FIRST FEBRUARY 2021 ISSUE No322 by FIRST Magazine (Malta)

ISSUE 322 FEBRUARY MARCH 2021

DEAR HUNTER

Every moment is a fresh beginning

EDITORIAL “Every moment is a fresh beginning.” T.S. Eliot

RED PLANET. BLUE EARTH

Dear Hunter

A detail from the panorama, taken on Feb. 20, 2021, by the Navigation Cameras aboard NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover, which was stitched together from six individual images after they were sent back to Earth. A key objective for Perseverance’s current mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The rover will characterize the planet’s geology and past climate, pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet, and be the first mission to collect and cache Martian rock and regolith. Photograph NASA/JPL-Caltech.

f the earth were to write a letter to humans, it would address us as “Dear Hunter” and proceed to give us a list of grievances as being the only living creature that destroys the very habitat in which it thrives in. An Israeli diplomat, Abba Eban once said “History teaches us that men behave wisely once they have exhausted all

other alternatives.” The images being revealed by NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover give us a close encounter with the Red Planet - Mars, and are a sober reminder of how precious life on earth is and how stark other planets can be. If only we could concentrate as much of our collective will to change to a more viable way of life to protect our Blue Planet.

ON THE COVER. DIOR Women – Haute Couture, Spring-Summer 2021. Look 28 – Numéro 361 – 01/25/2021. Long dress in black organza embroidered with plumetis and old-gold trim, with an opera coat in heathered gray flammé silk toile embroidered with tarot symbols. © Elina Kechicheva for Dior. Photography courtesy of Dior. EDITORIAL CONTENT AND SALES MANAGER SEAN ELLUL SELLUL@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT DESIGNER CONRAD BONDIN CBONDIN@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PRODUCTION MANAGER ANDRE CAMILLERI ACAMILLERI@INDEPENDENT.COM.MT PUBLISHER STANDARD PUBLICATIONS, STANDARD HOUSE, BIRKIKARA HILL, ST JULIAN’S. TEL: 00356 2134 5888, WEB: WWW.INDEPENDENT.COM.MT FACEBOOK FIRSTMAGAZINE PRINTER PRINT-IT. FIRST IS PUBLISHED AS A COMPLIMENTARY MAGAZINE WITH THE MALTA INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY AND IS NOT TO BE SOLD SEPARATELY. NO PART OF THE PUBLICATION MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THE PRIOR AGREEMENT OF THE PUBLISHER. FIRST MAGAZINE SINCE 1993. ISSUE NUMBER 322.

CONTENTS

Crossing the threshold in Doorways of Malta. Ottoman Muslim Cemetery, Marsa. Photograph Charles Paul Azzopardi, courtesy Kite Group.

16 Dior Couture Spring 2021. LOOK 45 – NUMÉRO 378. Bustier dress embroidered with handmade flowers; skirt in greige gauze. Photography © Elina Kechicheva for Dior.

MI6, ‘Q’ and the Renaissance Portrait by Piero del Pollaiuolo up for auction. Photograph courtesy of Sotheby’s.

The 2030 vision for the Jardin des Champs-Élysées. Photograph ©PCA-STREAM.

Hedy Lamarr, the 1940s Hollywood star who helped invent WiFi. Photograph Wikipedia Commons.

GOING ELECTRIC. In 1889 Camille Jenatzy reached 105 km/h in his electric car Jamais Contente. Photograph Wikipedia Commons.

CONTENTS [ISSUE 322. FEBRUARY MARCH 2021] 6

FASHION

Spring 2021 Haute Couture. Christian Dior.

ARCHITECTURE

Crossing the threshold. Doorways of Malta.

WOMEN WHO CHANGED SCIENCE

Hedy Lamarr. The 1940s Hollywood star who helped invent WiFi.

WOMEN IN SCIENCE

PARIS

The 80-year Journey to 5G. Melita Limited’s Mireille Muscat explains the journey from scientific breakthroughs of the Second World War.

Celebrating Women and Girls in Science. The Experience of Two Stem Professionals.

Urban Transformations. New urban greening projects.

Exercise for the elderly. Richard Geres on Active Ageing.

The Avenue of Modern Times. Champs-Élysées.

URBAN GREENING

MARINE ENVIRONMENT

HEALTH & FITNESS

GOING ELECTRIC

Katie Ridder: More Rooms. Colourful interiors that will fill you with delight.

Electric beginnings. The electric egg by Paul Arzens.

Charging Your Future. Dr Miriam Dalli, Malta’s Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development on going electric.

One Road to a Healthy Society. Paving the way for Sustainable Mobility in the Transport Sector, writes Joseph Bugeja, Chairman and CEO of Transport Malta.

Electric Future Now. Pushing the pulse with Peugeot, Citroën, and Opel.

Electrification strategy. Volvo, Ford, Mazda and Honda embracing electric.

Marine exhibition set up by ERA. Malta’s Blue Wonder.

Richard Geres on Active Ageing. Venus de Milo, Louvre. Photograph Tanya Pro

COFFEE TABLE

TEATIME

Brioche Delights for a Vintage Tea. Mediterranean Culinary Academy’s David Vella works with brioche.

Colourful interiors in Katie Ridder’s MORE ROOMS. Photograph Eric Piasecki, courtesy of Vendome Press.

FOOD TALK

Keeping things fresh with Corinthia Palace’s Executive Chef Stefan Hogan.

AUCTION

Rare Renaissance Portrait by Piero del Pollaiuolo. MI6, ‘Q’ and the Renaissance Portrait Brioche Delights. Photograph Jessica Zammit for Mediterranean Culinary Academy.

FASHION

LOOK 1 - NUMÉRO 334. Dress in ivory lace with hand-painted, hand-embroidered pomegranate appliqué. © Elina Kechicheva for Dior. 6

FASHION SPRING 2021 HAUTE COUTURE

CHRISTIAN DIOR Dior's extraordinary evening gowns featuring virtuoso constructions; manifest proof that couture remains the ultimate territory of experimentation and possibility. Photography Elina Kechicheva, courtesy of Dior.

hristian Dior was fascinated by prophecy and signs of destiny. His autobiography is punctuated with often fateful encounters with visionary personalities: “It will be extraordinary. Your house will revolutionize fashion!” he recalled of a prophecy come true. LOOK 5 - NUMÉRO 338. Breastplate embroidered with rat-tail and trousers in green heathered jacquard. © Elina Kechicheva for Dior. 7

FASHION

Left: LOOK 11 – NUMÉRO 344. Embroidered top, tulle skirt with satin appliqué and gold gauze shirt. © Elina Kechicheva for Dior.

or this collection Maria Grazia Chiuri felt a connection with the imaginary worlds of tarot cards and their visual language whose symbolic lexicon is rich in complex and fascinating characters. In uncertain times marked by a palpable desire to reconnect with the world’s soul, Maria Grazia Chiuri wished to explore, through the spring-summer 2021 haute couture collection, the mysterious and pluralistic beauty of the cards in a series of dresses featuring virtuoso constructions; manifest proof that couture remains the ultimate territory of experimentation and possibility. A series of extraordinary evening gowns features abstract constructions, some with veritable bas-relief openwork bodices punctuated with illustrations by the Roman artist Pietro Ruffo. In this spirit, Ruffo created a singular deck of cards in which characters disclose the graphic energy of the symbols. Dior gray appears in tweed, cashmere and organza on shirts, skirts, pants and capes. Meanwhile, the Bar jacket is revisited in black velvet, its curves reinterpreted to express a new attitude.

FASHION

Top left: LOOK 12 – NUMÉRO 345. Bar smoking in velvet and satin. © Elina Kechicheva for Dior. Top right: LOOK 17 – NUMÉRO 350. Long hand-pleated dress in gold lamé gauze with gold Chantilly lace inlays and velvet plastron. © Elina Kechicheva for Dior. Above left: LOOK 38 – NUMÉRO 371. Draped dress with “The Empress” motif in multicolored dévoré velvet. © Elina Kechicheva for Dior. Above right: LOOK 44 – NUMÉRO 377. Long dress in tie-dye effect jacquard woven with a zodiac chart in gold thread. © Elina Kechicheva for Dior. 9

ARCHITECTURE

“There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between there are doors.” Aldous Huxley CROSSING THE THRESHOLD

DOORWAYS OF MALTA

“At the threshold of a doorway two worlds meet in an inbetween mid-way filter, which acts both as a locus of arrival and one of departure, a transitional space neither in nor out”, writes Richard England in the forward to the splendidly produced book Doorways of Malta by Conrad Thake, published by Kite Group. The book is a unique and intriguing exposition of this primary element in Maltese architecture, and explores the various typologies of doorways, portals and gateways. Photography Charles Paul Azzopardi, courtesy Kite Group.

Magisterial Palace (internal portal), Mdina.

ARCHITECTURE

e all relate to doorways - the possibilities they open up, their romance, their infinite possibilities. The design of the doorway reveals a great deal about the edifice, its purpose and its dweller and, perhaps more than any other part of the building, it has throughout the ages attracted the virtuosity of the architect and the dexterity of the craftsman. The doors featured in Doorways of Malta, range from the humblest to the most impressive, and from the most architecturally significant to the whimsical, from the Neolithic temples through to the imposing doors of The Knights of the Order of St John, followed by those of the British colonial period, right up to the modern movement and contemporary times. Doorways cannot be analysed in isolation without direct reference to the local landscape and sociopolitical context they were conceived in. This coffee table book provides a wide cross-section of doorways, ranging from modest domestic doors to the monumental military gateways that adorn the Order’s fortifications. Prof Conrad Thake writes that “since antiquity, doors combined with thresholds, have been a critical architectural element in the composition and organization of space and the way one experiences it. Over time, doorways and portals assumed other purposes that went beyond their primordial role of functional entities. Above: Seminary building, (Cathedral Museum) Mdina. Below: Casino Notabile, Saqqajja Hill, Rabat.

