ReThink Podcast

SWITCH is a short story written by Kirk Grech as part of TEXT's Eternal Pyre Writing Competition. The short story was also printed in Issue 36 of THINK Magazine. Narrated by Ian Farrugia

Notes: Episode contains mild profanity, local politics and frank opinions. For our final episode, Nika and I decided to sit back and reflect over the last season of ReTHINK. What starts off as an exercise in nostalgia quickly develops into a lively discussion about our sense of self and identity, Stoicism and Buddhism and politics.99.9% of humans’ DNA is the same.http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/resources/whats_a_genome/Chp4_1.shtml Skinner’s pigeon experiment in which subjects are rewarded with food and as a result, keep getting the dopamine hit https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/bf-skinner-the-man-who-taught-pigeons-to-play-ping-pong-and-rats-to-pull-levers-5363946/Coercive Design and Social Mediahttps://www.researchgate.net/figure/Characteristics-of-Coercive-and-Enabling-Process-Design_tbl1_261457845How much of the population is addicted to social media?https://www.statista.com/statistics/1081292/social-media-addiction-by-age-usa/Why does being wrong feel like an attackhttps://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/feb/28/why-being-wrong-really-hurtshttps://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2016/12/28/14088992/brain-study-change-minds Stoicism and Buddhismhttps://dailystoic.com/stoicism-buddhism/

The internet and social media are a hallmark of modern society. A plethora of tools exists to help us consume, create, edit and curate the swathes of data available at our fingertips. But how has this renaissance of information affected younger generations? Are children more adept at navigating cyberspace? Or are we the ones who need to reTHINK cyberculture?We discuss with Dr Velislava Hillman who, throughout her research, she has reinforced the need to voice children’s and young people’s perspectives and experiences.Further ReadingJean Twenge - Generation Me and The Narcissism Epidemichttps://www.bookdepository.com/Narcissism-Epidemic-W-Keith-Campbell/9781416575993http://www.jeantwenge.com/the-narcissism-epidemic-book-by-dr-jean-twenge/Shoshana Zuboff - The Age of Surveillance Capitalismhttps://www.bookdepository.com/Age-Surveillance-Capitalism-Professor-Shoshana-Zuboff/9781781256855https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/03/harvard-professor-says-surveillance-capitalism-is-undermining-democracy/Commonsense Media -https://www.commonsensemedia.org/Facebook Likes can predict personality traitshttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/235906499_Private_traits_and_attributes_are_predictable_from_digital_records_of_human_behaviorSonia Livingstone - Global Kids Onlinehttp://globalkidsonline.net/about/members/sonia-livingstone/Digital Futures Commissionhttps://digitalfuturescommission.org.uk/How China is using A.I. in the Classroomhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMLsHI8aV0g

In this episode, we meet up with Gareth Mitchell from the BBC's Digital Planet Podcast. We discuss the impact the Internet Shutdowns in Kashmir have had on democracy, what the internet actually is and who owns it, we also touch upon the Splinternet and how related it is to the global political theatre. Gareth Mitchell hosts the BBC’s Digital Planet Podcast. He lectures in broadcast and written journalism at Imperial College London. Before his interest in technology, Gareth used to participate in bellringing. He is also a pilot and is a licensed amateur radio operator.Resources;https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-50819905https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51620158https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/oct/22/what-is-the-internet-13-key-questions-answeredhttps://www.unoosa.org/oosa/en/ourwork/spacelaw/treaties/introouterspacetreaty.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splinternethttps://www.economist.com/briefing/2010/09/02/a-virtual-counter-revolutionhttps://www.businessinsider.com/splinternet-us-china-internet-trump-pompeo-firewall-2020-8 

If you want to share your passion with the world, your first step should be understanding your audience. This is where human-centred design comes in - its about understanding the context of your work and figuring out people's needs. Daniela Quacinella joins us for this weeks ReTHINK podcast to tell us more!

