In Touch Issue 2

in TOUCH January 2010

Flashback on a Society that faded away Why study Science?

Issue 2

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nother new year; another fresh new magazine in your hands. I hope that the holidays that just passed were useful for you and were a time of rest and joy, giving you the energy needed for the exams which are now on our doorstep. But for now, I suggest you forget a bit about the exams and take a good look at this magazine that we at scubed have prepared for you.

After the massive response we had about our first issue back in October 2009, we decided to keep the same format and fill another magazine with some interesting information which we hope you might enjoy. Loads of activities have taken place in the last three months and some reviews of these events can also be found inside this mag. Even the executive has changed! New energy has been brought into the team to make sure that we

adhere to the high standards scubed is now renowned for.

My special thanks goes to our sponsors who make these publications possible, and to all those who contributed in this magazine by giving us various interesting articles to enjoy. Do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to write something yourself in the next magazine. My final thanks go to all those students who participate in our activities; one after another, and who give us the necessary satisfaction to continue working hard in promoting unity amongst science students.

Address: Office number 7 Science Students’ Society Students’ House University of Malta Tal-Qroqq, Msida MSD 2080

Flashback on a society that faded away

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Looking through the archives of the Science Students` Society, we came across a small brown luggage which once belonged to the Royal University of Malta Chemical Society (R.U.M.S.C.).

E-mail: info@scubed.info

Why study Science?

Telephone: +356 9983 4244

Frequently, people come up to me and ask, “Which course did you choose in university?” to which I reply, “BSc biology and chemistry”, only to be answered with a blank look and the inevitable, “So what can you become with BSc? A teacher?”

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Flashback on a Society that faded away Looking through the archives of the Science Students` Society, we came across a small brown luggage which once belonged to the Royal University of Malta Chemical Society (R.U.M.S.C.).

The aim of the society was to promote and foster interest in, and to advance the knowledge of Chemistry.

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ut who were the members active in this society?

The oldest records we possess indicate that in 1965, the chemical society was composed of the following executive and members; Tony Pace President, Vice President James Mcelhatton, Treasurer Anthony Frendo, Secretary Anthony Spiteri, Assistant Secretary Victor Sammut, Members Paul Falzon, Carmel Serracino Inglott and Noel Zarb Adami (now Professor in the Chemistry Department.)

In December 1966, it was reported that a new R.U.M.S.C. committee had been elected, these being President Victor Sammut, Vice President Carmen Calleja, Secretary Patrick Camilleri, Assistant Secretary Anthony Abela Medici, Treasurer Tony Pace, Members Roger Aquilina, George Agius, Josette Valenzia.

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The executive committee in 1967 included V. Sammut (President) T. Abela Medici (Assistant Secretary) R. Aquilina, P. Camilleri, T. Pace, C. Calleja and J. Valencia.

Through a book in which the minutes were kept, we know that the society was reactivated in 1969. In fact, a meeting was held on the 14th January 1969 in which a committee presided by Mr. David Cefai was elected unanimously. In this committee, current Pro-Rector Prof. Alfred Vella was appointed as Head of Research. The rest of the committee was composed of Vice President Joe Borg Costanzi, Secretary Mark Agius, Assistant Secretary George Agius, Treasurer Edward Depasquele, Assistant Head of Research Joe Borg Costance, Chairman “Orbital” Board Lawrence Fenech, “Orbital” Faculty Representative J. M. Jaccarini, Staff Representative (TalQroqq) J.M. Jaccarini, Staff Representative (Evans Lab) T. Mallet.

This society used to organise an annual science exhibition. The exhibition was organised for sure in 1959 as the society used to ask the Council of the University of Malta for a grant. This exhibition included modern chemical equipment, demonstrations of chemical principles and some interesting phenomena. One such exhibition was organised on the 30th April 1966.