Conservation and Restoration of Paper At Prevarti we offer the service of conserving and restoring any works of art on paper (Books, Lithographs, Engravings, Manuscripts, Watercolours etc). These treatments are carried out in a state of the art studio dedicated solely to work of art on paper by qualified professionals. For more information contact us on info@prevarti.com or by calling 77719099

ARCHITECTURE

Above: The Annunciation Chapel, Ħal Millieri, Żurrieq. Right: Residence in Idmejda Street, Balzan. Below right: Palazzo Madonna delle Grazie, Żebbuġ.

he knights of the Order of St John recognised the importance of such public displays of political rhetoric. The ornate Baroque style gateways that adorn the fortifications, particularly those of the Margherita and Cottonera Lines, were replete with architectural ornamentation and at times complemented with a bronze bust of the grandmaster and inscriptions making reference to his achievements. Doorways are usually ornate in the case of ecclesiastical, public buildings, or private stately residences. At the domestic level, within traditional towns and villages, they assume a more modest appearance, in part a reflection of the residents’ aspirations. However, during the British colonial period, with a greater emphasis being placed on municipal infrastructure, sanitation and roads, building plots acquired standard widths and façades. Door designs adhered to a limited range of typologies, with the talArzella form being one of the most commonly used in terraced housing. Still, these domestic doorways display, to varying degrees, manifestations of the local artisan crafts, for example, a wrought-iron fanlight or a vilestrun, decorative door knockers and the traditional antiporta. Modern architecture and doorways

have, on the whole, had a rather uneasy relationship. The American architect Charles W. Moore (19251993) made the astute observation that ‘during the twentieth century, a common complaint about modern buildings was cast in terms of one’s inability to find the front door.’ Doorways could also be interpreted within a context that is specifically intended to impart sentiments of insecurity, fear and oppression.” Dr Charles Paul Azzopardi writes that “Doorways of Malta is the epitome of 10 years of documenting one of Malta’s disappearing architectural elements, the door. A spiritual successor to the book Portals of Valletta (which quickly sold out and has been out of print for years), Doorways of Malta was envisioned as a record of Maltese doors all over Malta and Gozo, immortalised for posterity and portrayed in black and white, as a means of discerning and elucidating their soul, their texture and their allure. Whereas colour distracts and may age and date with time, black and white photography is timeless.” Doorways of Malta, by Conrad Thake, photography by Charles Paul Azzopardi. Foreword by Richard England. 332 pages, hardback + jacket, published by Kite Group. 15

PARIS

The Avenue of Modern Times

CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES The Champs-Élysées has embodied the great episodes in French history for three-hundred and fifty years, giving it great symbolic value and a universal reach. When Le Nôtre extended the horizontal axis of the Tuileries Garden beyond the city walls, across the fields and the orchards, he realized the vision of his contemporary René Descartes, who, in his epoch-making Discourse on Method (1637), invited us to “render ourselves the lords and possessors of nature.” This original philosophical dimension lastingly associates the Champs-Élysées with the advent of modern times. Three centuries after it was first built, cars, noise, pollution, tourism, a globalized commercial offering, and neglected gardens have warped the usage of this avenue. Now Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has given the green light to transform 'the most beautiful avenue' in the world back to a green escape. Photography courtesy of PCA-Stream.

PARIS

Main image: A view of the 2030 vision for the Champs-Élysées by the architectural firm PCA-Stream, seen from Place de la Concorde. Photograph © PCA-Stream. Right: As part of the vision, the Place de l’Étoile will abandon its status as a polluted and noisy roundabout that is entirely dedicated to car traffic. Photograph © PCAStream. Bottom right: The transformation of the Champs-Élysées Gardens aims to reconnect them with their history. Photograph © PCA-Stream.

odern thought emerged in seventeenth-century Europe with Descartes, Bacon, and Galileo, emphasizing rationality. The “geometrization” of the world spread to French formal garden design, featuring a central perspective. The enclosed garden, which illustrated the finite space of the Ancients, gave way to open views over long distances, designed following new rules and using mathematical and optical tools. André Le Nôtre, Louis XIV the Sun King’s gardener, designed the wide promenade, the Grand Cours, to be lined with a double row of elm trees on both sides. Renamed the Champs-Élysées, the French name for the mythical Greek paradise, the Elysian Fields, in 1709, it was extended and by the end of the century was a popular place for strolls and picnics. Le Nôtre’s visionary intent was pursued until the end of the nineteenth century through the work of Jacques Ignace Hittorff, followed by Eugène Haussmann’s great renovation of Paris. Reflecting a vision of domesticated nature, the avenue became a showcase of progress. However, after having embodied French elegance up to the late 1960s, the Champs-Élysées gradually lost its appeal among Parisians and currently, 68% of the 100,000 pedestrians visiting the avenue on a given day are tourists, while only 5% are Parisians. The avenue now concentrates all the nuisances related to what used to be considered "progress": dense traffic, over-tourism, mass consumption, and impervious surfaces. Now in an ambitious plan unveiled in 2019 by local community leaders and businesses, the 2030 vision for the city turns the 1.9 km stretch back into an extraordinary garden by reducing vehicle space by half, turning roads into pedestrian and green areas and creating tunnels of trees to improve air quality. The ambitious plans include redesigning the Place de la Concorde located at the south-east end of the Champs-Élysées.

URBAN GREENING

Left: Grey to Green. Triq is-Santwarju, Ħaż-Żabbar. The existing open square is currently used for parking spaces, with different levels without any aesthetic design. These plans show sketches for the proposed plans to upgrade the area. Right: In the proposed plans for the site at Triq is-Santwarju, inverted umbrellas will capture rainwater to irrigate the landscaped area and for water features; they will create shade and protection from sun and rain; and can also integrate solar cells to light up at night creating a safe and tranquil area and the possibility for charging points.

Urban transformations

New urban greening projects From pandemics to global warming to prioritising our mental and physical health, it is high time that we put sustainability at the top of the agenda. As our towns and cities grow, the need to transform our urban areas into healthy places to live in also grows in importance, writes the team at WasteServ. This is the objective behind the new urban greening project implementation arm, GreenServ, set up within WasteServ.

Grey to Green. BiĊċieni Square and Triq Santa Duminka, Ħaż-Żabbar. This site is extremely urbanised with no green aspects or proper open spaces. Part of the plans include green parking lots, which incorporate permeable or semi-permeable paving to reduce stormwater runoff volume, as well as plants to filter and transpire water and visually enhance the streetscape. 18

reenServ will focus on dense urban areas that require transformation, areas that across the years have developed into predominantly grey spaces characterised by traffic and other aspects that negatively impinge on people’s quality of life. Work to implement urban greening practices that will see historic places, traffic-congested roads, and grey parking spaces transformed into characterful and distinct green social spaces has already started. Built as a summer residence in 1730 for Grandmaster Manoel de Vilhena, Romeo Romano Gardens in Santa Venera is the first one on the list. With an eco-friendly children’s play area included in the plans, a currently closed-off area of these gardens will become an accessible green space for all. Rather than using concrete and metal, the playground will be constructed from natural materials such as wood. An innovative environmentally led approach will be adopted during this renovation to ensure minimal impact on this Grade 1 National Monument and retain its natural character. An abandoned house of character, also part of this Cultural Property, will be restored and turned into a kitchen garden outlet with outdoor seating allowing guests to enjoy the

URBAN GREENING Romeo Romano Garden is a main attraction in Santa Venera, with citrus and ornamental trees, evergreen and flowering hedges, ponds and fountains. It is now a Grade 1 national monument, and it is also listed on the National Inventory of the Cultural Property of the Maltese Islands. The proposed project is to respect and enhance this national garden by offering new opportunities for residents to enjoy. The proposal includes pedestrian access to the gardens; a playground area using natural materials such as wood to integrate with the surrounding character; a kids gardening area; and restoration of auxiliary buildings and the irrigation system.

surrounding garden brimming with citrus and other ornamental trees. Another two major projects are St. Anne Street in Floriana and Regional Road in Santa Venera, two roads that for years have been synonymous with traffic congestion. The idea is to transform these roads in order to create an open space consisting of pedestrian areas and gardens whilst not disrupting traffic. This will be an opportunity to make residents' lives better and improve their wellbeing by reducing CO2 emissions, limiting noise pollution, and improving air quality. The geotechnical investigation assessing the geological conditions to come up with recommendations and design criteria for construction will commence in the coming months. The work of GreenServ will also extend to other residential localities, including Qormi, Mosta, Ħamrun and Ħaż-Żabbar. Parking areas and abandoned sites will be reimagined into multifunctional areas that will maintain their present scope but will also deliver an accessible green space for all. Creativity combined with sustainable design that prioritises the choice and reuse of materials will turn these areas into a social space for residents to enjoy. Design plans include landscaped roofs that will also double as parking spaces and green outdoor areas with water walls and benches where people can sit.

ork to improve our urban areas has already started with the installation of green walls in key locations around Malta, including Marsa-Ħamrun bypass, Kordin Industrial Estate and Corradino Correctional Facility. Green walls are a great way to combat air pollution and reduce traffic noise while serving as potential ecological buffers for insects and pollinators between the rural and urban environments. On crowded roads such green barriers contribute to cooler micro-climates and improve the experience of commuters. The Ministry for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning also made changes to the Development and Planning Fund (DPF) to address the lack of greenery in urban areas and to encourage the transition from grey to green by facilitating urban greening projects across the country. Through this Fund, the government is facilitating environmental and green projects, and for the first time ever, Green and Blue environmental measures in urban areas will be fully funded. Projects involving the installation of vertical green walls overlooking public spaces will also have part of the maintenance remunerated to reach a total of 105% of funding. St. Julian’s Local Council is one of the beneficiaries of this fund as it is planning to invest half a million euro from its

Development and Planning Fund to carry out four embellishment projects across the locality. The newly launched 'Green Your Home' scheme is another initiative driven by the Ministry that encourages green facades through the installation of vertical green facades and walls, and the green retrofitting of front gardens. With an allocation of €2 million, this scheme is also open to shops and offices with existing front gardens.

part from creating new habitats in urban areas, the Ministry is investing in conserving natural habitats across the country. One of the latest initiatives includes habitat restoration works by Ambjent Malta in Żebbug where existing soft areas were embellished with indigenous trees and shrubs, invasive alien species removed, and more trees planted. There are many more similar initiatives in the pipeline to the benefit of our communities and future generations. These conservation efforts are part of the Ministry’s agenda towards greener planning that will improve the aesthetics of our roads, the quality of life and reduce any negative experiences associated with urban living. The government is currently working in full synergy to ensure improvement in the aesthetic value of infrastructural projects across the island. Such works are

being carried out by the Environmental Landscapes Consortium (ELC), which presently employs over 260 workers across Malta and Gozo. These embellishment works are part of the government’s plan to embellish the areas in which we live and work, including industrial areas. With these projects, we want to set a precedent by putting the focus back to what is important making our urban environment healthier and more liveable as we head towards our bid to become carbon-neutral by 2025. We are rethinking how our towns and cities work and how we can design them to enhance people’s lives and find a new purpose for our urban centres. More importantly, we hope that we create special places, loved by many, and that would whisk us away from our concerns, even if for a short period of time. We want to give a better environment to the next generation. The future is greener.

