Would you like to know about some unusual and bizarre medical practices?
Are you curious about fantastical technologies dreamt by science fiction writers and how inventors are becoming part of today’s world?
The Science in the City festival is the right place to meet researchers, see new technologies and experience their fusion with art.
The science and art festival will include activities spread along Republic Street in Valletta, from the City’s entrance to St George’s Square and other centrally-located venues. The festival is funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions of the Horizon 2020 Programme of the EU and a number of corporate sponsors.
The programme, organised by the University of Malta, the Research Trust of the University of Malta (RIDT) and the Malta Chamber of Scientists, presents both indoor and outdoor activities that range from exhibitions to art installations, shows, debates, hands-on experiments and interactive activities.
There will also be two major theatrical productions and planes and mazes in Palace Square.
Lufthansa Technik will be showing various parts of an aircraft, together with a model aircraft.
Along Republic Street there will be health checks, experiments and activities. Creative Island street performers, supported by Malta Arts Fund, will hold a travelling medicine show, staging vintage style entertainment. A treasure hunt will kick off from St James Cavalier, encouraging participants to search for famous scientists.
Science fiction and Mars exploration talks will be held at the Casino Maltese, while highlights from this year’s Café Sci will be taken to 282 Coffee Garden with topics varying from research on aspirin to kitchen science.
Debates on controversial topics on the cutting edge of science will be held at Palazzo Ferreira, while the National Museum of Archaeology will run an interactive area and a series of short talks on how science and technology are vital to learn about our past.
The festival will also include short theatrical and dance performances and a face-to-face Speed Dating game with scientists at Charles Grech Wine Bar offering people of all ages the opportunity to ask questions over seven minutes before moving on at the ring of a bell.
The Institute of Digital Games will be bringing innovative digital games to the National Library, where visitors will be able to play games and talk to game researchers.
A History of Computing Exhibition at La Valette Band Club will give the public a chance to explore how computers have changed over the past few decades.
Forensic scientists and folk singers will present Folk Forensics, an evening of ballads related to crime stories in Malta at the Ministry for Health.
Science in the City takes place on September 26 between 6pm and midnight. The full programme is available online.
www.scienceinthecity.org.mt