JUSTNature Local Stakeholder Workshop with The Globe Project and Xrobb l-Ghagin

5^th May 2023, the Research Innovation Unit held a local stakeholder workshop of the European Commission Horizon 2020 funded project – JUSTNature. This hybrid workshop, hosted at the Gzira Local Council, inaugurated the synergy initiated by the Eastern Regional Council between stakeholders NASA’s The GLOBE Program, Xrobb L-Ghagin Nature Park and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and the Research Innovation Unit (RIU) under the patronage of President of the Eastern Region Mr. Anthony Chircop, Mayor of Gzira Dr. Conrad Borg Manché and the Mayor of Sliema Mr. John Pillow.

Throughout the initial part of the workshop, Year 7 and 8 students from Stella Maris College, Gzira and St. Joseph School, Sliema presented their Urban Heat Island Effect findings to the Gzira Local Council Mayor, Dr. Conrad Borg Manché and the Tas-Sliema Local Council Mayor, Mr. John Pillow. The head of the Research Innovation Unit Mr. Fabian Borg presented an interactive web map of the Urban Heat Island of Malta of thermal data deriving from USGS/NASA Landsat satellites to the students and delved into an open floor discussion on the Urban Heat Island effect of our country.

The second part of the workshop took form in the JUSTNature’s token game whereby students identified varied justices/injustices of air quality, open spaces, thermal comfort, over a map of Gzira and Sliema, in a first-person interaction with the President and the Mayors of Gzira and Sliema. U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Officer, Ms. Elizabeth Canallakis was present for the workshop whilst Lead Scientist for the GLOBE Urban Heat Island Effect Campain, Dr. Kevin Czajkowski, and Ms. Lenka Kleger from GLOBE Europe and Eurasia Implementation Office attended the workshop online.

A special thanks goes to Mr. Fabian Borg, Ms. Shirley Attard and Ms. Cathleen Diacono, (Research Innovation Unit), Ms. Ramona Mercieca (the GLOBE Program), Ms. Esther Sammut Carbone (Xrobb L-Ghagin Nature Park and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre), students and teachers from both Stella Maris College Gzira and St. Joseph School Sliema, Dr. Kevin Czajkowski, and Ms. Lenka Kleger as well as members from University of Malta who assisted the workshop.