Living rooms may soon become rocket launch pads, crime scenes or marine parks as curious children are turned into budding scientists by a television series to start being aired next month.
The new science education television series X-Lab will aim to trigger the much-needed love and understanding of science in children by encouraging them to carry out experiments in their homes using easily available materials.
In one of the 26 episodes, for example, the little scientists will get a taste of crime scene investigations as they search for traces of blood, perhaps from a paper cut or a playground injury, by spraying a concoction of corn flour, iodine and hydrogen peroxide.
In other episodes they will find that adding vinegar to bicarbonate of soda in a small container leads to a rocket-style takeoff. They will also get to put together a homemade lava lamp and explore the preferred living conditions of creatures.
By showing children that science can be fun the programme will be addressing the lack of interest in the subject, said project coordinator Pierre Schembri Wismayer who referred to a recent Eurobarometer survey which showed that the majority of Maltese youngsters found science boring and unappealing.
Dr Schembri Wismayer explained that each programme, to be aired on Education 22 and TVM, will last about 30 minutes and will have a scientific theme ranging from astronomy to genetics.
In each episode a group of schoolchildren, chosen from 13 participating schools, will demonstrate a scientific principle through an experiment which can easily be replicated at home using everyday items.
During intermissions in the experiment there will be interviews with Maltese scientists based across the world and their success stories and jobs will be explained in simple terminology. Interviews will also be carried out with science students and jobs available will be explored.
The intention of the series is to expose viewers to the wide array of job opportunities related to science and to provide schoolchildren with vibrant and upcoming role models in the field, he said.
The series is funded by the EU Sixth Framework Programme and is the result of collaboration between the University of Malta, Education 22 channel, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation and e-Isotis - an NGO focusing on e-learning for the disadvantaged.
Half the episodes were produced in Malta and the other half in Cyprus but all 26 episodes will be aired in both countries after being translated.
The series will also be translated into English and uploaded on the X-Lab website. The website will feature details on each experiment and will provide viewers with the opportunity to send their feedback and questions, which will be answered by scientists involved in the programme. The episodes will be turned into a CD to be distributed to schools.