Science takes to TV in bid to boost its appeal to students

Xjenza-TV, a 26-programme EU-funded science television series, is currently being produced simultaneously in Malta and Cyprus. It features teenage students conducting simple yet intriguing science experiments that children can also carry out at home with household items. The series will start to be aired in October on Education 22 and possibly also on other local channels.

Students from local state-run and private secondary schools and junior lyceums are involved in the production of the series, which is mainly aimed at familiarising children with science and encouraging schoolchildren, especially those in Forms 1 and 2, to choose to study science subjects.

The series is being produced by an international consortium led by the University of Malta in an effort to tackle the low uptake of science in secondary schools. If children feel at home with science and see its use, it's more likely they will take up science studies as they grow older. If our economy is to grow we need to have more students who take up the sciences.

Scientists start at a young age, so Xjenza-TV hopes to get children and their carers interested in science by demystifying this oft-misunderstood subject, and making it more accessible. By interviewing people involved in science-related activities, Xjenza-TV aims to introduce children and their carers to its wide range of potential job opportunities. By profiling Maltese scientists working both locally and in some well-known institutions in the EU, it hopes to act as a showcase for local research and create local 'scientific heroes' for children to look up to.

Xjenza-TV's production team will also interview foreign experts involved in scientific endeavours so that students will not only see what is taking place locally, but may be encouraged to explore new avenues overseas.

The project is being filmed in two parts: 13 programmes are being produced in Malta while another 13 are being produced in Cyprus. The whole series will be broadcast locally in Maltese, while in Cyprus, it will be broadcast in Greek. The series will also be translated to English and made available internationally online as 'X-Lab'.

The four partners collaborating with the University of Malta in the Xjenza-TV project are the local Education Ministry through Education 22, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, and e-ISOTIS (a pan-European e-learning NGO focusing on e-learning for the disabled and disadvantaged). Moreover the consortium is working with professionals from various fields, including cutting-edge research, TV production, and science communication among others.

The project is funded by the European Union through the 'Science and Society' arm of the EU Sixth Framework programme, with a grant of €340,000 and co-funded by the individual partners to the tune of €90,000. The Malta Council for Science and Technology supported local filming with an additional grant of €5,000.

The Maltese productions were filmed at the TV production facilities of the University of Malta's Centre for Communications Technology, under the guidance of producer and director Joyce Grech from Education 22.

Visiting the studio during a filming session, University rector Juanito Camilleri praised the efforts of the production team and the students involved. He expressed the hope that such productions will lead to further TV programmes that benefit our educational system. Prof. Camilleri referred to the need for more students to take up science subjects at post-secondary level, something that will benefit both the local and European economy.

Joseph Zammit, a teacher from Ninu Cremona Junior Lyceum in Victoria, Gozo, who was involved in the project said: "The children loved it, even though they were a bit shy at the beginning, and they benefitted a lot from the experience. It has been fun and instructive also for me." On a similar note, Angele Pulis, a teacher from Maria Regina Junior Lyceum, Blata l-Bajda, said: "It was an enriching experience for us all".

The children who participated also appeared to have enjoyed themselves. Lara Drago a student from Sir Luigi Preziosi, Pembroke, said: "I learnt a lot of new things about science and I came to like the subject more. I hope we will have other similar opportunities soon."

Nicky Theuma from St Edward's College said: "I found this outing to be a very interesting experience. Although it was tiring and quite stuffy in the hot studio, I was having fun.

"I appreciated the work these cameramen and presenters and the whole production team put in to produce an interesting form of entertainment for us to watch at home. At the same time I very much enjoyed socialising and learning more science."

Pierre Schembri-Wismayer is Project co-ordinator, Xjenza-TV. Senior lecturer in the University of Malta's Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.