MARINE ENVIRONMENT EXHIBITION

Marine exhibition set up by ERA

Malta’s Blue Wonders

People often take things for granted because they assume that they will always be there, but this cannot be further from reality when we talk about the sea. A new exhibition, Malta’s Blue Wonders at the Malta National Aquarium, organised by ERA (Environment and Resources Authority), aims to increase awareness and appreciation of the wonders of our seas. Capturing a glimpse of the vast array of marine habitats through the lens of underwater cameras, the exhibition runs until 16 May. Underwater photography by LIFE BaĦAR, courtesy of ERA.

e use, or rather exploit, our seas without second thoughts. In summer we all flock to the beaches to bask in the glorious sun while occasionally digging into a ħobża biż-żejt (a Maltese traditional slice of bread with tomatoes, onions, olives, etc.) – unfortunately, the modern version is probably reflected better through a packet of crisps in a plastic bag coupled with a beverage in a plastic bottle, which we conveniently forget to dispose of appropriately – again – without second thoughts.

Few of us are aware of the damage caused to our seas through pollution, and even fewer are aware of the extensive damage already caused! Unfortunately, this goes hand-in-hand with the lack of knowledge on the majestic beauties of underwater habitats and creatures surrounding our archipelago. A few years back, the LIFE BaĦAR for N2K project was launched, which included research regarding underwater habitats and creatures inhabiting our seas even down to dark regions at 1km depth. Of great interest was the discovery of red coral at a record depth of 1016m, extensive coldwater coral reefs, and a first record in the Mediterranean of a species of multi-

armed starfish. ERA and other project partners gathered extensive scientific data through this project, and through other projects and initiatives, and used it to protect these wonders through the designation of protected areas. Today, Malta boasts of 35% of its seas designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which have been given the status of Natura 2000 sites. MPAs are meant to manage human activity, allowing for the protection of natural resources from significant impacts. Protecting MPAs can help to conserve habitats that are necessary for the survival of various species which they support.

MARINE ENVIRONMENT EXHIBITION

These images capture a glimpse of the vast array of marine habitats through the lens of underwater cameras. Above: Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta). Facing page: Geogenic reef with sponges, corals and bryozoans. Below right: A multi-armed starfish. Photography OCEANA / Carlos Minguell © LIFE BaĦAR for N2K

RA would like the general public to appreciate the wonders of our seas – and in order to raise awareness, an exhibition, Malta’s Blue Wonders, has just been set up at the Malta National Aquarium where everyone can get a glimpse of the vast array of marine habitats captured through the lens of underwater cameras. With free entrance, as part of the exhibition, those seeking more information can challenge themselves to a small interactive competition with a chance to win prizes. Having the information available and declaring MPAs is only a small part on the grand scale of things, as education is key to preserve these unique habitats for present and future generations. These delicate habitats are fragile and

susceptible to human activities, including recreational and commercial ones. Remember the plastic bottle and crisps plastic bag mentioned above? Plastics, especially single-use plastics, might end up in the sea where they become an even bigger problem – they take years to breakdown, and when they do they often break up into microplastics. These microplastics enter directly into our food chain, through fish and other seafood, which then end up on our plates. Marine litter can have fatal consequences for turtles and other marine animals; unfortunately some wash up dead on our shores, with stomachs full of plastic waste. Let’s face it, we all prefer the news of hundreds of turtles hatching on our beaches – so let’s keep up our efforts and repeat last

The exhibition, Malta’s Blue Wonders, runs at the Malta National Aquarium until 16 May

summer’s records! We urge you to visit Malta’s Blue Wonders which is set up at the Malta National Aquarium, Qawra to experience the beauty of our marine surroundings and discover hidden caves, reefs and wonderful sea creatures. Just remember to dispose of those plastics appropriately! ERA is working on eliminating single-use plastics – a feat we will manage together! Malta’s Blue Wonders, at the Malta National Aquarium, Qawra. Open until 16 May, 2021, 10am to 6pm, Monday – Sunday. Entrance is free of charge. No bookings required.

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GOING ELECTRIC

Manufactured by Paul Arzens (19031990) in Paris in 1942, this aluminum and Plexiglas three-wheeled two-seater known as L’Oeuf Electrique (The Electric Egg) is considered the first bubble car. Photograph Charlotte Compan © Musée des Arts et Métiers-Cnam.

ELECTRIC BEGINNINGS

THE ELECTRIC EGG BY PAUL ARZENS In 1942, a small electric car was zipping around streets in Paris, bypassing wartime fuel restrictions – L’Oeuf Electrique (The Electric Egg) by French industrial designer Paul Arzens. But electric cars had already been developed by 1894. Main photograph Charlotte Compan, courtesy of Musée des Arts et Métiers-Cnam, Paris.

he story of electric vehicles coincides with the start of automobile design. The first successful electric car appeared in 1894, produced by Charles Jeantaud and sold under the trademark Jeantaud in Paris. A neat two-seater carriage, it had a battery of accumulators weighing 450 kg mounted beneath the seat. Directly in competition, in 1894, also in Paris, Louis Antoine Kriéger began designing and building electric automobiles. By 1898 when electric powered vehicle interest increased in France, Kriéger organized the Société des Voitures

Électriques Système Kriéger, and three of the models produced included The Brougham, The Landaulette and The Electrolette. By the end of the 19th century there was a frantic battle for speed and setting world records, and in 1889 the 100km/h barrier was finally broken by Camille Jenatzy, a Belgian race car driver, nicknamed Le Diable Rouge after his red beard. On 29th April 1889 at Achères, Yvelines near Paris Jenatzy reached 105.88 km/h in the electric CITA Nº 25 La Jamais Contente. So why did the drive for electric stop? A 1968 episode of the French program Panorama sheds light on this, ‘the main reason can probably be answered by Freud, simply that it wasn’t virile.

Senator George P. Wetmore of Rhode Island, New York, in a Krieger electric Landaulette, circa 1906. Photograph Wikipedia Commons.

Car owners in 1900 were the same as those that would later own Ferraris, Maseratis, and Lamborghinis. A car was ‘manly’, it was meant to move, it was meant to please... while an electric car was silent, quiet, these cars were noisy, and had a more virile feel.’

hen in 1942 necessity caused an opportunity for electric again. Trained at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, Paul Arzens is known for having designed numerous railway vehicles, futuristic airplanes and motor vehicles. In 1942, following the German invasion and the virtual disappearance of petrol for

civilian use, by bypassing wartime fuel restrictions, Arzens designed a revolutionary vehicle: the electric egg. Mobilizing light and modern materials, aluminum and Plexiglas, Arzens designed a three-wheeled two-seater. At the rear, Arzens installed five batteries totaling a weight of 300 kilograms which offered a range of 100 km and allowed a speed of up to 70 km per hour. Ahead of his time, according to Arzens in the same 1968 Panorama interview: “For cities, the attraction of electric certainly owes its advantage to its cleanliness, to its practicality, since all household appliances are now electric.“ Eighty years later this call to cleanliness, is again pushing electric, faster than ever. 23

GOING ELECTRIC

2020 was a very good year for electric vehicles and stocks are reacting. It is being predicted that this year will be world-breaking in terms of share price. Automakers are accelerating their electric vehicle launch plans and by 2022 there will be over 500 different models available globally.

ELECTRIC MOTIVATION

CHARGING YOUR FUTURE

The world is changing at a fast rate and so is technology and the way we move around. With many more looking towards a different lifestyle and what they consume, awareness is on the rise on how we commute, and how this can be done responsibly, writes Dr Miriam Dalli, Malta's Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development. Photography Bernard Polidano.

s the ones in the driving seat of policymaking, we are and will continue to encourage this interest and facilitate the use of methods that are less harmful towards the environment, both financially and logistically. Encouraging the use of electric vehicles – and doing so by increasing the much-needed accessibility throughout Malta and Gozo – is a priority for the Ministry for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development. Irrelevant of the pandemic, the market is responding to the rising interest in more responsible modes of transportation. In fact, 2020 was a very good year for electric vehicles and stocks are reacting. It is being predicted that this year will be world-breaking in terms of share price. Automakers are accelerating their electric vehicle launch plans and by 2022 there will be over 500 different models available globally. Consumer choice and competitive pricing will be key to attracting new

buyers to the market, but so will the support that we are able to provide as a government. Currently, the Government is providing €3.5 million in subsidies for the changeover to cleaner vehicles. Grants are allocated to anyone who de-registers and scraps their old combustion engine, while grants of between €400 and €6,000 are available for electric vehicles ranging, from pedelecs to cargo bikes and cars.

ustainability being part of the remit of the Energy Ministry, it is also in my interest to see that the principles of a circular economy are kept in mind when electric vehicles are designed. As consumers, we have power over this in our choice on what to consume. Furthermore, we must incentivize electric vehicles until they become an obvious choice for all drivers. One primary reason automotive emissions have been on the rise is because more people are buying sport utility vehicles (SUVs), that have a lower fuel efficiency than sedans. According to the International Energy Agency, between 2010 and 2018, SUVs

were the second largest contributor to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, adding more carbon dioxide (CO2) than heavy industry, trucks, aviation, and shipping. Other internal combustion vehicles like sedans saw a decline over the same period.

educing a good portion of global CO2 emissions that come from road transport requires concrete action today. We must ensure the right amount of investment in research, we must continue to educate about the need to be proactive in reducing carbon emissions, we must continue to ensure access to charging points, we must continue to encourage scrapping of polluting vehicles and reduce tariffs on electricity charging rates. Above all, let’s not forget to encourage the use of public transport, car-pooling, bicycle usage and a general moving away from the concept of one-car-perperson that we have been used to so far. As a country, we have made huge economic and social progress. We must now take the leap, and we have all the motivation in the world to do so.

