Small waves and minor earthquakes

Students giggled as the ground beneath them shook during an earthquake simulation as others were engrossed in creating a thunderbolt in a small glass case.

As they eagerly queued to try out the interesting gadgets, they seemed oblivious to the fact that, as they had fun, they were learning scientific principles.

They were among 9,000 schoolchildren who will be visiting the science and technology festival being held on the University campus this week.

During the launch of the festival, organised by the Malta Council for Science and Technology, students swarmed around stands and experimented with objects on display.

They learnt about mirages and pulleys, generated small waves in a tank and witnessed the workings of a wind turbine. Some got to make their own kaleidoscope and others enjoyed looking at their distorted images in "fat and thin mirrors".

A crowd of schoolchildren was in awe to learn the trick to catching bubbles... something many adults cannot master. One girl, who tried to capture bubbles with her dry hands, soon learnt it was impossible unless she dipped them in soap.

"Bubbles like (soapy) things the same as themselves," a teacher explained as the girl proudly held a bubble in her wet hands.

"The aim of this festival is to highlight the interactive side of science and teach children important scientific principles through play," MCST chairman Nicholas Sammut said during the launch of the festival.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Resources Minister George Pullicino toured the festival and welcomed the initiative intended to attract more students to sciences.

Dr Gonzi, who was accompanied by his wife Kate, said the government was committed to invest in education and had allocated €270 million.

The festival runs until Sunday, between 4.30 and 7.30 p.m.