The humble bee is responsible for 80% of all pollination worldwide, according to Greenpeace. These industrious, little insects transfer pollen between flowering plants, helping them to grow, breed and produce food. However, the loss of habitat and food sources, exposure to pesticides and climate breakdown have begun to take their toll on bee populations across the globe. Bees are also susceptible to the gut parasite, Nosema Ceranae, which can kill an entire bee colony in a matter of weeks. Prof David Mifsud and his team are looking to probiotics (live bacteria that can guard digestive systems) to help protect bee colonies from this swift killer. https://www.um.edu.mt/think/probiotics-to-the-rescue/

Depression and Anxiety are the most common mental disorders in Europe. Just as exercising and eating well help our physical health, we need to find ways to help our mental wellbeing. Dr Paulann Grech will be joining us for this week's episode. We'll be discussing mental health, psychology and her recent book, "Dealing with Coronus" - as well as a variety of ways we can improve our mental wellbeing.Further ReadingYou can buy a copy of Dr Grech's book here - https://www.kitegroup.com.mt/product/dealing-with-coronus-self-help-notes-for-a-pandemic-paulann-grech/You can read THINK's article on Mental Health here - https://www.um.edu.mt/think/dare-to-think-and-other-mental-health-tips/ReferencesWorker's earn the 'right to disconnect' - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38479439Mental Health: Fact Sheet, published by the World Health Organization - https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/404851/MNH_FactSheet_ENG.pdfSupport for Mental Health - https://www.richmond.org.mt/COVID-19 & Mental Health - A snapshot on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental wellbeing across Malta & Gozo - https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiNWMzMTQwZmMtYjdiMy00ZWZkLTgzNTItNjFkOTRmNmQyZDM1IiwidCI6IjczMjdkNTExLWQ3Y2QtNDZkNy05NDEzLTdkYjkzY2FlNGYwOSIsImMiOjh9Looking after our mental health while working from home - https://www.who.int/campaigns/connecting-the-world-to-combat-coronavirus/healthyathome/healthyathome---mental-healthThe European Mental Health Action Plan 2013 - 2020 - https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/280604/WHO-Europe-Mental-Health-Acion-Plan-2013-2020.pdfA Mental Health Strategy for Malta 2020-2030 - https://deputyprimeminister.gov.mt/en/Documents/National-Health-Strategies/Mental_Health_Strategy_EN.pdf 

When speaking of jellyfishes, we usually think of painful stings. Because of this, jellyfish blooms can affect tourism, but they also have impacts in aquaculture and, in the past, even caused shutdowns of power stations. But not every jellyfish is born the same: different species require different approaches, either in the healing of a sting or the amount of caution needed when encountered. At the same time, observing seasonal trends of jellyfish spotting is a good way to access environmental problems, like climate change and water quality variation. When it comes to jellyfishes, there is more than what meets the eye. Today we welcome Professor Alan Deidun to unravel the hidden mysteries of these curious creatures and the importance of citizens’ contributions to his work.https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/26181https://www.um.edu.mt/think/ten-years-of-jellyfish-spotting/

Journalists allow for a democratic society which holds its politicians accountable. In exchange, reporters and editors must maintain a high standard of professional behaviour. But what does the future hold in store for journalism?David and Nika discuss with Prof. Mary Anne Lauri how the global pandemic, shrinking revenues, and the murder of a journalist has changed Malta's media landscape. https://www.um.edu.mt/think/for-the-price-of-a-coffee/

Maltese drivers spend an average of 52 hours in traffic each year. Taming the traffic beast is no mean feat. We ask Dr Odette Lewis about her Master Plan for traffic management and what can be done to help address the situation. 

