The seventh edition of the Institute of Earth Systems Graduate Launchpad was held on 26 June 2024, between 09:00 and 13:00 in Lecture Theatre 1 at the University of Malta’s Msida Campus. This annual event highlights final-year research projects carried out by the Institute’s undergraduate students.
An introductory speech delivered by Prof. Joseph M. Cacciottolo, Pro-Rector for Academic Affairs and Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Earth Systems, was followed by a brief address by Prof. Elisabeth Conrad, Coordinator of the Institute’s Environmental Management and Planning Division. The event was compèred by two second-year undergraduates, Ms Paula Marie Buttigieg and Ms Morgan Anne Zammit, while the programme was designed by final-year student Ms Izabella Apostolov.
The Graduate Launchpad, which was well-attended, provided students with the opportunity to present the results of their research to an audience made up of fellow students, UM academics, and representatives from various potential employers, such as governmental agencies in the environmental sector, including the Malta Resources Authority (MRA), the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA), the Public Works Department and Project Green. Also present were representatives from the Malta Meteorological Office, BirdLife Malta and PwC Malta.
The programme featured eight presentations by selected final-year students reading for the B.Sc. (Hons) in Earth Systems. Groundwater and stormwater modelling, gap-filling of satellite data, food waste issues, the ethics of fashion choices, the use of sustainable menstrual products, nature contact and connectedness, and the classification of locally produced honey were among the research topics presented and discussed. These projects exemplify the integration of multiple scientific disciplines to address complex environmental, social, and technological challenges.