GOING ELECTRIC

DemoEV stands for 'demonstrating the feasibility of electric vehicles' towards climate change mitigation

Paving the way for Sustainable Mobility in the Transport Sector

ONE ROAD TO A HEALTHY SOCIETY The environment we live in is what we make of it: as individuals, as a society, and, as a conglomerate of countries in one world, where the efforts of one towards a cleaner and less polluted ambient have a direct impact on the other. For this reason alone, the Authority for Transport in Malta cannot but put all its efforts towards the promotion and encouragement of a more sustainable means of transport. This has translated into many different initiatives focusing on electromobility and alternative mobility, writes Joseph Bugeja, Chairman and CEO of Transport Malta.

GOING ELECTRIC

ustainable Mobility is a goal that must delicately balance energy efficiency with the environment, the management of demand with the provision of infrastructure, and convenience with health and safety. This concept continues to grow in importance, becoming ever more relevant and pursuant. In order to make the local transport system more sustainable, every aspect of what we had known to be up until a few years back, requires rethinking. Whether it is the technologies that are embedded within it or the mode of mobility we use to serve our needs, what we use and how we use it must change. To instigate this change, Transport Malta, in conjunction with the Ministry for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects, pioneered the process of electrification of Malta’s transport system by introducing charging pillars on the island and pushing for the acceptance and uptake of the technology amongst the general public. The Ministry for Energy, Enterprise and Sustainable Development, is developing a holistic strategy for the successful implementation of the process of electrification of Malta’s transport system, by increasing the number of charging pillars on the island and pushing for the acceptance and uptake of the technology amongst the general public. Today, through this same Ministry, we are seeing the modernisation and expansion of Malta’s publicly available network of charging pillars, in order to

facilitate the availability of charging services on the Maltese islands. Grants for the purchase of electric vehicles continue to be provided by Transport Malta to make them more economically attainable to a larger portion of the population. In addition, a concession agreement for an electric A-to-B car-sharing service, has given the public an affordable way of testing electric vehicles, making them familiar alternatives to ICE vehicles. These initiatives have been important contributors in aligning the local transport culture with the goals of Malta’s Central Government. We have witnessed how the first iteration of the Micromobility Regulation gave Malta the very first electric-only mode of mobility; an initiative which Transport Malta continues to build on, following lessons learnt since its inception. Ever-focused on its efforts towards sustainable mobility, the first Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) for the Inner and Outer Harbour regions is being developed. The SUMP explores innovative solutions in order to improve mobility patterns, meet new demands in the transport sector, and overall contribute towards making transport more workable. As part of this exercise, a Sustainable Urban Logistics Plan (SULP) has also been developed and is being integrated into the SUMP. The SULP targets freight and distribution processes and draws up from the results of the last mile delivery of goods project, which has also been piloted under the Civitas DESTINATIONS Project. The pilot project is testing the feasibility of a consolidated transport of goods system from the Ta’ Qali crafts village to souvenir shops in Valletta. Introducing charging pillars across the island is helping to push for the acceptance and uptake of electric technology amongst the general public

GOING ELECTRIC

Citroën C5 Aircross Plug-In Hybrid

Citroën ë-C4.

ELECTRIC FUTURE NOW

PUSHING THE PULSE WITH PEUGEOT, CITROËN, AND OPEL

Opel Vivaro-e

Opel Corsa-e

Battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric car sales have been steadily increasing. As we’re all becoming more conscious of taking care of our planet and the environment, electric cars are becoming highly sought after, and more economical. Despite COVID-19 struggles, 2020 is proof that electric and hybrid vehicles are in demand, with the EV global market share increasing from 2,5 % in 2019 to 4,2 % in 2020. Michael Attard Ltd. is at the forefront of this transition towards electric and hybrid vehicles. Reducing our vehicles’ environmental impact has been one of the major challenges guiding our technological choices. We are expanding our line-up with new electrified powertrains. To appreciate the total cost of a vehicle, you should not just consider the purchase price, but also the cost of energy (electricity or fuel), insurance and vehicle maintenance, explains Luke Attard, Marketing Director at Michael Attard Ltd.

Peugeot 508 PSE 30

GOING ELECTRIC

Opel Mokka-e

eugeot’s range of electric vehicles can meet all your needs: ultracompact city car or functional commercial vehicle. Peugeot‘s full electric vehicles combine innovative design, outstanding environmental performance, and state-of-the-art technology. A Peugeot electric car makes for an average consumption gain of 40% and maintenance that is up to 30% cheaper compared to a combustion vehicle. Electro-mobility is offered across Peugeot’s portfolio; whether you’re looking for a city car with the e-208, or prefer an SUV with the e-2008 and 3008 Hybrid, Peugeot has got you covered.

echnology is always advancing especially in the motor industry. Electric cars are becoming more popular with longer lasting batteries and versatile designs. Citroën offer practical, efficient electric vehicles that provide you with the comfort, space, and technology you need to make every journey enjoyable and peaceful. The electric offensive strategy for Citroën is truly charged, with New ë-C4, a new step forward in design, technology, and exceptional onboard comfort. New Citroën C5 Aircross SUV Hybrid is a versatile vehicle for customers looking for a “twoin-one” vehicle combining the benefits of electric driving for the daily urban commute and an internal-combustion engine for longer journeys. Quieter, less stressful, and zero particulate emissions; there’s a reason why the range of future Citroën electric cars is so important and popular.

Peugeot 3008 Plug-In Hybrid

Peugeot e2008 & e208

pel is continuing to push forward with its electrification offensive. With its consistent electrification offensive, the focus on future-proof models, and a further improvement of the efficient combustion engines, Opel has significantly reduced CO2 emissions. The battery-electric Corsae and the Grandland X Plug-In Hybrid are already available, whereas the completely new Mokka, which represents the future design of the Opel brand like no other vehicle, will also be available as a fully electric version right from the market launch. Fully digital and intuitive, the future of driving is firmly within your reach. ur electric offering does not only include passenger cars, LCVs will be electrically driven in the future. All our brands have recently been awarded the crown of International Van of the Year 2021, for the Peugeot e-Expert, Citroën ë-Dispatch, and the Opel Vivaro-e. These vehicles were designed as part of a cross-business program and offer payloads and loading volumes without compromise to all clients: artisans, companies, and administrations. They benefit from a new generation of technologies and assistance systems, and our commitment to the security and comfort of our clients. We are technologically ready to play our part in the energy transition thanks to a multi-energy offering. Since 2019, every new model will also systematically come in a hybrid or all-electric version. Therefore customers will be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing their next electric vehicle.

Michael Attard Ltd., Mdina Road, Attard. Tel: 2144 2005. Since electric cars are relatively new, we understand that you might have questions about them. Our team will be more than happy to discuss things further and we encourage you to send any queries on info@michaelattard.com or on Facebook at Michael Attard Ltd. 31

GOING ELECTRIC Electrification strategy

VOLVO, FORD, MAZDA AND HONDA EMBRACING ELECTRIC

hese four automotive brands are amongst the portfolio of worldrenowned brands that are locally exclusively represented by GasanZammit Motors Limited. The Maltese firm is at the forefront of promoting Electric Vehicles (EV) usage in Malta, embracing the electrification strategy which is being implemented by their international partners and clients in the automotive industry.

VOLVO TO LAUNCH ITS SECOND EV

The year 2020 was defined by the coronavirus pandemic, arguably the worst pandemic the world has seen in 100 years. However, those who opt to see the glass as half full, will refuse to look at this pandemic solely from a negative aspect, and will try to look ahead at what positives might have ultimately come out of the human and economic tragedy the world has been facing. Undoubtedly, one of the positive aspects which has been scientifically documented, particularly during the early days of COVID-19, was the reduction of air pollution. Due to this novel virus, more people started to realise and understand the benefits of moving away from petrol and diesel cars and switching to an all-electric car. In fact, 2020 produced an influx of major new models from mainstream manufacturers. Top automobile companies in the world, such as Volvo, Ford, Mazda and Honda, continued to work hard to meet increasingly tough emissions rules with the introduction of more all-electric models, writes Carolyn Zammit, Director of Marketing at GasanZammit Motors Ltd.

Swedish-owned automotive manufacturer, Volvo Cars has been taking a bold lead with electrification in the auto industry for the past recent years. By 2025, Volvo's aim is that all-electric vehicles will represent 50% of global sales with the rest composed of hybrids. This would total to one million electrified cars on the road by 2025. At the end of 2020, Volvo had confirmed that by March, the company will unveil its second EV. The first one, XC40 Recharge, a small crossover SUV, was launched last year.

FORD TO HAVE SIX ALL-ELECTRIC VEHICLES BY THE END OF 2022 US automotive firm, Ford has recently announced that it will be investing $1bn to convert its facility plant in Cologne into its first electric vehicle facility in Europe. Ford has also pledged that all its cars on sale in Europe will be electric by 2030. This month Ford said it was “doubling down” on electric vehicles (EVs) and would invest at least $22bn in

electrification by 2025, nearly twice the company’s previous EV ambitions. This year, Ford will have its first EV to carry the blue oval logo. The chosen model will be a Mustanginspired SUV. Ford plans to have six all-electric models in its portfolio by the end of 2022.

FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC MAZDA VEHICLE TO ARRIVE IN MALTA THIS YEAR Electric vehicles will also be an important part of Mazda's future. Mazda will be bringing its first allelectric vehicle to Malta soon in the form of the MX-30 SUV, which will offer a plug-in-hybrid variant, too. The Japanese automaker plans to reduce the environmental impact of its fleet of vehicles by 90 percent by 2050. Part of the plan does include electric vehicles but will also include extremely fuel-efficient combustion vehicles.

HONDA TO LAUNCH MORE EV’S IN 2021 The electric vision and commitment of Japanese manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, Honda will see all of its European mainstream models electrified by 2022. Honda will unveil the latest generation of its popular HR-V this month. The small SUV will feature the company’s advanced two-motor e:HEV powertrain technology as standard for the first time. This new model will join the CR-V and all-new Jazz which were launched in Europe last year. Electric cars are the future, and each year we've seen automakers add more EVs to their line-up. No doubt, electric cars are already a mainstay on the roads, with a growing number of all-electric models being available to buy right now from the Mriehel car showroom of GasanZammit. The electric effect is now in full force, with established brands, such as Volvo, Ford, Mazda and Honda are all committing to offering a wider range of pure electric cars in the future.

ALL- NEW MAZDA MX-30 ALL-ELECTRIC.