Public health concerns are plaguing our world’s communities. From COVID-19 to type 2 diabetes, health-related issues are becoming more prevalent in countries worldwide -- in fact, nearly 2 million people around the world have type 2 diabetes. Of those, almost 8 million individuals are not aware that they have T2D. We discuss this deadly disease with Dr Sarah Cuschieri and healthy choices we can make in our lives. Link to Dr Cuschieri's article - https://www.um.edu.mt/think/public-health-priority-type-2-diabetes-mellitus/

Food, food, glorious food! We are what we eat and for this episode, we take a closer look at it. We get in touch with Professor Suzanne Piscopo, a nutritionist, and Associate Professor of the Department of Health, Physical Education and Consumer Studies to discuss plant-based diets and their rise in popularity, why some people dislike veganism, and whether organic food has any nutritional benefits. As well as some handy tips on how to adopt a healthier diet!Nika and David also find out whether honey is vegan or not.https://www.um.edu.mt/profile/suzannepiscopohttps://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/young-farmers-challenge-consumers-to-eat-local-food-only-for-a-month.822319https://www.jneb.org/article/S1499-4046(19)30548-2/pdfhttps://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-07-19/local-news/President-underlines-issues-regarding-access-to-healthy-food-food-justice-is-a-human-right-6736193656https://www.um.edu.mt/think/i-potato/ 

This is the full version of the Big Data, AI and a bag of crisps episode. It is a combination of part 1 and part 2.It is something you use in your daily life, from your mobile phone to your smart fridge, it has the potential to re-imagine the way we work and the way we play and usher in a new technological age for humanity. But are you aware of it? How does AI work? It is the new Oil, it funds your favourite social media sites and search engines, and advertisers bid aggressively for this virtual real estate. It dictates what we’re meant to see, read and believe in. What is data and how does it tie into AI? Alexiei Dingli is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence, based at the University of Malta. His latest article in THINK magazine discusses the use of AI and our awareness of it.References to articles and studies mentioned in the Podcast;What's Your Face Worth?Australia unveils plan to force Google and Facebook to pay for newsSelf-driving cars may be more likely to hit you if you have dark skinAmazon scraps secret AI recruiting tool that showed bias against women

This is part 2 of Big Data, AI and a bag of crisps with Prof. Alexiei Dingli It is something you use in your daily life, from your mobile phone to your smart fridge, it has the potential to re-imagine the way we work and the way we play and usher in a new technological age for humanity. But are you aware of it? How does AI work? It is the new Oil, it funds your favourite social media sites and search engines, and advertisers bid aggressively for this virtual real estate. It dictates what we’re meant to see, read and believe in. What is data and how does it tie into AI? Alexiei Dingli is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence, based at the University of Malta. His latest article in THINK magazine discusses the use of AI and our awareness of it.References to articles and studies mentioned in the Podcast;What's Your Face Worth?Australia unveils plan to force Google and Facebook to pay for newsSelf-driving cars may be more likely to hit you if you have dark skinAmazon scraps secret AI recruiting tool that showed bias against women

It is something you use in your daily life, from your mobile phone to your smart fridge, it has the potential to re-imagine the way we work and the way we play and usher in a new technological age for humanity. But are you aware of it? How does AI work? It is the new Oil, it funds your favourite social media sites and search engines, and advertisers bid aggressively for this virtual real estate. It dictates what we’re meant to see, read and believe in. What is data and how does it tie into AI? Alexiei Dingli is a Professor of Artificial Intelligence, based at the University of Malta. His latest article in THINK magazine discusses the use of AI and our awareness of it.References to articles and studies mentioned in the Podcast;What's Your Face Worth?Australia unveils plan to force Google and Facebook to pay for newsSelf-driving cars may be more likely to hit you if you have dark skinAmazon scraps secret AI recruiting tool that showed bias against women

How can complex research reach people with short attention spans? THINK asks researchers and their friends to present their idea in three minutes, in a bar. The audience can ask questions. In October 2019, we recorded one of these events to bring the spirit of Soapbox to those who couldn't be there with us. After various restrictions on events to control the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to give you a taste of what these events are like.You can read the September issue of THINK magazine here: https://issuu.com/thinkuni/docs/think_29_issuuYou can also read articles by the event's speakers:Dr Joseph Caruana: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/save-the-night/Gail Sant: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/saving-the-skates/And an article about Prof. Ing. Kenneth Camilleri's team's research: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/eyes-front/Our theme music is by princess wonderful.