Between the 10th and 12th of April of 1969, the exhibition included wines, textiles, detergent. Some apparatus exhibited included a Geiger Counter, Tesla Coil, Oscilloscope with a Microphone, Discharge Tubes, X-ray machine, Photo Microscope. Documents confirm that in 1969 the exhibition was organised in collaboration with

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the Biological society which was then presided by Tonio J. Bugeja in 1969 and also with the Biological Society. The governor general of Malta was invited to officially open the exhibition.

The R.U.M.S.C. used to organise other events and activities such as party dinners, and football leagues.

Films such as “It-Taghrif fuq iz-Zejt” which was organised on 30th April 1966 and trips were also organised. In 1966 films used to be coordinated by Noel Zarb Adami.

The organisation also used to publish a magazine entitled “Orbital”. This used to be sold at 4d a copy and used to be published at the Malta University Press. The editor was Dr. G. L. Duncan. The content of this magazine was not restricted to chemistry only but it also featured other branches of Science.

In fact, in certain occasions, the magazine was published in collaboration with the Biological and Physical societies.

The society used to also organise lectures. A lecture on Brewing was given by Mr. J. D. Cluett, a Brewer chemist at the Simonds Farsons Cisk on Thursday 24th February 1966 5pm at the Evans Laboratories Merchant Street Valletta.

On Friday 25th March 1966 at 5.15pm, at the Evans Laboratories Evans Street Valletta, a talk “A 100 years of Plastics” was given

by Dr. G.L. Duncan, a physical chemistry Lecturer at the R.U.M. Another lecture organised in 1967 was on “Soap” and was given Prof. W.G.H. Edwards Professor of Chemistry at the R.U.M. This was held at the Evans Laboratories in Merchants Street Valletta on Friday 27th January 1967 at 5pm. One more talk was organised at the Evans Laboratories in Merchants Street Valletta on Thursday 6th April 1967 at 5pm on the Disease of Tobacco Smoking.

Apart from the exhibition, talks also

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used to be also organised in collaboration with the Biological Society as shown by then Treasurer of the Biological Society J. V. Bannister now Chairman of the M.F.S.A. The RUM chemical society had also launched a project for research on the Essential Oils of the Maltese Flora and in fact, they made a request on the 27th December 1965 but received no funds by the British High Commission.

They also asked several companies to help them in this venture including the Dragonara Palace Casino, British Petroleum Malta Ltd, National Chemical Malta Ltd. They had also asked the United Nations for such funds, once again with no positive reply. However the RUM had given the chemical society a small grant. The project was backed and supervised by the RUM. A press conference was held at the Evans Laboratories Merchants Street Valletta on Tuesday 28th December 1965 at 10.30am to inform the public of the society`s work. Later the research had to stop due to problems with the apparatus.

The society used to also liaise with other chemical societies. In 1968, the society was in touch with the Andersonian Chemical Society (founded in 1886) of the University of Starthclyde, Glasgow and with the Student Chemical Society at the University of Bristol.

The society used to also keep in touch with local companies related to the Chemical Industry such as the Edible Oil Refining Co. Ltd, Simonds Farsons Cisk Ltd – The Brewery of Malta, Marsovin Ltd., Chatillon Malta Ltd, Jablo Plastics Industries Malta Ltd, Sun Chemical Ltd. These companies used to help them to organise talks and the science exhibition.

Funds used to be given by Simonds Farsons Cisk (£25), British Petroleum Malta Ltd (£5), Barclays Bank (£5), The Edible Oil Refining Co. Ltd (£ unknown) Shell Company Malta Ltd (£5), and Malta Bottling Company Ltd (£1).

The RUMCS also used to organise site visits (guided tour). On Friday 4th February 1996 at 3pm, a tour was organised at the Edible Oil Refining Co. Ltd. On Friday 18th March 1966 at 3pm, a tour was organised at the Phoenix Textile Industries Ltd. We found no more records of the society post 1969. We believe that the University Science Students’ Association (USSA) then took over, but we will speak about this association that also faded away in the next issue.

