Photo caption left to right: Pro-Rector Prof. Joseph M Cacciottolo, Mr Jake Bonello, Ms Perla Galatolo, Ms Antonella Vassallo, Prof. Louis F Cassar, Mr Ede Kossári-Tarnik

The Elisabeth Mann Borgese (EMB) Bursary of the International Ocean Institute (IOI) was established as a means of demonstrating recognition to the host country of the IOI – Malta – for hosting the IOI Headquarters and for providing facilities for staff and offices at the University of Malta’s Msida Campus. The Bursary is financed through the IOI and constitutes a further recognition and acknowledgement of the role of Prof. E. Mann Borgese, founder of IOI, and of her considerable achievements.

 

The 2024 EMB Bursary is being awarded to Ms Perla Galatolo to carry out an investigation on the state of Posidonia oceanica meadows in Maltese bays subjected to anthropogenic disturbance and pollution and shall form part of a Master of Science in Cross-Disciplinary Science [Mainly by Research] with the Faculty of Science at the University of Malta. The study aims to assess the loss and health of P. oceanica meadows in Maltese bays subjected to anthropogenic disturbance and pollution, compared to meadows in pristine coastal areas. The EMB Bursary funds should be utilised to enhance the current research work by supporting the purchase of specialised equipment and financing fieldwork. 

The 2023 EMB Bursary awarded to Mr Jake Bonello to carry out an investigation on the antifouling performance of a novel PMMA/TiO2 nanocomposite coating, forming part of a Master of Science with the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Malta, has now come to a fruitful end. The EMB Bursary funds were utilised to enhance the research by supporting a research trip to Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, materials and consumables necessary for the research trip as well as open-access publications.

The award ceremony for this year’s EMB Bursary was held on 15 October at IOI HQ. Present at the Ceremony were Pro-Rector, Prof. Joseph Cacciattolo, Professor Louis Cassar, Ms Antonella Vassallo (IOI Managing Director), Ms Perla Galatolo (EMB2024 awardee) and Mr Jake Bonello (EMB2023 awardee).

For further information about the IOI and its programmes please contact IOI HQ via email or view the IOI HQ website.