Open up your bible as we finish off the book of 1st John! We hope you have enjoyed the show and can't wait to see you on Monday's at 7 for our summer campfires! ∣|∣ How do you become adopted into God’s family? How can believing in Jesus help us overcome the world? What is revival? How can we usher in a huge move of the Spirit? Have you been reflecting the World more than Jesus?

Hope you had a great memorial day! Open up to John 4 and read with us, then join the conversation by discussing the questions at the end with a friend! ∣|∣ How do you test the spirits? Why is it important to be from God and not from the world? (4-6). What does it mean to you that God is love? Why do we have to love others first to love God? Why does God’s perfect love eliminate fear?

As we close the season, we look back at the conversations we've had on the ReThink podcast. You can listen to them again here:Environment:Microplastic pollutionUnderwater groundwaterShipping emissionsSustainable transportCommunication:Malta's bilingualismApp for children with communication difficultiesPhilosophy of gamesGame-based learningDesign:Sustainable concreteGreen roofsDementia-friendly architectureManaging dietary restrictionsTechnology:Blockchain of thingsSmart manufacturingBrain-controlled bedMalta's first satelliteReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/). ReThink's team consists of Daiva Repeckaite (producer and co-host), Chris Styles (voice artist and co-host), Shruti Sundaresan, Claude J. Bajada (co-hosts), and Carmel Grech (sound technician). Logo design is by Gabriel Izzo. Our theme music is by princess wonderful.

Open up your bibles to 1st John chapter three, then get ready to talk throught the questions with a freind! Do you consider yourself God’s child? What does it look like to fully realize being a child of God? Read verse 6, is this especially convicting to you? Do you find it difficult to love people from your heart? Is there someone you could love better?

Malta has two official languages - Maltese and English. They inevitably mingle, producing a unique variety of English and a one-of-a-kind Semitic language with numerous words borrowed from English and other European languages. Linguists believe that language mixes enrich communication, drawing the most appropriate resources from each language for each situation. Does this impede the development of contemporary Maltese vocabulary? Does the language mix leave anyone behind? Prof. Alexandra Vella and Dr Sarah Grech discuss code-switching with ReThink's co-hosts, Chris and Daiva.You can read Sarah Grech's original article here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/mistakes-versus-creativity-maltas-linguistic-paradox/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris StylesOur theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394

Open up your bibles to 1st John Chapter 2! Glad you could join us this week, here are the questions: What stood out to you from 1 John 2? How has 1 John related to Ephesians so far? What was the call from 1 John? What is the hardest part about living like Christ? How have you been doing through Covid? Do you need prayer?

Computer Integrated Manufacturing started in the 1980s. In recent years, affordable internet of things technologies have seen the development of new business models that allow companies to sustainably implement fully automated systems. Yet there are software integration issues, political implications, and security threats that accompany them. Dr Ing. Emmanuel Francalanza speaks to Daiva and Chris about engineering the factory of the future.You can read Emmanuel Francalanza's original article in THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/designing-the-factory-of-the-future/ ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris StylesOur theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394Image source: Shutterstock

Now that we have finished reading through the book of Ephesians, we are now going to get into 1st John! Join with us as we read chapter 1 and then call up a freind to talk about the questions! How have you seen and heard God’s word come to life? What is the message that we carry as Jesus Followers? What does it mean to walk in the light? What should we do when we find ourselves stuck in sin? Is there any sin that you need to confess? Take some time to talk and/or pray about it.

Introducing digital or board games into lessons proved to have a huge impact on teachers and students, but even children continue to hold the misconception that games and education are strictly separate planets. Dr Vanessa Camilleri, an expert in game-based learning, talks to Daiva and Chris, ReThink's hosts, discusses the opportunities even simple games like rock-paper-scissors can offer in a classroom.You can read Vanessa Camilleri's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/level-up-upgrading-game-based-learning/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris Styles.Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394Image source: Shutterstock

Finish off the book of Ephesians with us! This week is a shorter episode, enjoy! Listen up then talk through the questions with someone! What does it look like to wear the armor of God? What can you do to make this a reality in your life? What was the most powerful part of Ephesians that stood out to you?

