The event at Esplora Interactive Science Centre “was a welcome treat for Star Wars enthusiasts”.

Star Wars enthusiasts came together this weekend for Science Meets Star Wars in an attempt to emphasise that science can be both fun and useful in everyday life.

The event, the first of its kind in Malta, was hosted by Euro Media Forum in collaboration with the Esplora Interactive Science Centre and saw fans of the cult classic come together to share collections and models.

American illustrator Susan Waitt, who lives in Malta and who has illustrated books for Disney, told the Times of Malta that the event served to bring together Star Wars fans who would normally collect or build models inspired by the film alone.

“My background in producing large scale trompe l’oeil murals and theatre scrims, as well as my stint with Liquorish TV as artistic director, made it rather inevitable that this effort celebrating the amazing work of Star Wars enthusiasts and makers in Malta would appeal to me greatly.

“I produced four installations for the event. I really liked the collaboration with Esplora too, which emphasises that science can be both fun and very pertinent to our everyday lives,” Ms Waitt said.

The event, she went on, was a welcome treat for Star Wars enthusiasts who had never had the opportunity to attend such an event locally. A number of attendees also took the opportunity to explore the science centre while attending the Star Wars event.

“Families were very engaged with the interactive shows and presentations, all combining the popular themes of Star Wars with 21st century science. It has been a wonderful and educational weekend.”

On how films like the Star Wars series could spark interest in science, Ms Waitt said the films, now produced by Disney, made many science concepts accessible, urging viewers to dig deeper into what they see on screen. “Building droids from recyclable materials, creating Star Wars fibreglass helmets from online blueprints, investigating vehicles of the future and understanding how light-sabres work is massively appealing, no matter how young or old you are.

“May curiosity and the spirit of invention and discovery lead us all into a deeper understanding of our amazing world,” she said.

“Building droids from recyclable materials is massively appealing,” said American illustrator Susan Waitt.