NSTF

NSTF CONTEST FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS 2009-10

Students from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, the Institute of Information and Communications Technology and the Institute of Community Services all within MCAST, as well as from St Aloysius Sixth Form College, will be looking forward to the opportunity to represent Malta at the EU Contest for Young Scientists 2010 in Lisbon with their original research and technological projects such as the “eCity Shopping Centre”, “Use of Algae in Establishing a Pollution Scale Index for Freshwater Sources in Malta” and “Harnessing Wave Energy to Produce Electrical Energy”. The National Student Travel Foundation was nominated National Organiser for the EU Contest for Young Scientists by the Ministry of Education in 1997 and through this national contest annually selects the participants. Another two projects will participate in the Expo Science Europe, this year being held in Moscow.

NSTF SCHOOL CONTEST FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS 2009-10

There are nine Church and State Secondary Schools and Junior Lyceums exhibiting close to 30 fascinating scientific projects in the “NSTF School Contest for Young Scientists”. These vary in nature and scope ranging from “The Importance of Insulating a Home to conserve Energy” to “Mutation for the Virus A(H1N1)” to experiments on “Factors Affecting the Time of Flight of a Parachute” and “Microbiological Madness”. Investigations were carried out on “What Lurks in that Water Bottle?”, “Green Stain Remover” and “The Effects of Acid and Alkalis on Different Materials”. There are also studies on the Air Quality at a particular school and on the pH of Maltese Rain Water, both of which will generate great curiosity and attention in all interested parties.
The students whose project places first will represent Malta in the Belgian Science Expo soon afterwards. Other Students will be awarded interesting Book Prizes kindly offered by Agenda Bookshop.

NSTF SCIENCE ART CONTEST 2009-10

NSTF will display 50 of the best art works submitted by Primary School Students on various themes related to Biodiversity. The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a Celebration of Life on Earth and of the value of Biological Diversity for our lives. The International Year of Biodiversity is a unique opportunity to increase understanding, even at an early age, of the vital role that biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth. Through the NSTF Science Art Contest, primary school children had the opportunity to reflect on the achievements to safeguard biodiversity and focus on the urgency of our challenge for the future. Artworks focusing on “Life in Different Habitats”, “Habitat Loss”, “Climate Change”, “Pollution”, “Facing Extinction” and “Different Ecosystems” will be exhibited at Villa Bighi.  24 schools participated with well over 300 entries and it was no easy task to choose the exhibits as many children expressed themselves in an interesting artistic manner showing that they had understood well the scientific themes proposed.
Attractive Art Materials, kindly offered by V. & F. Portelli & Sons will be awarded as Prizes to individual students while a Voucher worth a generous €100 will be given to the school with the largest number of participants to be redeemed at the V. & F. Portelli & Sons Shop in Mriehel.

NSTF LITTLE SCIENTISTS VILLAGE 2010

During the NSTF Science Week to be held at Villa Bighi, the younger attendees will participate in the NSTF Little Scientists’ Village held in collaboration with Science Teachers from the Curriculum Management and eLearning Department within the Ministry for Education, Employment and Family. They will explore various themes also related to Biodiversity such as deforestation, different animal footprints, animal camouflage and the adaptation of animals to their habitat.

Older Primary School Students will participate in interactive workshops run by the MCAST Institute for Art and Design exploring the world of Insects.

NSTF SCIENCE WEEK 2010

The annual NSTF Science Week in collaboration with the Malta Council for Science and Technology will this year be officially opened on Sunday 11th April by the recently appointed Chairman at MCST, Hon Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando. Villa Bighi in Kalkara will provide the setting for this educational experience.

Many students of different ages from various educational institutions but driven by the same passion – Science – will come together to learn and teach each other through the various Science Projects that NSTF runs throughout the academic year. The NSTF Science Week is the climax of all these programmes. Students’ projects are exhibited and schools are invited to visit throughout the week. Primary School Children participate in the Little Scientists Village Project while visiting secondary school students will participate in various workshops scheduled throughout the week.

Eager to put their commitment to the European Action on Drugs into action, the Maltese Medical Student Association (MMSA) will coordinate seminars to raise the awareness of teenagers to the risks of substance abuse. They will informally provide the teens with basic information about the most common types of drugs, in particular depressants, stimulants and hallucinogens. These seminars will also look at how to recognise these different drugs, offer tips on how to detect if someone is using drugs, and of course where to go for help.

Other students will participate in the “Darwin Now” Activites run by the British Council together with the Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family. The British Council’s “Darwin Now” Project highlights the lasting impact of Darwin’s theory of evolution in science and society. A related exhibition explores the origins of Darwin’s book On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection”, outlines his central ideas and explains how they remain at the core of contemporary research in biology and medicine.

Still other students will be involved in the LEGO MINDSTORMS Workshops where they will have the opportunity to see robotics in action. Robotics is an exciting way to bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics to life in the classroom. These workshops are run by IMS Ltd, local importers and distributors for LEGO Education Materials .

The event will come to an end with the Prize Award Ceremony of the various NSTF Science Programmes on Saturday 17th April. Prizes include art materials, books and participation in science events overseas, such as the Belgian Science Expo, the Expo Science Europe and the EU Contest for Young Scientists where students get the opportunity to meet with eminent scientists and peers interested in Science.

NSTF would like to thank all those entities without whose help such an initiative would not be possible, namely the Malta Council for Science and Technology, the Malta Chamber of Scientists, Air Malta, the British Council, Bank of Valletta, Agenda Bookshop, V. & F. Portelli & Sons Ltd, IMS Ltd, MCAST Institute for Art and Design, the Curriculum Management and eLearning Department (Science Centre) and NSTS Student and Youth Travel.