Prof. Ray Ellul and his team are monitoring pollution from ships. They are based in the historical Giordan Lighthouse on the island of Gozo, which bears the brunt on international shipping. This year new fuel regulations enter into force – but what remains to be done to curb emissions? Prof. Ellul tells all about it to ReThink's co-hosts, Chris and Daiva.You can read Cassi Camilleri's original article here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/stuck-in-the-middle-with-the-fumes/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris StylesOur theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394Cover photo by Jean-Claude Vancell

Listen up then call a freind! Here are this weeks questions! What does it look like to be an imitator of God? Are you imitating God with your lifestyle and choices? Is there something in your life that you need to bring to the light? How has God’s love and grace changed your life? What are the implications of the Church being the bride of Christ?

When microplastics were discovered in drinking water, the world suddenly realised that plastic pollution is as serious as scientists have been claiming all along. Prof. Alan Deidun and his team have been sampling microplastics on Malta's beaches – he talks to ReThink's hosts Daiva and Shruti about how these particles get to the sea, fish, and our bodies. You can read Dr Adam Gauci's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/the-p-factor/. The article is read by Chris Styles.ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Shruti Sundaresan.Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394Image source: Oregon State University/ Flickr

Join us as we continue our journey through the book of Ephesians together. Stay connected! Listen, then talk about the questions at the end with a friend! Insta: rethink_mac How are you doing in practicing verse 29? // What are some of the gifts that God has given you that you can use to help grow the Church? // How can we keep unity alive through this time? // Are you living a life worthy of the calling you have received // Who do you need to forgive?

The construction business is guilty of environmental destruction and lends itself to corruption. Can concrete be reinforced with waste and become sustainable? Prof. Ruben Paul Borg tells Daiva and Chris how to transform concrete.You can read Hans-Joachim Sonntag's original article in THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/concrete-for-sustainability/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris StylesOur theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394Photo by Prof. Ruben Paul Borg

In this episode of the ReThink Podcast, we read through Ephesians chapter 2. Isn't it amazing how this book speaks so well into the situation we are all in now? While we are seperated physically, we are still connected socially. Listen at work! Listen at home! Listen in the car! Then call your friends and talk about the questions at the end! Our community will stay alive through crisis!

In the first ever episode of the ReThink Podcast we go through chapter 2 of Ephesians! Grab your bible, and read along with us. Then call up a freind to talk about the questions together at the end! Let's stay connected through this season!

‘The typical care space in Malta is a corridor with rooms double banked on both sides, and a person will just walk up and down along it. It is a bit like having a hamster in a wheel going round in circles,’ explains architect Alexia Mercieca. Instead, she believes, care homes should be familiar and safe, where people with dementia can feel at home. She discusses dementia-friendly architecture with Chris and this episode's co-host, Claude.You can read Claude Bajada's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/irrid-immur-id-dar-i-want-to-go-home/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Dr Claude Bajada and Chris Styles. The show's producer is Daiva Repeckaite.Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394Image source: Shutterstock

Offshore groundwater has recently raised the interest of geoscientists, from New Zealand to Malta. Dr Aaron Micallef and his team are looking into the potential of these water resources. He talks to Daiva and Shruti, ReThink's hosts, about the progress of his research, as well as the risks of potential exploitation of this fossilised water.You can read Dr Aaron Micallef's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/underwater-groundwater/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Shruti Sundaresan.Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394

Malta is rapidly losing green spaces to roads and buildings. But when vegetation is so scarce on the ground, could it move onto the Mediterranean island's flat roofs? Antoine Gatt is a landscape architect who is promoting this idea. He talks to Daiva and Chris, ReThink's hosts, about how the many delights a green roof can offer.You can read Nigel Borg's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/bloomin-roofs-go-green/ and Antoine Gatt's earlier article about the MedLifeGreenRoof project here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/green-roof-malta/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris Styles.Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394

