University of Malta academic Dr Timmy Gambin has just returned from a one-week visit in Taiwan.

Hosted by the École française d’extreme-orient (EFEO) and the Academia Sinica, Dr Gambin delivered lectures on a number of aspects related to the maritime traditions and history of the Mediterranean region. One lecture on the seafarers and religion was given at the Department of History at Tamkang University and was followed by a question and answer session with faculty members as well as with both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The highlight of Dr Gambin’s visit to Taipei was his participation in a round table entitled ‘Hazards and Fortunes at Sea - Maritime Routes and Landscapes in the Mediterranean and Taiwan Straits’. Together with Professor Pascal Arnaud from France, Dr Gambin presented Mediterranean perspectives on the subject matter whereas Dr Paola Calanca (EFEO) and Professors Liu Y-Chang and Chen Kuo-tung from the Academia Sinica put forward ideas originating from research executed in the Taiwan Straits.

Given the commonalities that exist between the two regions a decision was taken to expand on this meeting during a Paris conference in 2018 currently being planned by the EFEO.