STARTING FROM €26,700 * including government grant

GasanZammit Motors Ltd., Triq il-Merghat, Zone 1, Central Business District, Birkirkara CBD 1020 Tel: 27788222 email: mazda@gasanzammit.com www.mazda.com.mt

WOMEN WHO CHANGED SCIENCE

THE 1940S HOLLYWOOD STAR WHO HELPED INVENT WIFI

Hedy Lamarr Billed as “the most beautiful girl in the world” by legendary film producer and co-founder of Metro-GoldwynMayer studios Louis B Mayer when she signed for MGM, in 1942, at the peak of her acting career, Hedy Lamarr developed a “Secret Communications System” to help defeat the Nazis in WWII. By manipulating radio frequencies at irregular intervals between transmission and reception, the invention formed an unbreakable code to prevent classified messages from being intercepted. Classified by the US government as a top-secret defence mechanism, Lamarr’s patented idea later became the foundation for mobile phone technology. Her groundbreaking work paved the way for the modern invention of WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth. 34

WOMEN WHO CHANGED SCIENCE

edy Lamarr, born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler in Vienna in 1914, was given her new name by Louis B Mayer when she signed for MGM in 1937. He named her after the studio’s silent-era Barbara La Marr on the suggestion of his wife, Margaret Shenberg – intending that Hedy's dark beauty should remind people of MGM’s glorious past film stars. Born at the beginning of the first World War to parents of Jewish descent, Hedy had a privileged upbringing. Her father, a successful banker, was the director of the Bank of Vienna. As a child, she showed an interest in acting and by the age of 16, after forging her mother's signature on a permission note, she was hired as a script girl by Sascha-Film, then the largest Austrian film production company of silent films and early sound films. In 1933, when Hedy was 18, she would star as the lead in Gustav Machatý's film Ecstasy. The film would gain international recognition but was considered overly sexual and banned or censored in several countries – Pope Pius XII denounced it, Hitler banned it, and offending scenes were cut from many European and American versions. In August 1933 Hedy married Friedrich Mandl, a wealthy munitions manufacturer who had close business ties to the Italian government. Despite his own part-Jewish descent, he also had ties to Germany's Nazi regime. Lamarr’s parents disapproved of the marriage mainly due to Mandl’s strong fascist views and ties with Mussolini and Hitler, both of whom were reported to have attended parties hosted by Mandl. Hedy's husband would prove to be extremely controlling, and he would spend millions trying to buy up all the prints of Ecstasy. Hedy would later describe Mandl as an overtly controlling and possessive husband, who effectively kept her prisoner in her own home, preventing her from acting. She often accompanied him to business meetings with scientists and other professionals involved in military technology. These conferences were her introduction to the field of applied science and would give her the foundation for her knowledge of weapons systems, including torpedo control systems. In the end, disguising herself as her maid, she fled to Paris by train, with her jewellery hidden in the lining of her clothing. She moved to London in 1937 where she met Louis B. Mayer who was scouting for European talent. After turning down his initial $125 a week offer, Hedy managed to book passage to New York on the Normande, the same liner as Mayer. Before the liner had docked she impressed him enough to secure a seven-year contract starting at $500 a week, and her new name – Hedy Lamarr. Touted by Mayar as the 'most beautiful girl in the world', her features were so striking they were said to have inspired Walt Disney’s Snow White character. Lamarr’s first Hollywood movie was the 1938 film Algiers, where she played the role of a glamorous seductress. Audiences were bowled over as her beauty seduced audiences. With Algiers a star was

born, however the film would typecast her for future roles. Although she achieved Hollywood fame, Lamarr was not satisfied by acting, and in her trailer between takes, and at home at night, she would work on inventions, which included an improved traffic stoplight and effervescent cola tablets. The beverage was unsuccessful and Lamarr herself said it tasted like Alka-Seltzer. At the time, among the very few who knew of Lamarr's inventiveness was her lover, the aviation tycoon and inventor Howard Hughes. Lamarr helped Hughes find a way to make his planes fly faster, suggesting he change their squarish design to a more streamlined shape, based on pictures of fast birds and fish. Studying their anatomies, she concluded that the wings on Hughes’ planes needed to be more streamlined to reduce drag. Hughes did everything he could to support her hobby and put his design team of scientists and engineers at her disposal.

Facing page: Hedy Lamarr, “the most beautiful girl in the world”, in The Heavenly Body by MGM (1944). Wikipedia Commons. Above: Lamarr’s patent for a Secret Communication System, filed June 10, 1941, was developed with the American composer George Antheil. The patent, granted August 11, 1942, would expire in 1959. Image: United States Patent and Trademark Office.

WOMEN WHO CHANGED SCIENCE

Right: Page 2 of Lamarr’s patent for a Secret Communication System, with the introduction of the patent below. Images: United States Patent and Trademark Office.

he true extent of Lamarr’s scientific talent would emerge, although remain unappreciated, during World War II. Scientific American writes that 'Lamarr realized that by transmitting radio signals along rapidly changing, or 'hopping', frequencies, American radio-guided weapons would be far more resilient to detection and jamming. The sequence of frequencies would be known by both the transmitter and receiver ahead of time, but to the German detectors their message would seem like gibberish.' In 1940 after working on the project for several years, Lamarr teamed up with the pianist and composer, George Antheil, to work on a ‘secret communication system’. Originally intended for use by the US Navy, this scientific triumph is now used in today's wireless communication. Lamarr and Antheil's ‘secret communication system’ used a ‘frequency hopping’ technology, using a piano roll to change among 88 different frequencies, to guide radio-controlled torpedoes underwater in a way that was undetectable by the enemy.

According to the National Inventors Hall of Fame, 'Lamarr and Antheil's frequency hopping reduced the risk of detection or jamming of radio-controlled torpedoes. Multiple radio frequencies were used to broadcast a radio signal, switching frequencies at split-second intervals in a seemingly random manner that would sound like mere noise to anyone listening. But if both the sender and receiver of the signal hopped frequencies at the same time, the signal was clear.' This frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) radio technology was granted a patent on August 11, 1942, and their designs submitted to the Navy. The Navy recognised its potential, however the technology was ahead of its time and was classified as a top-secret defence mechanism until the mid-1980s. When Lamarr tried to join the Washington based National Inventors Council she was instead advised that she would make a greater contribution to the war effort using her looks to help sell war bonds and entertain troops, rather than working as an inventor. It was not until 1957 that further development on spread spectrum occurred when the Navy used it to help transmit underwater positions of enemy submarines revealed by sonar. It's first full application was then used during the 1962 Cuban missile when all U.S. ships on a blockade line around Cuba were armed with torpedoes guided by a 'frequency hopping' system. Their invention would become the foundation for secure telecommunications and would be used in the development of GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth. Instead of 'frequency hopping' the technical term today is 'spread spectrum', however the basic idea is the same. The US Federal Communications Commission allotted a special section of the radio spectrum for an experiment using the spread spectrum to make wireless phone calls more secure from eavesdroppers. Although at first used secretly in the 1960s by the US military, commercial companies in the 1990s could hardly wait to use this technology and this technological feat was only formally acknowledged as an important development in wireless communications by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EEF) in March 1997 when Lamarr was honoured with a Special Pioneer Award. At the time the EFF wrote that the award recognised “that the concept of 'frequency hopping' is now the basis for the spread spectrum radio systems used in the products of over 40 companies manufacturing items ranging from cell phones to wireless networking systems.” According to Smithsonian Magazine “although she never made money from any of her inventions, 'frequency hopping' alone is estimated to be worth billions. Frequency hopping is often a component of wireless communication systems that allows more users to communicate simultaneously with less signal interference. Multiple signals can employ the same frequency, and if the signal fails or is obstructed, it hops to another one. Many other applications of spread spectrum technology – the broader term for wireless communications using variable signals – have arisen, including Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS.”

WOMEN WHO CHANGED SCIENCE

WOMEN IN SCIENCE

THE 80-YEAR JOURNEY TO 5G In 1941 Hedy Lamarr and co-inventor George Antheil filed a patent aimed to protect their war-time invention a radio signal that constantly hopped frequencies, so that Allied torpedoes couldn’t be detected by the Nazis. In the book 100 Ideas that Changed the Web, author Jim Boulden writes that ‘thirty years later, in 1971, at the University of Hawaii, a computer network was created based on this technology. Called ALOHANET, it used radio signals to connect computers across the Hawaiian Islands. A dedicated radio frequency would mean only one message could be sent at once. By spreading the signal across the spectrum, several computers could communicate simultaneously without interfering with each other. It was the world’s first wireless network.’ Mireille Muscat, Head of Marketing at Melita Limited, explains the journey from scientific breakthroughs of the Second World War to a modern hyper-connected world. Photography Alan Carville. 38

ew technology always generates curiosity and excitement. Frequently, the capabilities of these new technologies appear to be science fiction made real. Today, much of our attention is focused on 5G and the transformative power of a mobile communications network with vastly increased capacity, able to transmit data at such speed, it appears simultaneous to the human eye. 5G promises many advantages, enabling us to connect many more devices to the mobile internet network and at much higher speeds. Much of the hype is focused on driverless cars and self-flying drones. But there are many other benefits in areas such as coordinating complex manufacturing processes, delivering remote medical treatment with the use of augmented reality, and the ability of groups of people to work together remotely in new ways. But, just like most new technologies, the new capabilities of 5G are not revolutionary, just a logical next step in a long journey of development. In 5G’s case, it may surprise some to learn that this journey stretches back 80 years to 1942. At the height of the Second World War, Hedy Lamarr, the famous female Hollywood actor and, unknown to the world, brilliant scientist, developed a secret communications system that transmitted radio signals across different frequencies. This ‘frequency hopping’ made American radio-guide weapons much harder to intercept and remained classified military technology until the mid-1980s. Lamarr’s groundbreaking work, which laid the foundations for WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth, finally began to be

commercialised in the 1990s with the rollout of the first mobile phone network and original mobile phones. Those first-generation, or 1G networks, only allowed for voice calls but, of course, they set the world on a new path towards greater connectivity and incredible economic and social progress.

he evolution of mobile networks has continued at a steady but significant pace over the past 30 years. The second generation, or 2G networks, brought us SMS. For those who remember the arrival of text messaging, this in itself was also transformative. By greatly reducing the cost of staying in touch through a mobile network it made the technology much more accessible. Since then, the third and fourth generation networks have connected our mobile devices to the mobile internet and gradually improved the capacity and speeds of those networks. The fifth-generation, or 5G, mobile network is the next step on this journey and is now on the horizon. Melita has, since September 2020, been running a limited trial on its Ericsson network to ensure it delivers the 5G experience we expect while at the same time meeting all EU and International safety standards. In fact, these trials have shown a negligible increase in frequencies, remaining below 1 percent of the guidelines established by the WHO recognised ICNRIP. In the near future, Melita customers will be able to enjoy 1Gbps mobile internet speeds across Malta. More importantly, we will soon be able to enjoy the benefits which this next-generation network will deliver, enhancing both our working and personal lives.