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Karl Agius Honorary President Melchior Cini Treasurer

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WHY STUDY SCIENCE? Frequently, people come up to me and ask, “Which course did you choose in university?” to which I reply, “BSc biology and chemistry”, only to be answered with a blank look and the inevitable, “So what can you become with BSc? A teacher?”

Compare that to when I’ll be with my friend, a medicine student – they’ll ask him which course he chose, he answers “medicine”. Then instead of a blank stare, they’ll answer with an overwhelming “Prosit hej!” and heap him with compliments.

It’s as if medicine is the only worthwhile science course there is! Of course, the reality is very different – after graduating from BSc, one is really spoilt for choice – the multitude and diversity of jobs you can apply for never end.

The typical four jobs that BSc students take up after graduating are the following: research, teaching, working with a governmental organisation (like MEPA) or working with a pharmaceutical company. The latter is the most popular, with

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about 30% of students opting for it.

Often, I am told that science has not made any significant discoveries recently. On the contrary – the number of breakthroughs made in the last year was immense, let alone in the last decade. Here are some of the most significant scientific discoveries in the last few years alone: The Large Hadron Collider.

The largest atom smasher in the world has set records and continues to do so. It sends twin particle beams racing around a 27km circuit, then smashes them together. The purpose behind the €4 billion machine is to study the fundamental nature of matter and learn more about the Big Bang that created the universe – an investment which

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paid off handsomely.

Troubleshooting stem cell therapy.

Scientists learned how to reprogram skin cells into stem cells, without cloning or destroying embryos. It seemed too good to be true, and it was. The tissues grown from these cells had a tendency to become cancerous – however, scientists located the problem and solved it. Also, as recently as last month, scientists have discovered how to create skin cells from stem cells – a very important discovery since people with serious skin problems or burns will be able to replace their unhealthy skin with new skin.

Extrasolar planets. We are not alone in this universe, at least in terms of there being many more planets out there than those found orbiting in our solar system. The past decade has seen the discovery of hundreds of extrasolar planets, dubbed “exoplanets”. There is a significant possibility that a few of these planets may harbour forms of life, and Earth-like planets could also serve as a “home away from home” if we could develop methods of reaching them.

The genetics of ageing. This year, three scientists have been awarded the Nobel prize for solving a major problem in biology: how the chromosomes can be copied in a complete way during cell divisions and how they are protected against degradation. The Nobel Laureates have shown that the solution is to be found in the ends of the chromosomes – the telomeres – and in an enzyme that forms them – telomerase.

Finding another building block of life in our galaxy. When astronomers in France pointed the IRAM radio telescope at a region of the Milky Way filled with newborn stars, they found signs of a sugar molecule called glycolaldehyde. It is an ingredient of RNA which had only been spotted www.scubed.info

before at the chaotic centre of our galaxy, where there is thought to be a supermassive black hole.

The genome zoo. Few collaborative scientific endeavours can match the one that delivered the human genome – the complete map of our genetic blueprint. It cost €635 million and took a decade. Since then, the genomes of thousands of organisms, from primates to bacteria, have been sequenced in full.

Black holes. Arguably the most mysterious and fascinating structures in the known universe, black holes are regions of space from which nothing, not even light, can escape. They are the result of the deformation of spacetime caused by a very compact mass. Around a black hole, there is an undetectable surface which marks the point of no return, called an event horizon. If you entered a black hole and came out of it in one piece, you would find yourself staring at the black hole time reversal – a white hole. Recently astronomers have discovered that black holes have temperatures and emit Hawking radiation. They have also discovered several supermassive black holes in the centres of galaxies. Despite this, scientists remain woefully ignorant of the true natures of black holes.

The above discoveries constitutes only a small sample of recent scientific breakthroughs and is actually only the tip of the iceberg. Science, since its birth, has only seeked the truth about man’s surroundings and continues to surprise, revolutionise and modernise the way humans think and behave.

Mankind evolves largely thanks to the advances of science and technology.

Christopher Spiteri is a member of the Scubed executive board whilst reading for a BSc (Hons)Biology and Chemistry

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