A science museum

The development of Malta's pharmaceutical industry and the setting up of companies such as Lufthansa Technik attracts students to study science and technology courses at the University and the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST).

However, Malta still lacks a symbol to attract students to take an interest in the sciences, and our University certainly needs more initiative and lateral thinking if we are to keep up with other countries where science is concerned. At the same time we must not neglect culture. There is need for a mingling of culture with science.

Malta sorely lacks a science museum, an interactive, fantastic laboratory for Maltese young people of all ages to use from the first grade right up to sixth form. The museum could have sections dedicated to the health sciences, exhibits related to aeronautics and the development of the brewery and winery businesses. With the support of private enterprise from the building industry, other areas could focus on the unique properties of Maltese stone, featuring also our prehistoric temples and their astrological and technical aspects.

An eyesore that should be tackled in earnest is the entrance to the capital city. Over 60 years have not been enough to formulate a consensus on plans to develop the place. Besides being a reminder of what World War II did to Europe it betrays our inability to develop the environment effectively. Is there anyone out there ready to take the bull by the horns, do some lateral thinking, take a decision and develop the area for the benefit of Maltese society as a whole?

Building the proposed science and cultural centre at the entrance of Valletta would bridge the historic and the cultural with the modern and the present. It would help give much needed new life to our capital, which is still as dead as a doornail in the evenings. If well designed, the area could include the whole Valletta entrance and incorporate a good-sized theatre, which would also serve to combine the old with the new. Using the entrance to Valletta as a symbol of science and culture would certainly send the correct message to our young and not so young.

Entrepreneurs, parastatal companies, embassies and other entities could help bring together scientists and technologists to participate in developing the museum. Corporations sponsoring the museum could indirectly advertise their products and contribute to a historical analysis of the scientific and technological developments.

How does the University come into all into this? It could own the project. The University is already giving more importance to science: The Faculty of ICT has been established; new courses in chemistry are being developed; the Engineering faculty is state-of-the-art; Pharmacy has fully revamped its curriculum to take pharmaceutical industry developments into consideration; Biology has taken up environmental aspects in earnest; Mathematics and statistics have been given their due importance; the Education faculty is making pedagogical aspects of science teaching as one of its priorities, and innumerable other developments.

It could make the entrance to Valletta its showcase and use the area to further internationalise the University. Exchange students could help update the exhibits from time to time. Students from the various departments especially those related to science and technology could be assigned projects involving the setting up of exhibits jointly with the local and foreign industry. It would be an ideal opportunity to bring the industry closure to the University.

The museum could also attract entrepreneurs to set up industry in Malta and for international scientists to come closer to the University. Projects and research carried out at University may also be exhibited as scientific works in progress.

It is important to combine the experience of all to attain what has up to now been an insurmountable task - that of making Malta not only a historical and cultural attraction but combine this with scientific and technological excellence.