Mathemagical wizards

A mathemagical experience

By Samantha Abela

Last year, some students from Grade 9 and 10 Physics applied for the project entitled: Julian’s Tech Start-up Challenge 2022 Bionic Inventions which took place bettern September 12, 2022 September 15, 2022. This project is part of the The Julian’s Pathfinder Foundation that was created in memory of Julian Spiteri who tragically passed away in a traffic accident in April 2021.

The Foundation was created with the purpose of inspiring and supporting gifted children and youth to achieve their full potential. Three students applied at the time: Julian Scicluna, Zen Caruana and Richard Wang. They had to come up with a ‘technological product’ that could help humanity whilst applying current scientific rules. This was done over the course of four days of focused activities going into various learning areas, run by the best specialised educators we can find. The aim of the sessions was to excite the students about big ideas around a central multidisciplinary theme in the field of science and technology as well as to instil an entrepreneurial mindset and give the applicants a structured approach for developing innovative ideas.

Julian Scicluna writes:

The car slowed to a halt. The building’s main entrance swung open. I was guided to a hall with many other children and I hadn’t the faintest idea what was going on. Then some of the helpers took to the stage and everyone fell silent. The helpers, along with Professor Schembri Wismayer, gave us insight on the programme.

We then started the first event of the program, which was called “The Wheelchair Challenge”, where the nominees were grouped in teams of four and had to devise a wheelchair suitable for rocky terrain. After a few minutes of brainstorming, the first tea break was introduced and we all helped ourselves to all the juice, tea and cake on the table. After that, a few professors from the University came to give us educational talks (lectures) about topics which could be used to enhance our wheelchairs, such as the evolution of medicine. We were then asked to present our wheelchairs in groups, each member explaining a fair share of the wheelchair’s attributes and features. Lunch was provided, along with more fascinating talks such as metallurgy and an extremely important announcement about the new project: The teams were shuffled and the new teams had to design a new suit, ideally from the combination of their proposals and present it to a board of competent engineers and biologists from the university. Group work time became time allocated towards the formulation of the suit, which is how I have met a future mechanical engineer who goes by the name of Kyle Saliba. Following the

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announcement came dinner, fun activities and the first bedtime.

Then dawned the second day of camp. We were taken to university to admire the professors’ marvellous contraptions and listen to them explain and show us practical examples of their previous lectures. We returned just in time for lunch (pity we had to leave), more lectures such as biocompatibility, group work, dinner and a treat: a lecture on astrophysics and a stargazing opportunity!

The third day was also packed with fun: a nature trail early in the morning, breakfast, another marvellous trip to university, lunch, group work, lectures, dinner (pizza) and a surprise: playing the drums and learning about music, followed by bedtime...

Why the Camp was established

The Julian's Pathfinder foundation was Created in memory of Julian Spiteri, who passed away in a traffic accident in 2021. He was constantly questioning whether he was on the right path to reach his full potential. Julian had a long list explaining why he wanted to study and practice law. Evidence of the great lengths he went to justify his choices. This list was found by his parents and lead them to establish the Foundation. To inspire gifted children and youth to follow their dreams and reach their full potential. In order to make the world a better place.

My experience at the camp.

This year I was chosen along with 23 other high ability students from across the Maltese Islands. Throughout the four days of camp we were giver talks by various experts. We visited the university of Malta and were able to see state of the art technology and learn how it works. The camp programme was directed by Profs. Pierre Schembri Wismayer a professor and researcher at the department of anatomy. With the help of these ex-

“This camp was one of the most educational, interesting and exciting adventures I have ever been on, and if asked to go again, I would accept in a heartbeat!” - Julian Scicluna

Zen J Caruana writes:

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