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The CORALLO project ocean literacy digital tools engaged the public within the GreenFest organised by the ERA last week in the heart of Valletta. CORALLO is coordinated by the Department of Geosciences (Faculty of Science).
Represented by Mr Johann Galdies and Mr Alessio Marrone, the Oceanography Malta Research Group or OMRG (within the Department of Geosciences) showcased and promoted two of its ongoing projects, namely CORALLO and BlueNIGHTs, at the GreenFest which was held in St George’s Square in Valletta from the 3 to the 7 May 2023.
Several hundred members of the public availed themselves of the CORALLO project facilities and amenities on display at the GreenFest and further contributes to the CORALLO Capitalisation (Workpackage 5) objectives, following the several hundred schoolchildren engaged by CORALLO at the end of March at the FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) Fest.
Of significant interest to the public were Gamblu the Robot and the MetaQuest headsets which, being procured through the CORALLO project, are being used to promote our Maltese Natura 2000 sites with the public. Lead by the University of Malta, the CORALLO project began in 2020 and sees the active participation of seven Maltese and Sicilian Partners and is focussing on developing interactive and digital tools and means to promote Natura 2000 sites in Malta and Sicily amongst the general public. This three-year project will run till the end of August 2023, with a total budget of slightly over 1.5 million Euros. In previous years, the project participated prominently within the Science in the City event held at Fort St. Elmo in Valletta, organised photographic and videographic competitions for students and even presented HE President George Vella with a commemorative trophy. The 3 Maltese partners on the project (the University of Malta, the ERA and Heritage Malta) have a combined budget exceeding 800,000 euros. Further information on the CORALLO project can be gleaned online.
Meanwhile, the BlueNIGHTs project deals with the promotion of the European Researchers’ Night which takes place every last Friday of September. BlueNIGHTs brings the many facets and faces of people working in oceanography and marine-related fields to the general public by demonstrate that the sea can be a source of inspiration, an object of interest/study, and a field of investigation for people with very different backgrounds, hobbies and passions, including science, history, technology, sociology, pedagogy, economics, art and design. This project’s consortium includes ten different partners, including the University of Malta through the coordination of the OMRG. For more information visit the website. Prof. Alan Deidun, resident academic at the Department of Geosciences within the Faculty of Science, is Principal Investigator (PI) at the University of Malta on both projects.