WOMEN IN SCIENCE

Research shows that parents and caregivers are the primary source of influence when it comes to career choices. For Prof Jean Calleja-Agius, pictured here with her daughter, an episode in her youth - her mother undergoing an emergency hysterectomy - made her realise that very few doctors were female. This drove her to pursue a path to become an obstetrician and gynaecologist. Photograph provided by Prof Jean Calleja-Agius

Celebrating Women and Girls in Science

THE EXPERIENCE OF TWO STEM PROFESSIONALS Every year on the 11th February, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated globally, to acknowledge the contribution girls and women make to science and to highlight the importance of gender equality. This is also an overarching aim of the Ministry for Research, Innovation and Post Covid-19 Strategy - “to promote Research & Innovation amongst all strata of society, widening awareness and participation by people of different ages and social backgrounds. A particularly specific target is to open up science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers amongst girls and women, giving them an equal opportunity to pursue a career of their choice.” So what is it like to be a woman working in STEM today? Esplora Content Development Executive and STEM Engagement Executive, Erica Falzon and Irene Mangion, find out. 40

WOMEN IN SCIENCE

s part of the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021 held at Esplora, Hon. Minister Dr. Owen Bonnici reiterated the Maltese Government’s commitment to encouraging girls and women to pursue careers in science and research. "I would like to see more female participation in the fields deriving from STEM subjects, not only to balance out years of under-representation but also because I believe women are key to increasing our national output in the fields of science, research and innovation". The challenge is considerable. In 2015, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study stated that from the young age of 15, boys are more than twice as likely as girls to aspire for a career as an engineer, scientist or architect; and that by the time they are 30 they are more than five times more likely than women to aspire for a career as software developer or applications programmer and almost four times as likely as women to aspire for a career as an electrical or communication engineering technician.

hat is it like to be a woman working in STEM today? To help us understand this better, we contacted two female scientists, Dr Marisa Cassar and Prof. Jean Calleja-Agius, who agreed to share their stories. By looking at their achievements, we are not only celebrating their contributions but also recognizing the struggles that accompany a career in science. Both are experts in their respective fields and have been conducting and publishing research for many years. Dr Marisa Cassar is a DNA forensic expert with a history of working in the biotechnology industry. Most of her work focuses on the development of techniques that can improve methods of analysis of forensic samples. Prof Jean Calleja-Agius is the Head of Department of Anatomy at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the University of Malta, managing multidisciplinary projects ranging from pregnancy complications, surgery, contactless monitoring of patients and genetic complications. She also chairs the project GYNOCARE which aims to create a network between stakeholders covering research on gynaecological cancer, amongst other things. According to the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, less than 30 % of the world’s researchers are women. While access to and participation in science has greatly improved over the past few years, women are still highly under-represented in STEM, especially within Research & Innovation. When asked about the presence of women in their fields of work, both Marisa and Jean were positive about the rise in the number of women entering STEM careers. Marisa noted, however, that although more scholarships are available for both men and women, there is a lack of diversity when it comes to STEM jobs available in Malta, and a lack of opportunities for doing research outside an academic setting. Both highlighted how hard they had to work in their studies, and the energy and time they invested in their careers. Marisa shared how people tried to disrupt her plans to launch her company. Jean explained that she had to sacrifice time with her family to complete her PhD while working abroad. She spoke of obstacles she had to face, but also of how she found the kind of support that helped her turn challenges into opportunities. The She Figures 2018 publication of the European Commission reports how, on an EU level, women are more likely than men to graduate with a bachelor's degree but Pictured here at work, Dr Marisa Cassar is less likely to acquire a PhD. a DNA forensic expert with a history of Male researchers outnumber working in the biotechnology industry. females in most EU countries, One of her earliest memories is doing while females outnumber men science experiments at the kitchen table as supporting staff. Malta is no with her mother, who was a science teacher. Photograph provided by Dr Marisa exception. Cassar. On a local level, female

As part of the celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021 held at Esplora, Hon. Minister Dr. Owen Bonnici reiterated the Maltese Government’s commitment to encouraging girls and women to pursue careers in science and research. Photograph by Jason Borg

researchers are on the rise, but the National European Research Area Roadmap for Malta 2016-2020 pointed out that academic research positions, particularly senior ones, remain male-dominated. Factors that hinder the participation of women in science include inadequate familyfriendly measures, ingrained stereotypes about gender roles and a paucity of gender equality plans and strategies in both academia and industry.

he importance of role models cannot be overstated. It is crucial to highlight what drives women to continue to excel and grow in their field. Marisa stresses that even though juggling family life and a demanding job is tricky, a career in science can be very fulfilling. Knowing that the DNA analysis that she worked on has helped in solving a crime and bringing justice is tremendously rewarding to her. Jean expressed how grateful she is for the opportunity to be in people’s lives from pre-conception through life and eventually death. A lot can be done to encourage more girls to study science and become the next generation of female scientists. Research shows that parents and caregivers are the primary source of influence when it comes to career choices, followed closely by educators. This is why, at Esplora, STEM engagement initiatives also address caregivers and education providers. One of Marisa’s earliest memories is doing science experiments at the kitchen table with her mother, who was a science teacher. For Jean, an episode in her youth - her mother undergoing an emergency hysterectomy - made her realise that very few doctors were female. This drove her to pursue a path to become an obstetrician and gynaecologist. According to the European Institute of Gender Equality (EIGE), reducing the gender gap in STEM education could help reduce the skills gap, increase employment and productivity of women and reduce occupational segregation. Ultimately this would foster economic growth via both higher productivity and increased labour market activity. By 2050, EU employment could rise by 1,200,000 jobs. We need more women in science and research, and we need to work together to achieve this. Thankfully, many initiatives are being launched to promote positive role models, provide equal opportunities to engage with science and educate against gender stereotypes and discrimination. Jean’s advice to girls is to “get interested in everything… and to be versatile, adapt in every inevitable, unplanned situation in order to turn every stumbling block into a stepping stone.” Esplora Interactive Science Centre joins the Ministry for Research, Innovation and Post Covid-19 Strategy in encouraging girls to walk in the footsteps of the many great women who, through hard work and dedication, have left an imprint on science, society and the planet. 41

HEALTH & FITNESS “Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being.” Plato (c 428-347 BC)

Exercise for the elderly

ACTIVE AGEING

Science shows that regular exercise can actually slow down the ageing process in our cells, prevent agerelated diseases and keep us trim, agile and fit well into an advanced age. Many scientists have termed exercise as a ‘miracle drug’ in relation to its antiageing effects. Ironically, many people are willing to spend vast amounts of money on facial creams, cosmetic surgeries and other commercialised promises, but fail to make use of the enormous benefits that regular exercise can bestow on their body, health, longevity and quality of life, writes Richard Geres, Fitness Consultant & Registered Nutritionist.

TELOMERE LENGTH

xercise can indeed slow down the ageing clock in our DNA. One measure of ageing comes from measuring the length of telomeres, which are the caps at the end of our chromosomes in our body’s cells. As we age, these telomeres begin to shorten, and telomerase, an enzyme involved in maintaining those caps decreases. Exercise studies have shown that cardiovascular exercise like brisk walking, running and cycling as well as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has the most beneficial effect on maintaining telomere length. Telomeres naturally shrink over time, and as they do, cells die instead of continuing to divide. Cell death is bad news not just for wrinkles and grey hair, but for risk of age-related health concerns like heart disease, cognitive decline, and even early death. So what is it about endurance and HIIT workouts that could prevent telomere shrinkage? The researchers hypothesize that those types of exercise affect levels of nitric oxide in the blood. Since nitric oxide increases blood flow and lowers blood pressure, it could in turn affect the cell changes found in people who regularly engage in these 2 types of physical activity.

HEALTH & FITNESS

fractures. One reason for the drop in muscle mass and bone density is a drop in the male hormone testosterone, which declines by about 1% per year after the age of 40. The nervous system also changes over time. Reflexes are slower, coordination suffers, and memory lapses often crop up at embarrassing times. The average person gets less sleep in maturity than in youth, even if he no longer needs to set his alarm clock. Not surprisingly, spirits often sag as the body slows down. Men with existing medical problems start to age even earlier and tend to slow down even more.

REGULAR EXERCISE IS THE ANTI-AGEING THERAPY

nternational guidelines on exercise recommend at least 3.5 hours of moderate exercise per week together with 2 weekly exercise sessions that exercise the major muscle groups of the body. That’s actually enough exercise to induce the telomere-lengthening effect and prevent the onset of sarcopenia. Unfortunately, it is estimated that only around 25% of adults actually meet these minimum exercise recommendations on a regular basis. For exercise to be truly health-enhancing, it needs to be performed regularly, and yearround, for many years. Occasional bouts of exercise as a result of desperation, followed by long periods of inactivity will not yield any significant benefits. Consistency is the key. No medication, spa treatment or fancy therapy can replace or even come close to the health benefits that regular exercise can provide. You just need to get off your butt and go do it, over and over again!

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXERCISE FOR THE ELDERLY For exercise to be truly health-enhancing, it needs to be performed regularly. Consistency is the key. No medication, spa treatment or fancy therapy can replace or even come close to the health benefits that regular exercise can provide. Ironically, many people are willing to spend vast amounts of money on facial creams, cosmetic surgeries and other commercialised promises, but fail to make use of the enormous benefits that regular exercise can bestow on their body, health, longevity and quality of life. Aphrodite, known as the 'Venus de Milo', c 100 BC, Louvre, Paris. Photograph Daniele D'Andreti.

