Five young scientists from Malta showcase their work at JRC Ispra

Five young scientists from Malta visited JRC Ispra in June to showcase their work with JRC researchers. This study trip was the prize of the Malta Young Scientist Award organised by the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST).

James Ciarlò, Sephora Sammut, Joanna Vella, Shawn Baldacchino and Vanessa Petroni were the winners of the Malta Young Scientist Award and had the opportunity to present their work during a three-day study trip to the Ispra Site of the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC).

The scientific activities of the winners cover fields such as beach sediments (Sephora Sammut), climate modelling (James Ciarlò), genomics in rare diseases (Joanna Vella) and breast cancer (Shawn Baldacchino and Vanessa Petroni).

The study trip enabled the young researchers to promote their work and talent as young scientists within an international context, and acquire knowledge by observing and making contacts with scientists working at the JRC.

During their experience in Ispra, the Maltese scientists had the opportunity to shadow JRC scientists working in their fields of interest and discuss their own work as well as the projects and activities undertaken by the JRC. They also received a general overview of the JRC by visiting the Visitor's Centre and were also acquainted with the JRC Knowledge Centre on Migration and Demography (KCMD).

While at the JRC, the young researchers visited some of the JRC laboratories, including the Water Innovation Support laboratory, NanoBiotechnology laboratory and Cyber & Digital Citizens' Security laboratories, where they got to test the working conditions of a scientific lab in real life. Their study trip was concluded with a meeting with the JRC Board of Governors.

This study trip was the second of its kind. The visits by young scientists are promoted by the JRC to enhance collaboration with some among the most prominent young scientists of the countries holding the EU Presidency.

The Maltese representatives followed the Slovaks in 2016 and, as much as their predecessors, succeeded in demonstrating their innovative ways to tackling issues of science and research.

The JRC will repeat the action in the autumn under the Estonian Presidency of the EU.

The Malta Young Scientist Award is an initiative of the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST), which aims to showcase the work of Maltese Scientists to the JRC.

The call for scientists for the Malta Young Scientist Award took place in April 2017. The winners were selected by the MCST after a two-phase process which involved an application screening and an interview. The costs of two-and-a-half study trip were fully covered by the JRC.