This book is a wonderful illustration of the well-known declamation To boldly go where no man has gone before. The first academic meeting devoted solely to Star Trek was held in Malta in July 2014. The meeting served as an international platform for academics from across many disciplines, both locally and international. And the need to document such an interesting cornucopia of research has led to the publication of this book. The organizing team will not stop here. With an upcoming Science Fiction Symposium to be held a year after the very successful Star Trek event, the authors intend to publish the proceedings of this symposium as well. Submitted abstracts were encouraged to explore and present contemporary issues in medicine, science and technology as well as philosophical, psychological and sociological issues relating to the Humanities, with a specific focus on and a direct correlation to science fiction. 2016 also marks the 50th anniversary from the launch of Star Trek: The Original Series, thus creating the need to prepare for another Star Trek event which will be held in July 2016. The organizers will shortly be inviting academics to send in abstracts. The proceedings of these events, when published will yield an interesting book series for both academics and science fiction readers alike. The authors also encourage readers to send abstracts or ideas for future symposia to info@scfi-malta.com
About the Author: Prof. Victor Grech graduated MD from the University of Malta Medical School in 1988. He specialized in paediatrics and took up paediatric cardiology at The Hospital for Sick Children at Great Ormond Street in London. While there, he commenced a Ph.D. entitled 'Congenital Heart Disease in Malta', and this was completed in 1998 Prof. Grech has published extensively not only in paediatric cardiology but also in general paediatrics, other aspects of medicine and in the humanities, particularly in the field of science fiction. He completed a second Ph.D. with the English Department at the University of Malta in 2011 entitled Infertility in Science Fiction. _____________________________________ Ms Mariella Scerri graduated as a B.Sc. (Hons) Nurse from the University of Malta in 1999. She has been working as a senior nurse within the cardiology department of Mater Dei Hospital, Malta for the past sixteen years. She has completed a B.A (Hons) Degree in English and Comparative Literature with Goldsmiths College, University of London. Ms Scerri is now enrolled for a Masters Programme within the University of Malta. She is also a member of HUMS - a programme for Humanities, Medicine and Sciences Programme at the same university. ___________________________________ Dr David John Zammit is specialised in computer studies and runs his own company Shadow Services. In 2008 he decided to do a PhD in Computers and Science Fiction, with his dissertation focusing on "Science Fiction, Computers and Robotics." Dr Zammit is the Commander in Chief - St Lazarus Corps. He is also a Director and Head of Academia at the Institute of Medical Emergency Education. He is also the President of Femeraid International - Malta. He has written a number of books, not only in International Trauma but also in First Aid, Basic Life Support and Emergency Rescue. Since 1988, Dr. Zammit has served as a senior Manager, General Manager or director for multiple companies or Institutes. He is also a Knight Commander of the Hospitaller Order of St Lazarus of Jerusalem and a Knight Commander of Malta.