James Patrick Cook, Josef Grech, Reuben Ferrante, Ira Melkoyan, Michelle Muscat, Maria Stella Por- telli and Rubeeya Soratroi are the nine national finalists of FameLab Malta. They will compete in front of a live audience during the final presenta- tion to be held at the Valletta Cam- pus Auditorium, (Old University Building), St Paul's Street, Valletta, on Thursday 15 May at 7.30pm. The general public, in particular students and science enthusiasts, is invited to attend. Entrance is free. The finalists will present 3-minute entertaining talks that everyone can enjoy. The best science communi- cator will represent Malta at the UK Cheltenham Science Festival next month. The selected topics of the presen- tations are diverse from the science behind the Sleeping Beauty and cardboard bicycles, to embedded systems, magic pills, and humans as colonies of microorganisms. The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges consisting of last year's FameLab Malta winner and lecturer at the University's Cen- tre for Biomedical Cybernetics Dr Owen Falzon, lecturer at the Uni- versity's Department Systems and Control Engineering Dr Kenneth Scerri and lecturer at the Universi- ty's Department of Biology Dr San- dro Lanfranco. Quentin Cooper, an expert in me- dia and communication skills, pre- pared the finalists during a week- end workshop in Gozo. A popular voice of science in the UK, Cooper writes and presents hundreds of programmes including Britain's most listened to science shows, the live weekly Material World on BBC Radio 4. He is the regular host and masterclass tutor for the UK and in- ternational finals of FameLab. The second edition of FameLab Malta is being organised by The Brit- ish Council, the National Student Travel Foundation (NSTF) and the Research, Innovation and Develop- ment Trust (RIDT) of the University of Malta, who have teamed up with FameLab, the biggest international search for new voices of science and engineering, to give enthusiastic early career scientists and research- ers in Malta the chance to demon- strate their skills in this event. The competition is also supported by the Parliamentary Secretariat for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport, Microsoft, APS Bank, Voda- fone, and Stage Malta. The FameLab Malta initiative is in line with the University's Trust, RIDT, highlighting the value and usefulness of science and research. RIDT drives to support research ac- tivity and to seek additional funds from Maltese and international sources to expand the University's research studies. This is the second time that Malta is participating in FameLab, an in- ternational competition spanning over 20 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States in the search for the next top science communicator. Past winners of FameLab have gone on to travel the globe, perform in festivals and feature on national TV and radio, and many combine public-facing activities with on-go- ing research. Generally all finalists become part of a global network of science communicators. FameLab Malta finals will be hosted by Nathan Brimmer and entertainment will be provided by Keith Anthony from Follow Fish and Chasing Pandora. No advance book- ing of seats is required. For more information about FameLab Malta one can contact famelab@famelab- malta.org Lotteries and Gaming Authority set up new offices at Smart City Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business, Chris Cardona, announced earlier this week that the Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) will be setting up new offices at Smart City Malta in Kalkara. During an on-site visit, Minister Cardona toured Smart-City Malta together with Abullatif AlMulla, Chairman and Anthony Tabone CEO of Smart-City Malta respectively. Ac- companying Minister Cardona was José Herrera, Parliamentary Secre- tary and Joseph Cuschieri Chairman of LGA. Joseph Cuschieri and Anthony P. Tabone signed the agreement be- tween LGA and Smart-City Malta on behalf of their respective organisa- tions. Welcoming the distinguished guests, Tabone, Smart City Malta CEO, expressed his satisfaction in welcoming the LGA to Smart-City Malta and said, "We are proud to welcome the Lotteries and Gaming Authority to Smart City Malta. Our vision at Smart-City Malta is to con- tinue to create a global network of self-sustained business townships to foster the knowledge economy, whilst continuing to generate jobs. During the past months we have welcomed on board several new business part- ners in sectors ranging from tourism, F&B, media, ICT and back-office op- erations. "Among these business partners are FTIAS, Ammcom Limited, TMF Group, Heritage International Fund Managers (Malta) Limited, STK Lim- ited as well as Food & Beverage ten- ants, Wejla by Tartarun, Chocafe, Londoner Pub and several others." In a statement to the media, Minis- ter Cardona said, "I believe the Lotter- ies and Gaming Authority are making a wise move. By taking up residence at Smart City Malta, they will be at the centre of the action. The Au- thority is a beacon, illustrating what Malta business is all about. It enables companies to come here and prosper, within a well-regulated framework. It understands the need to let business find its feet and grow within a frame- work of responsibility and flexibility." "The Maltese economy is perform- ing well. We have economic growth and this is not just something that the Government is saying. The European Commission has just announced that it is expecting the Maltese economy to continue to grow "robustly" in the coming two years and the economic activity in Malta surprised positively in 2013 with a real GDP growth of 2.4%." In his first public address concern- ing the LGA, Parliamentary Secretary Dr. José Herrera stated "Smart City Malta is evolving into an ICT / Digital entertainment hub and therefore the relocation of LGA offices to this site further reinforces Government's ob- jective to support private initiatives. "This setting up of new offices is a step in LGA's repositioning strategy intended to further strengthen the regulatory authority. This Author- ity aims to become an international recognized centre of excellence in gaming regulation covering both land based and gaming operations." Commenting on the selection of Smart-City Malta as the LGA's choice, Chairman Joseph Cuschieri stated, "The evaluation exercise carried out earlier this year was a tough one; how- ever we firmly believe we are making the right choice! Smart-City Malta is an ideal location for ICT and dig- ital entertainment operators; hence having the LGA offices at Smart-City Malta has the strong potential of at- tracting gaming companies to this place; with the possibility of creating a new remote gaming/digital enter- tainment hub." Coca-Cola Foundation and Gozo Ministry complete joint $1.24M investment for improving efficiency and responsible water use in Maltese islands THE Alter Aqua Programme has re- ceived a grant of $800,000 from the Coca-Cola Foundation and further co-funding of $440,000 from the Ministry for Gozo, in order to in- crease availability through rainwa- ter harvesting and greywater reuse, while raising public awareness on the importance of responsible water use and conservation in the island of Gozo. Alter Aqua is a multi-stakeholder, two-phase programme which has brought together the Ministry for Gozo and the Eco-Gozo Project, the Global Water Partnership-Mediter- ranean, the Coca-Cola Foundation and the General Soft Drinks Co. Ltd., the local bottling partner of all brands of The Coca-Cola Company in Malta. The aim of the Alter Aqua pro- gramme is to harvest rainwater, manage storm water and reuse grey water in selected public buildings and areas, while increasing public awareness on the importance of re- sponsible water use and conserva- tion. The programme's activities are implemented in collaboration with Nature Trust Malta, the Ekoskola Programme and the Mediterranean Information Office for Environ- ment, Culture and Sustainable De- velopment. "The Alter Aqua programme in Gozo has created a best case practice to be replicated in other water-scarce communities in Malta and the wider Mediterranean region. In this sense, the Alter Aqua partners proudly pre- sented the project's achievements," said Anthony Zammit, Director of EcoGozo Regional Development at the Ministry for Gozo, referring to the Ministry's sustainable vision for Gozo, as well as Alter Aqua's role in that. "With limited freshwater resourc- es, further depleted as a result of climate change, Malta suffers from water scarcity and heavily depends on desalination to tackle its water deficit," says Maria Micallef, Chief Operations Officer at The General Soft Drinks. "In this context, the mobilisation of Non-Conventional Water Re- sources (NCWR), such as rainwater harvesting and reuse of grey water, aimed at increasing water availabili- ty in a sustainable, cost-effective way and promoting a new water culture, is crucial at both local and national level." In total, through the Alter Aqua programme, four rainwater har- vesting systems were installed in schools in Kerċem, Sannat, Żebbuġ and Għarb. Six rainwater harvesting systems were reinstated in schools in Sannat, Xagħra, San Lawrenz and the Gozo Experimental Farm and a grey water reuse system was installed at the Gozo Football Stadium. A storm water management ap- plication was implemented in Ramla Valley, where rubble walls were con- structed along the valley for storm water retention for increased rain- water capacity for irrigation purpos- es for agriculture, aquifer recharge and soil retention. Aristowax new in Malta Aristowax Furniture Polish is the fast- est growing furniture polish in the UK. The formula is a high quality pure oil derivative product with beeswax and unlike all the other major brands (which contain 60 % plus water and typically 7 to 8 % silicones) does not contain any water or silicones. Water and silicones cause the greatest dam- age to the finish of furniture. Wood Silk One Organic Beeswax Furniture Cream, is 100% natural, it contains no silicones, no preserva- tives, no perfume, no synthetic waxes and no colouring. An entirely organic product. Leather Silk Leather Shine and Con- ditioner is a very high quality prod- uct that has exactly the same points of difference as Non Silicone Wood silk Aerosol. It is a blend of the pur- est beeswax emollients and nutrient oils. The natural way to nourish and protect leather, synthetic leather on furniture, handbags, footwear and car interiors. Two in One Best Shine Plus uses patented technology released fragrance into mil- lions of tiny capsules which are released when spraying, when polishing with a duster or when dry dusting with or without the use of polish. Blind customer tests con- firmed that the product is superior to competing brands in terms of the two critical fac- tors, quickness and depth of shine" Invisible Windows is a next genera- tion technology product that provides crystal clear clarity. It contains no ingredient that will streak. It contains no soaps, no per- fumes, no dyes and the use of deionized water. Honey Shave is a unique formula based on Manuka Oil and Royal jelly. Manuka Oil is an effective first aid treatment for minor burns and cuts throughout history, Royal jelly has been used as a soothing balm for cuts, scrapes and wounds. Aristowax products are exclusively available from Arkadia Supermarket and home mate. Trade enquires please contact NM Arrigo Ltd on 21223755/21225039 and email on info@nmarrigo.com