Malta Neuroscience Network (MNN)
Malta Neuroscience Network (MNN)

The Malta Neuroscience Network (MNN) is an official programme of the University of Malta (UM) that aims to encourage and facilitate interdisciplinary research and training in the field of neuroscience. The MNN also seeks to raise public awareness about the brain and to encourage public engagement in neuroscience activities taking place within the UM and more generally across the Maltese Islands.

The MNN board consists of a Coordinator and eighteen other members selected from the Faculty Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Information & Communication Technology, Faculty of Media & Knowledge Sciences, Faculty of Science, Faculty for Social Wellbeing and from the Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics. Chairpersonship of the board is held jointly, with the joint chairpersons being chosen by and from among the members.

Seminar Series 2019-20

The 2019-2020 MNN seminar series will continue to showcase neuroscience research taking place at the University of Malta, while we also hope to include talks from a number of visiting scientists. Speakers will provide an overview of research methods and perspectives in their area, as well as orginal findings. The level of detail will be aimed at a general scientific audience, rather than to experts in a specific field. Over the course of the year, speakers will be drawn from all member Faculties of the MNN.

Seminars will take place on Wednesdays at 12:15, in MAKS 414 unless otherwise stated. Click on the title to read the abstract (if available). Contact the local host for more info about specific talks and for schecduling meetings with the speaker.

Date Speaker Title Venue Host
25/10/2019 Dylan Seychell (Department of Artificial Intelligence) A Saliency Driven Approach for Attention Re-targeting 414 Media and Knowledge Sciences Ian Thornton
13/11/2019 Sunčica Zdravković (Cognitive Science/University of Novi Sad, Serbia) What eye movements can tell us about the brain 414 Media and Knowledge Sciences Holger Mitterer
11/12/2019 Joseph Borg (Applied Biomedical Science) How Molecular Biology and DNA science are helping us achieve breakthroughs in medical research 414 Media and Knowledge Sciences Ian Thornton
12/02/2020 Christian Zammit (Department of Anatomy) Characterisation of hypoglycaemic white matter injury in the rodent brain. 414 Media and Knowledge Sciences Holger Mitterer
18/03/2020 **POSTPONED** Karin Pilz (Gronigen University) Perceptual processing in older adults 414 Media and Knowledge Sciences Ian Thornton
22/04/2020 **POSTPONED** Giacomo Rizzolatti (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche & Università di Parma) The “mirror” brain and the neural basis of empathy Italian Cultural Institute Giuseppe Di Giovanni
13/05/2020 **POSTPONED** Manuela Radić (Department of Physiology and Biochemistry) The effect of cannabinoids on absence epilepsy and comorbid anxiety 414 Media and Knowledge Sciences Giuseppe Di Giovanni

***CLICK HERE for details of previous seminars ***

Board Members

The MNN coordinator is appointed by Council and the Board is appointed by Senate on the recommendation of the constituant Faculty Boards. In 2018-19 the coordinator and board members (listed alphabetically) are as follows:

Name Role Department Faculty/Center
Prof. Paul A Bartolo Member Department of Psychology Faculty for Social Wellbeing
Prof. Kenneth P. Camilleri Member Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics Faculty of Engineering
Prof. Liberato Camilleri Member Department of Statistics & Operations Research Faculty of Science
Dr Tracey Camilleri Member Department of Systems and Control Engineering Faculty of Engineering
Dr David Cassar Member Department of Psychiatry Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
Dr Nicola Dingli Member Department of Neuroscience, Mater Dei Hospital Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
Dr Lalit Garg Member Department of Computer Information Systems Faculty of ICT
Prof. Giuseppe Di Giovanni Treasurer Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
Prof. Helen Grech Member Department of Communication Therapy Faculty of Health Sciences
Dr Maria Mallia Member Department of Neuroscience, Mater Dei Hospital Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
Prof. Holger Mitterer Chairperson Department of Cognitive Science Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences
Dr Josianne Scerri Member Department of Mental Health Faculty of Health Sciences
Mr Dylan Seychell Member Department of Artificial Intelligence Faculty of ICT
Prof. Cristiana Sebu Member Department of Mathematics Faculty of Science
Prof. Ian Thornton Coordinator Department of Cognitive Science Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences

Brain Awareness Week (BAW)

Brain Awareness Week (BAW) is the global campaign to increase public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. Every March, BAW unites the efforts of organizations worldwide in a celebration of the brain for people of all ages. Activities include open days at neuroscience labs; exhibitions about the brain; lectures on brain-related topics; social media campaigns; displays at libraries and community centers; classroom workshops; and more.

In Malta, BAW is coordinated by the MNN. If you'd like more information about the programme of events in Malta, just email us at info@mnn.mt. More information about the global BAW campaign can be found on the Dana Foundartion webpages.

BAW20 MNN Head Logo

*** PLEASE NOTE: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, most events have been postponded in 2021. HOWEVER, the CineXjenza Webinar will take place***

BAW 2021 Schedule March 15-19
Date Time Event Details Venue Contact
Tuesday 16/03/20 19:00

WEBINAR

CineXjenza The regular BAW CineXjenza is organised by the student group S-Cubed and the Malta Chamber of Scientists. This year, the theme will be "The Human Brain On Film" an online webinar in which a panel of MNN researchers will illustrate the good, the bad and the ugly side of how neuroscience is represented in the movies. ONLINE S-Cubed

Joining the MNN

One of the main goals of the MNN is to provide a link for all parties within the Maltese community with an interest in Neuroscience. To that end, we encourage applications for individual membership to the MNN. To find out more about individual membership requirements, you can contact us at info@mnn.mt. You can also complete our online membership form directly, by clicking here. As the MNN is part of the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS), membership to the MNN also has a number of other advantages, detailed below.

Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)

FENS is a European federation of scientific societies for basic scientists and physicians whose research is focused on the brain and nervous system (i.e., neuroscience). Its mission is to advance research and education in neuroscience within and outside Europe, to facilitate interaction and coordination between its members.

The MNN is one of the 43 FENS neuroscience member societies across 33 European countries. MNN members are automatically members of FENS and may take advantage of the extensive FENS member benefits and services, detailed here . To find out more about supporting membership of FENS contact us at info@mnn.mt .

Further Information

For further information concerning the MNN or to be added to our mailing list, please send mail to info@mnn.mt . We also encourage you to directly contact board members from your area if you would like more information about the role of specific Faculties/Centers


Webmaster: Ian Thornton Page Updated: 5 March 2021 Contact : info@mnn.mt