LOSS OF MUSCLE AND ITS CONSEQUENCE

ne of the most pronounced sideeffects of ageing is sarcopenia, which is a gradual loss of muscle mass, commencing from the age of 45-50 years. Loss of muscle mass results in a reduction of metabolic rate and gradual increase of adiposity. Most people begin to gain weight in midlife, putting on 1-2kg a year. But since men start to lose muscle in their 40s, that extra

weight is all fat. This extra fat contributes to a rise in LDL ("bad") cholesterol and a fall in HDL ("good") cholesterol. It also helps explain why blood sugar levels rise steadily decade after decade, making type 2 diabetes increasingly common in senior citizens. The loss of muscle continues, eventually reducing a man's musculature by up to 50%, which contributes to weakness and disability. At the same time, muscles and ligaments get stiff and tight. Although men have a lower risk of osteoporosis than women, they do lose bone calcium as they age, increasing the risk of

ere are the clinical recommendations for exercise for the elderly, as published in the American Family Physician Medical Journal: 1. For older adults, any physical activity is better than being sedentary. Reducing sedentary time has cardiovascular, metabolic, and functional benefits. Resistance training preserves muscle strength and physical functioning in older adults. 2. To promote and maintain health, older adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and two or more days of resistance training per week. 3. Flexibility exercises improve and maintain joint range of movement in older adults. 4. Balance exercises (e.g., tai chi, yoga) can improve or maintain physical function and reduce falls in older adults at risk of falling. 5. Physical activity decreases the risk of chronic diseases and enhances treatment.

OPENING SOON

A UNIQUE LUXURIOUS CARE HOME IN THE HEART OF SLIEMA The Imperial is an exclusive and professionally managed nursing and residential home located at the heart of Sliema where we adopt the Casa Antonia values and principles established over the past 20 years. We provide personalized care to residents, encouraging independence, dignity and respect, and enabling residents to lead a full and active lifestyle. Tastefully decorated in a traditional style, the home houses single rooms, double rooms and suites with 6,000 square meters of facilities including: • a state-of-the-art wellness centre; • a heated indoor hydrotherapy swimming pool;

At the Imperial we will support you and advise you in making the best decision for you or your loved one. Whether you are completely independent or require round the clock care, we will tailor your stay with us to your specific needs.

• a hair and beauty salon; and

Ultimately, what we want is for our residents to live happy, healthy and independent lives with us. Our dedicated team is waiting to meet you so why not contact us today to make an appointment to come and view our beautiful home.

• an onsite convenience shop.

GETTING THE CARE YOU DESERVE

• a three-storey underground car park; • a coffee shop;

For more information: info@theimperial.com.mt The Imperial, Rudolph Street, Sliema, SLM 1279 | 2145 6440 | www.theimperialmalta.com.mt A member of St George’s Care Limited – LIVE LIFE WITH US

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Above: Primary colours create a bold look for this cosy nook. The sofa, in a Holland & Sherry wool, and the pendant lights are custom designs. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion in Pale Powder. 46

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KATIE RIDDER MORE ROOMS

“Step in the front door of any home she has decorated, and even as you cross the threshold, you are filled with delight. And perhaps just a touch of envy – why isn’t my entrance hall this magical?” writes Dominique Browning, in the introduction to More Rooms, Katie Ridder's first book in nearly a decade. Katie Ridder’s extraordinary palette, her playful mix of antiques and modern pieces, and her eye for unusual decorative accents have established her as a leading figure in the world of interior design. “More Rooms. More colour. More pattern. More texture. More daring... More imagination and – best of all – more celebration of the ways in which we express ourselves through the décor of our rooms”, Browning continues. “Ridder’s rooms are vibrant with joy, brimming with life. Her message is that design, in all its bounty, should be celebrated as richly and fully as possible.” Photography Eric Piasecki, courtesy of Vendome Press.

Top left (cover): In the media room in the cupola of a New York apartment house, the sofa was designed to follow the curve of the cupola. The Chinese coffee table and Moroccan poufs rest on overlapping antique carpets. Top right: The metal four-poster bed creates a sense of intimacy within this bedroom with its soaring ceiling. The stencil, by Chuck Hettinger, on the seafoam-green grass-cloth walls, draws the eye to the lower part of the room. Above: In this bedroom sitting area, the chair and ottoman are covered in John Robshaw Textiles’ Ceylon Walnut. The mirrored cabinet is Julian Chichester, and the curtains are in Galbraith & Paul’s Smokebush. 47

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old combinations of primary and secondary colours; exquisitely crafted trims, embroidery, lampshades, and countless accessories (all designed by Ridder); imaginative room surfaces from silver leaf to custom stenciling. These are but a few of the signature elements of a Katie Ridder interior.

Top: In the living room of a Manhattan apartment, the Lee Jofa fabric on the corner sectional sofa was upholstered in reverse to soften its effect against the bold walls and the geometrically patterned rug. Left: For this red library with architecture by John Murray, Ridder’s client, a writer, works at a campaign-style, blue-lacquered desk. The walls are in Benjamin Moore Arroyo Red. Right: Updating the neo-Gothic entry hall in the president’s house at Vassar College, designed by Rossiter & Wright, 1895-96, Katie painted the paneling white and covered the walls in William Morris’s verdant Seaweed wallpaper. The indoor-outdoor sisal rug stands up to the troops of students who pass through the hall.

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Above: Upholstering dining chairs in two fabrics gave an opportunity to introduce pattern into this dining room. Another pop of colour is introduced with the turquoise roman blinds. Left: In this living room, the sofa, in a Dedar fabric, and armchairs, in a Claremont fabric, are all custom. The midcentury floor lamps are by Tommi Parzinger, the vintage cocktail table is by Wendell Castle, the curtains are Pierre Frey fabric, and the early 1900 Sultanabad Mahal rug is from Galerie Shabab. The dining table is antique and the chairs are custom in leather.

atie Ridder: More Rooms, written with Jorge Arango, explores her unique aesthetic room by room to underscore the astounding breadth and depth of her decorating ingenuity. The illuminating text details Ridder’s singularly creative approach to the essential elements of each room, including furniture plan, colour, lighting, finishes, pattern, layering, and scale. Illustrated with photographs by Eric Piasecki and featuring an introduction by longtime editor in chief of House & Garden Dominique Browning, Katie Ridder: More Rooms provides endless inspiration for design aficionados. 50

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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS. Katie Ridder’s work has been published in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Town & Country, Veranda, and the New York Times. She was the subject of Katie Ridder: Rooms and coauthor of A House in the Country with her husband, architect Peter Pennoyer. She is on the board of directors of the Garden Conservancy and the Horticulture Committee of the New York Botanical Garden. Her firm also produces wallpaper, fabric, and carpets of her own design. Jorge Arango has written about interior design and architecture for more than thirty-five years. His work has appeared in House & Garden, Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Interiors, Luxe, and 1stdibs.com’s Introspective, among others. Dominique Browning was editor-in-chief of House & Garden from 1995 to 2007. A writer and editor, she regularly contributes to Time magazine and the New York Times, among other publications. She is now an associate vice president at Environmental Defense Fund, where she co-founded and directs Moms Clean Air Force. Eric Piasecki contributes regularly to Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, and House Beautiful, among other publications. The books featuring his photography include Katie Ridder: Rooms and A House in the Country. Katie Ridder: More Rooms. By Katie Ridder with Jorge Arango, introduction by Dominique Browning, Photography Eric Piasecki. Published by Vendome Press. Hardcover, 240 pages, over 200 colour illustration, 28 x 31.75 cm, GBP £60/ €56.

Top left: For this bright and airy kitchen Katie Ridder installed Urban Archaeology’s Industrial pot rack and open shelves to make everyday items easily accessible. The Cherner Chair Company barstools are a 1958 design. Top right: A niche in this entry hall is lined in pewter-leaf wallpaper, which sets off the eclectic grouping of objects, all found at auction: a Curtis Jere sculpture, an Arts and Crafts clock, and an Empire drop-leaf table. Left: For this wood-paneled kitchen, Ridder created a breakfast area with a Saarinenstyle table and a banquette upholstered in an ebulliently hued Josef Frank fabric. The Florian Schulz double-counterweight pendant lends a sculptural note. Right: These custom lampshades designed by Ridder create a bold impact with blue trim. 52

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TEATIME

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” Henry James

BRIOCHE DELIGHTS FOR A VINTAGE TEA French in origin, brioche is a rich leavened bread with high egg and butter content, perfect for an afternoon tea. Being extremely versatile the dough can be modified into various wonderful treats. The Mediterranean Culinary Academy's David Vella prepares a basic brioche dough and transforms it into brioche muffins, brioche rosemary-scented loaf, and brioche cinnamon rolls. His marmalade using local in-season oranges pairs well with the muffins or loaf. Photography and styling by Jessica Zammit, using vintage china and silverware belonging to her mother and grandmother.

BRIOCHE DOUGH

ORANGE MARMALADE

MAKES APPROXIMATELY 1 KILO OF DOUGH

Malta’s citrus industry dates back as far as 870, when Malta was under Arab rule. At this time of year citrus fruit grows abundantly. Among the citrus grown in Malta, Seville oranges, Larinġ tal-bakkaljaw, thrive. Bitter in taste, their high pectin content makes them ideal for orange marmalade.

500g strong flour whole 6 eggs 250g chilled butter 15g salt 50g sugar 100ml milk 7-8g instant yeast zest of 1 lemon extra flour as needed 1 egg, for egg wash 1. Crack whole eggs into stand mixer bowl, add flour, lemon zest, sugar and salt. 2. Using the hook attachment start mixing on lowest speed. 3. Slowly add milk and yeast. 4. Mix for 10min on low speed 5. Add one third of butter and mix until incorporated. Add second third and mix until incorporated. 6. Add last third and mix until incorporated, mix until dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl. 7. Oil a large bowl. Scrape dough into prepared bowl, cover with cling film, and proof overnight in fridge.

MAKES APPROXIMATELY 750ML 500g Seville oranges, Larinġ tal-bakkaljaw 1L water 500g castor sugar 250g soft brown sugar juice of 1/2 lemon

ORANGE MARMALADE BRIOCHE MUFFINS 250g chilled brioche dough orange marmalade 1. Preheat oven to 180C. 2. Flatten 250g chilled dough with your hands to remove any excess air. 3. Cut into small balls, roll out flat and place a tablespoon of marmalade in middle. Pinch the edges closed and place in a greased muffin tray. 4. Muffins can either be refrigerated and stored overnight to bake in the morning, or proofed immediately in an oven for 1hr at 40C and then baked. 5. Once proofed, bake at 180C until lightly golden brown and cooked through (about 20 minutes).

