Overview
Location: Conference Hall, Europa Point Campus, University of Gibraltar
Fee: Free of charge
Date: 11th June 2025
Time: 14:00 – 20:00
About this Conference
We are excited to announce the return of the Research that Benefits Gibraltar (RTBG) conference for its third edition! RTBG 2025 will highlight the remarkable work of our PhD Students, Faculty, and Adjunct Researchers, covering a diverse array of disciplines and topics that enhance our community and elevate Gibraltar’s academic profile on a global scale.
This year’s conference will feature four thematic blocks: Marine Science, Environmental Science, Health Science, and Business, Management, and Law. Within each block, PhD students, Adjunct Researchers, and Faculty members will deliver concise 10-minute presentations.
As a special highlight, we are pleased to present a longer, 30-minute Beacon Professor lecture by Professor David Abulafia to close the conference. All our talks aim to promote positive and sustainable changes in our community while informing the local audience about the research driving this progress.
The conference is free of charge and open to the public, so we invite you to join us and discover how the research conducted at our University benefits Gibraltar!
What to expect
The programme will feature a wide array of diverse topics presented through 10-minute talks. The conference is organised into hourly thematic blocks, each consisting of 3-4 speakers grouped by subject area. Each speaker will have the opportunity to present their work, and attendees will be encouraged to ask questions during a dedicated Q&A session with the panel of speakers at the end of each block.
To foster networking and facilitate discussions, breaks will be scheduled after each hourly block, allowing attendees the opportunity to network and visit posters created by our university researchers.
Three Minute Thesis Competition (3MT)
Our PhD students will be presenting in this research communication competition, where they will deliver a 3-minute presentation. The 3MT requires students to provide a clear rationale for their research to convince a non-specialist audience of its significance.
Conference Schedule
Time |
Lecture |
| 14:00 – 14:15 |
Welcome to RTBG 2025 |
| 14:15 – 14:40 |
3-Minute Thesis Competition
Larry Awo: Problem gambling in mental harm and quality of life Pietro Benfenati: Problematic gambling and social media use addictive behaviours Luca Degiorgi: Gameful pass monetisations Helen Gibbons: The evolution of British identity since 2016 Evita Kypraki: Restoration of oysters in Gibraltar Ahtsham Pervez: Support services for concerned significant others of gamblers Hanae Qabil: AI-based chatbots in customer service |
| 14:40 – 14:55 | Break |
| 14:55 – 15:00 |
Winner of the 3-Minute Thesis Competition |
| 15:00 – 15:40 |
Block 1: Marine Science Research
Ms Amy Swift, PhD Student & Research Assistant Marine Architects at Risk: Assessing the Health of Ecosystem Engineers Effective, non-destructive methods to monitor and assess key marine species, ensuring their conservation.
Mr Stephen Warr, PhD Student Between a rock and the Mediterranean sea: The curious case of a threatened limpet The role of micro-marine reserves’ in conserving the endangered limpet Patella ferruginea in the Straits of Gibraltar to inform global conservation initiatives.
Dr Awantha Dissanayake, Senior Researcher & Head of School (Marine and Environmental Sciences) Conservation challenges for the Orange Cup Coral Transplantation of fragments of the endangered Orange Cup Coral onto an artificial reef aims to enhance Gibraltar’s marine ecosystem.
Panel Q&A |
| 15:40 – 16:00 | Break |
| 16:00 – 16:40 |
Block 2: Environmental Science Research
Mr Tyson Holmes, PhD Student Swifts in the Attic, The Secret Lives of Our Summer Visitors Infrared cameras and micro-GPS trackers reveal the foraging and nesting behaviours of Gibraltar’s breeding pallid swifts, an indicator species of ecosystem health.
Dr Alex Menez, Adjunct Senior Researcher Molluscs and the umwelt Explore how molluscs live, how they perceive their surroundings, and how we can determine their species numbers and abundances.
Prof Julia Fa, Beacon Professor Rocking Conservation: Saving Barbary Macaques with Smarts and Science Research on Barbary macaques in Gibraltar informs management strategies, enhances conservation efforts, and promotes their coexistence with human communities.
Panel Q&A |
| 16:40 – 17:00 | Break |
| 17:00 – 17:40 |
Block 3: Health Science Research
Ms Julia Tibot, PhD Student Adolescent health & risk-taking behaviour in Gibraltar A survey among Gibraltar adolescents that investigates health and risk behaviours, informing local policy and understanding vulnerable groups.
Dr Andi Czako, Senior Researcher & Head of the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming Digital Generation: Exploring Teen Screen Use in Gibraltar Key findings from surveys on screen use habits of Gibraltar’s adolescents and family management strategies.
Dr Alfonso Antequera, Adjunct Senior Researcher Medication cost comparison: Bariatric surgery vs. non-surgical managed patients A comparison of medication costs for severely obese patients who had bariatric surgery versus those who did not.
Panel Q&A |
| 17:40 – 18:00 | Break |
| 18:00 – 18:40 |
Block 4: Business Research
Dr Edward Bace, Researcher ‘Green Financing’ for Shipping Industry: Results of a Survey and Implications for Gibraltar An examination of the shipping industry attitudes toward ‘Green financing’ to advance environmental and social agendas through financing instruments.
Mr Darren Cruz, PhD Student Decolonising Gibraltar’s Water Industry: A Participatory Approach to Organisational Change for Sustainability An exploration of Participatory Action Research to overcome sustainability barriers and enhance AquaGib Ltd’s sustainability practices and community impact.
Panel Q&A |
| 18:40 – 19:00 | Break |
| 19:00 – 19:30 |
Beacon Professor lecture
Prof David Abulafia CBE, Beacon Professor Sailing past Gibraltar An examination of key historical moments in the relationship between the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Europe, and Africa.
|
| 19:30 – 20:00 |
Open floor Q&A / Final remarks |