Monique Chambers is a creative entrepreneur who draws inspiration from life to develop new and instantly popular projects. When she grew tired of keeping track of friends' diets, she built an app to manage dietary restrictions, whether originating from religion or belief, or from food intolerances. She talks to Daiva and Chris, ReThink's hosts, about the product's journey.You can read Jessica Edwards's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/food-indulgence-theres-an-app-for-that/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris Styles.Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394

Informed individual choices are not enough for Malta to break out of the vicious circle of obsession with cars and unreliable public transport. Dr Marie Briguglio, an economist, a brave cyclist, and award-winning sustainability expert, talks to ReThink's hosts Daiva and Chris about how research shows what needs to be done instead. You can read Nika Levikov's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/the-case-for-a-sparsely-carred-island/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris StylesOur theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394Image source: Shutterstock

Studying the relationship between the player and the game world can teach us a lot about how games impact individuals, how to evaluate games critically, and even our own relationship with reality. After all, to make a good game, you need to know how your audience will interact with it. Dr Daniel Vella tells Daiva and Chris about the way he studies digital games through the prism of philosophy.You can read Jasper Schellekens's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/transcendence-through-play/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris Styles.Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394Image source: Shutterstock

By integrating blockchain with the internet of things, consumers could enjoy more assurances of real-world physical processes. For example, ensuring that vineyard environmental sensor data were not tampered with, and that payment is only released to the water supplier upon delivery. Dr Joshua Ellul tells Daiva and this episode's co-host, Shruti, how he envisaged this potential revolution.You can read Dr Ellul's original article in the THINK magazine, co-authored with Prof. Gordon Pace, here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/entering-the-age-of-the-blockchain-of-things/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Shruti Sundaresan. The article is read by Chris Styles.Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394Image source: Shutterstock

Some children are unable to translate their thoughts into audible words, creating the need for an alternative means of communication. Dr. Ing. Owen Casha from the University of Malta and Dr May Agius from the Access to Communication and Technology Unit (ACTU) supervised a student who built a mobile app that would allow children with communication impairments to communicate in Maltese. They talk to Daiva and Chris, ReThink's hosts, about the product's journey since it was created.You can read Sylvan Abela's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/maltese-for-all/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris Styles.Our theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394

The UoMBSat1 satellite is only 5cm long on each side, but it's large enough to contain a communication system, a power system, some on-board data handling, and an attitude control system that would orient the satellite correctly. Dr Ing. Marc Anthony Azzopardi from the University of Malta is working on the launch of the first Maltese satellite into space. Daiva and Chris, ReThink's hosts, talk to him about his dream's progress.You can read Cassi Camilleri's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/on-qubes-and-the-pockets-that-fit-them/ ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris StylesOur theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394

Imagine having the power to control devices around you without moving a muscle. The guests of this ReThink podcast, Dr Tracey Camilleri and Ing. Rosanne Zerafa from the University of Malta, have been working on non-intrusive technology for that purpose for years. Daiva and Chris, ReThink's hosts, talk to them about the progress of their BrainApp project.You can read Becky Catrin Jones's original article in the THINK magazine here: https://www.um.edu.mt/think/brain-control/ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris StylesOur theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394

A Maltese satellite is about to take off into space. Objects will soon be controlled by brain signals. Huge underground water reserves may solve Malta’s water shortage once and for all. How far along are these and other ambitious local projects a year or two after they made the news? ReThink, a new radio show and podcast of the THINK magazine, meets researchers and innovators to follow up on their ideas.ReThink is produced by THINK magazine (https://www.um.edu.mt/think/) together with Campus FM (http://maltauniversitybroadcasting.com/), and hosted by Daiva Repeckaite and Chris StylesOur theme music is by princess wonderful: https://soundcloud.com/user-677060394