Valletta goes all Einstein on September 25 as flying drones, space rockets, DNA extractions and dissections, child-friendly experiments and games take over the streets with the fourth edition of annual science and arts festival Science in the City, organised by the University of Malta Research Trust.
The festival brings with it its customary line-up of surprises, exciting research and science-related experiments, exhibitions, talks, debates, films and performing arts, all taking place in various locations around the capital - mainly along Republic Street till St George’s Square and other centrally located venues - between 6pm and midnight.
Project coordinator Alex Felice explained that this year, there's also a surprise for for space enthusiasts, with St George’s Square transformed into the Rosetta Satellite Space Mission; the square will be filled with a life-sized satellite, drone, 20 m rocket blast-off, 3D printed rovers and a comet surface visitors can walk through. Music and talks will discuss the science behind the spectacle.
There will also be free dental check-ups at the new mobile dental clinic and other free health check-ups, as well as interactions between scientific work and the performing arts offer another dimension to this festival aiming to communicate science.
Project Manager Edward Duca said that Science in the City reaches out to a wide range of audiences from children to youths and adults.
"The Science Fair at City Gate will be bursting with experiments, exhibitions, music, theatre and performing arts. These include revving racing cars, Quakes and Shakes, street labs by Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and the Institute of Applied Science Student Organisation (IASSO), an interactive exhibition by the National Student Travel Foundation (NSTF), underwater projections, giant bubbles and Fonzu l-fenek, by Malta Council for Science and Technology, an EU Corner, Coca-Cola’s Eko printer, Science in water and a CSI forensic team."
Spazju Kreattiv at St James Cavalier will be holding science-fun activities for children and young teens at the theatre and the atrium, while talks about Science and Culture of Ageing will be held in the Centre’s Cinema. Inspirations Café will host a series of talks on the hour by Malta Café Scientifique. The studio room will have the Science of Electronic Music for all to play with.
At Teatru Rjal, visitors can watch CineXjenza a series of short films on manipulating memory from 7pm and participate in great discussions afterwards. While Palazzo Ferreria, opposite Teatru Rjal, will run a series of science debates.
For the first time, the new Parliament building will showcase an exhibition of exciting research projects by the University of Malta.
Along Ordinance Street, the University of Malta’s Research Trust (RIDT) will be showing research projects in health and rare diseases including a mobile dental clinic, dialysis machines for kidney failures and breast cancer research.
Republic Street will be taken over by buskers with the participation of student organisations namely the Science Students’ Society S-Cubed, University Engineering Students Association (UESA), Malta Association of Dental Students (MADS), the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), ICT Student Association (ICTSA), Malta Medical Student Association (MMSA), Malta Health Students’ Association (MHSA), Malta Pharmaceutical Students’ Association (MPSA), and BetaPsi Psychology Students’ Association. While outside the Law Courts, shows will include experiments, talks and stand-up comedy.
This year, speed-dating sessions with Maltese scientists will be set up at the King’s Own Band Club, while indie game developers invite participants to play their games at the Ritz Arcade, City Lights. BirdLife Malta will be presenting experiments and talks and those who wish to explore the Neolithic period can visit the exhibits at the National Museum of Archaeology.
There will also be street performers, swarming dancers and jugglers roaming along Republic Street with flames and robotic movements.
Other participating organisations include Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy (ISSA), Faculty of Science Centenary Celebrations, Malta Chamber of Pharmacists, STEAM, Action for Breast Cancer, Europa Donna, Alive Charity Foundation, UoM Racing, Electronic Music Malta, TAKEOFF Business Incubator, University of Malta Library, Play Fuel Manchester, the Malta Police Forensic Science Laboratory, Heritage Malta, and Water Services Corporation.
Science in the City is part of the EU-wide celebration European Researchers’ Night. A full programme will be available online next week.
http://scienceinthecity.org.mt/