The fifth edition of Science in the City, on September 30, is to bring artists and scientists together under the theme of the ‘Brain’.
“Whether outside our studio or laboratory, by working outside our comfort zones we can spark new understandings and create new ideas on artistic, scientific and social progress,” said Angele Galea, artistic consultant of Science in the City 2016.
“This year’s festival is brimming with science related artistic works. For example, Valletta’s St George’s Square will be portrayed as the “Brain Square” and will feature a cacophony of artworks and exhibitions.”
The activities at Brain Square include a Kummettiva dance performance, which fuses traditional Maltese dance depicting movements of Alzheimer's disease performed by Paul Curmi Dance company; Brainrave, where visitors will be able to control music and visuals just by thinking about it will be shown by artists and sound engineering Andrew Schembri and Toni Gialanzé; a larger than life model of the human skull will showcase the evolution of psychiatry by Mount Carmel Hospital; Raphael Vella’s Cortex is an art installation inspired by neuroscience and scientific comparative studies of different mammalian brains (created with the assistance of scientific adviser Prof Mario Valentino); and Richmond Foundation will show an art exhibition by some of their members.
Further up in Republic Street, a blindfolded dancer will be performing Trust Me, an act inspired by the Romborg’s Test. The test is typically undertaken to determine the limits of balance. This is a project of Moveo Dance Company.
As interactivity is a hallmark of the Science in the City festivals, little brainiacs will be able to indulge in a variety of activities and games in Science at Spazju Kreattiv, St James Cavalier.
Children 4+ can join the Kids Dig Science workshops to learn how their brains sense the world at the Studio Room. The Cinema Room will host two puppet shows Inside Out at 6pm and 8pm and Marie Curie by S-Cubed.
Acclaimed group Teatru Anon will be performing I’m Still Here, one woman’s battle with a life threatening condition – dementia at the Theatre Room, St James Cavalier. While at the Cinema, CineXjenza will present the film Still Alice (on Alzheimer’s disease) followed by a discussion with Dr Charles Scerri.
Funk Initiative, an alternative indie art rock band, is recreating their work in an experimental performance called Cartographers, which is inspired by reflections of neurologists, psychoanalysts, and poets.
At City Gate entrance, four anthropomorphic sculptures will be displaying the evolution of the nervous system in different animals - artworks are by artist Liliana Fleri Soler.
Science in the City festival - European Researchers’ Night coincides with 300 other events held across Europe and is organised by the University of Malta, the Malta Chamber of Scientists, the University’s Research Trust (RIDT) together with a number of partners.
The programme can be viewed on www.scienceinthecity.org.mt or www.facebook.com/ScienceInTheCityMalta