1. Juice oranges and lemon. Keep the pips. 2. Scrape inside citrus fruit and put pith and pips in a muslin cloth. 3. Slice rind of orange and lemon thinly. 4. Place rind in a pot with juice, water and muslin cloth with pith and pips. Simmer for about 1 hour. 5. Add sugar and cook until the consistency is right, about 15-25 minutes. 6. Take off the heat and cover allow to settle. 7. Pour into sterilised jars and seal lids while still hot. 55

TEATIME

BRIOCHE CINNAMON ROLLS These brioche cinnamon rolls are the best pairing of bread and cinnamon that you could think of. 500g chilled brioche dough 100g melted butter 200g soft brown sugar 2tbsp cinnamon pinch salt

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING FOR BRIOCHE CINNAMON ROLLS 50g cream cheese 100g soft butter 300g powdered sugar 1tsp vanilla essence 1-3tsp milk

1. Soften butter, add to cream cheese, whisk in vanilla essence and mix with powdered sugar to form a paste. 2. Add milk slowly until the desired consistency.

1. For the filling melt butter over low heat and mix dry ingredients. 2. Preheat oven to 180C. 3. Flatten 500g chilled dough with your hands to remove any excess air. Shape into a rough square. Roll out into a rectangle, trying to maintain its shape as much as possible. 4. Brush butter evenly over dough, leaving a 5 cm border along one long edge. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon and sugar mixture. 5. Roll up dough, starting from long edge (with filling) towards opposite long edge (without filling). Make sure roll is not loose and not too tight either when you’re rolling it up. 6. Cut edges of the cinnamon roll log. Cut equal pieces, and place each piece of brioche cinnamon roll on a parchment paper-lined half sheet baking tray or a round tin. 7. Cover tray with plastic wrap. 8. Cinnamon rolls can be refrigerated and stored overnight to bake in the morning, or proofed and baked immediately. 9. Make sure cinnamon rolls have grown by 50% in size, and are touching each other slightly. 10. Bake at 180C until the rolls are lightly golden brown and cooked through, about 20-22 minutes. The time will vary based on how big cinnamon rolls are, what type of tray or tin is used or how close the rolls are packed. They could take up to 25-27 minutes. Check the rolls at 20 minutes. 57

TEATIME

BRIOCHE ROSEMARY SCENTED LOAF The addition of fresh rosemary makes this rich, buttery brioche into a fragrant and aromatic loaf. 250g chilled brioche dough bunch rosemary 1. Preheat oven to 180C. 2. Flatten 250g chilled dough with your hands to remove any excess air. Shape into balls and place into a loaf tin. 3. Loaf can be refrigerated and stored overnight to bake in the morning, or proofed immediately in an oven for 1hr at 40C and then baked. 4. Once proofed, pat rosemary onto surface and bake at 180C until lightly golden brown and cooked through, about 20 – 25 minutes.

The Mediterranean Culinary Academy (MCA) has recently launched a new class on how to make brioche dough, developed and led by David Vella, one of the chef instructors. In this class David demonstrates how to make the perfect dough while also showcasing its versatility. You can share your creations by tagging @mca_malta or sending MCA a photo on their socials. MCA will be running another Brioche Class on 10th April. Should you wish to join you can benefit from a 10% discount using the code: MCAfirstmagazine. To book or for more information visit www.mcamalta.com or email contact@mcamalta.com 58

Gio. Batta Delia ESTABLISHED 1901

MOB: 9989 6286 FACEBOOK GIO. BATTA DELIA 1901

FOOD TALK

KEEPING THINGS FRESH After 28 years working with Corinthia, chef Stefan Hogan is still at the top of his game, consistently reinventing the menus on offer and keeping his dishes interesting and fresh, championing local produce in a five-star setting. Corinthia Palace’s Executive Chef shares what keeps him motivated after almost three decades working with Corinthia. Food photography by Brian Grech.

“

s a chef, I feel it’s my job to always evolve. As long as you have a solid foundation based in classic techniques, you can keep things fresh by keeping an eye on what's happening in terms of technology and produce and how they are being manipulated to create different textures and flavours. It’s also important to invest in books and magazines, research and try out new dishes. Even though I keep abreast with new techniques and ingredients, I always promote the use of local produce in my recipes. Supporting local farmers is a subject I am very passionate about. I think that chefs have a moral responsibility to champion local produce and small producers. A lot of these farmers’ work is handed-down knowledge, and if customers stop buying their produce, eventually they will stop producing it. A lot of knowledge, like crop rotation, is already being lost. This is our heritage and we’re losing it because very few people are documenting it. My menus at Corinthia Palace this year will be based on whatever local produce is available as the seasons change. We will be using local produce and will try to keep as much as possible the local element as the main focus of each plate. We’ll be focusing on things like local olive oil, olives, gbejniet, vegetables and fruit, always 60

trying to make sure we’re in tune with what’s in season locally. Respecting the seasons is one of the many ways I try to ensures my dishes’ carbon footprint is as low as possible, something I am always acutely aware of. By 2050, there will need to be a quantum leap forward in how we look at food. I think we should look at ways to support a flexitarian diet. If we had to reduce meat and fish consumption to twice a week instead of four, for example, it would help. This discussion will have to happen at some point in the next decade. Corinthia’s menus reflect a commitment to the environment, offering more earthfriendly options too. We have a full vegan repertoire of dishes. A vegan dish needs to look interesting, stimulating and it needs to be as pretty as the non-vegan option. It can’t be just a salad or a vegetable strudel, which is what some people always fall back on. Almost three decades in, I still enjoy experimenting with cooking. Recently I chose the turnip - I smoked it, pickled it, roasted it, poached and made a puree out of it." Perhaps the secret to his career’s longevity is something as simple as a willingness to try new things, even when cooking a humble root vegetable. The Corinthia Palace Malta is open for allday dining with brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. More information about Stefan Hogan and his award-winning team of chefs can be found online at www.corinthia.com/palace-hotel-and-spa/.

FOOD TALK

SCONES BY CORINTHIA PALACE 500g self-raising flour, sifted 25g baking powder 90g butter (room temperature) 60g sugar 60g dried apricots (diced) 60g dried apples (diced) 120ml cream 140ml milk 1 egg, beaten (to glaze)

1. Preheat oven to 220°C. 2. Sieve flour and baking powder together, add sugar then manually rub in the butter. 3. Add diced apricots and apples. 4. Gently mix in milk and cream to form into a dough being very careful not to overwork it. 5. Turn dough out onto a floured surface and roll out until 3 cm thick. Cut with a round cutter. Glaze top with egg. 6. Bake until golden brown and cooked all the way through (about 15 minutes). 7. Serve warm with plenty of clotted or whipped cream and some homemade seasonal strawberry jam, preserve, or marmalade. 61

AUCTION

Above: The two masterpieces reunited in Sotheby’s New York galleries: Piero del Pollaiuolo’s ‘Portrait of a Youth’ (left) and Sandro Botticelli’s ‘Portrait of a Young Man Holding a Roundel’ (right).

RARE RENAISSANCE PORTRAIT BY PIERO DEL POLLAIUOLO

MI6, ‘Q’ AND THE RENAISSANCE PORTRAIT This March Sotheby’s will offer a rare Renaissance portrait by Piero del Pollaiuolo. The artist was a contemporary of Botticelli and leading innovator of the Italian Renaissance. The painting, Portrait of a Youth, was previously in the collection of the first scientist to work for the Secret Service – Thomas Ralph Merton – the original ‘Q’ of MI6. Photography courtesy of Sotheby’s. 62

his extraordinarily rare Renaissance portrait by Italian artist Piero del Pollaiuolo, Portrait of a Youth, is coming to auction at Sotheby’s (London), hot on the heels of the record-breaking sale of Sandro Botticelli’s Portrait of a Young Man Holding a Roundel, which sold for $92 million at Sotheby’s (in New York) in January. The two remarkable Renaissance masterpieces, once hung side by side in the same collection - that of Thomas Ralph Merton - the first scientist to be employed by the British secret service, and the original ‘Q’ of MI6. A distinguished physicist and inventor, Thomas Ralph Merton was a renowned British scientist whose achievements included the identification of secret writing used by German agents during the war. Merton was also a distinguished collector, and during the 1930s and 1940s, he amassed a carefully curated collection consisting of over 30 masterworks of the highest quality, primarily works from the Italian and Northern Renaissance. In addition to Pollaiuolo’s Portrait of a Youth (which left the collection in 1985), and Botticelli’s Portrait of a Young Man Holding a Roundel, which hung as pendants in his study, Merton’s collection featured works by Hans Holbein, Lucas Cranach and Bartolomeo Montagna, and other Italian, German and Flemish masters. Possessing a unique combination of scientific knowledge with an eye of an artist, Merton had an astute eye and developed a collection of remarkable quality, and served on a number of national museum boards, including the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Gallery. Portrait of a Youth will be offered with an estimate of £4-6 million in Sotheby’s cross-category Evening sale in London on 25 March. Spanning Old Masters to the 21st century, the sale will also include major works by David Hockney, Edvard Munch and Wassily Kandinsky.

5 February - 21 March 2021

hilst sexually charged, the anonymous woman’s body and stance, do not attain erotic or pornographic

status. The work is simply a crude and unequivocal portrayal of the sinuosity of a (female) body in space, powerfully modelled and accentuated through light and shade. This is

ustav Courbet’s The Origin of the World, is possibly the better-known of historic paintings, to audaciously depict and place female genitalia in the foreground of the work, thereby elevating it to subject matter.

precisely how and why {v} was conceived, as an overdue attempt to both celebrate and demystify the female form, by overtly choosing to portray the vagina in literal, or abstracted terms, or even by connotation. Curator Lisa Gwen Artists Alexandra Aquilina, Kevin Attard, Isabelle Borg, Gabriel Buttigieg, Kane Cali, Charlene Galea, Christian Muscat, George Muscat, Matthew Pandolfino, Marcel Pommer, Kim Sammut, Suzanna Scott, Ritty Tacsum and Jenna Tilley

Spazju Kreattiv, Castille Place, Valletta, VLT 1060 - Malta

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