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Science In The City Is Back To Celebrate Its 10-Year Anniversary With A Fresh New Theme

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Malta’s  beloved science and arts festival, Science in the City (SitC), is back this year to celebrate its 10-year anniversary with an innovative new theme, Taking Root.

“Each activity during the festival works towards raising awareness about issues that resonate with the theme; diversity and inclusion, climate change, media literacy, and health, among others. This is reflected in the artistic activities chosen by the team for the festival,” festival manager Karen Fiorini explained. 

This year’s theme is titled Taking Root and it aims to build on the focus of previous years where the relevance of science in everyday life, as well as in active and responsible citizenship, is being explored.

Get ready to witness Fort St Elmo morph into a bustling hub of science, fun, and creativity while Sala San Duminku will stage a number of unique performances for all to enjoy in awe.

Unfortunately, the event had to take a pandemic-induced two-year hiatus. However, before this, SitC attracted close to 300,000 visitors, 950 researchers, 250 artists, and some 1,000 organisations to the festival which has become hybrid.

To pull off such an impressive event, scientists and artists work closely together and their main goal is to encourage audiences to take more of an active role in society and in protecting the planet.

In fact, SitC has been building bridges between researchers, artists, and communities to organise events that spark curiosity in those who attend for an entire decade.

SitC aims to illuminate the importance of critical thinking and ignite interest into STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math) careers.

The goals of the event mirror those of the European Researchers’ Night which happens in 300 cities within Europe.

Moreover, the line-up of activities is not only entertaining but sensitive to the challenges we all face. Edward Duca, coordinator of the festival explained how “creativity and science continue to underpin the pillars of this national event”.

Musician John Hinton will be collaborating with Blue Eco Tech Ltd researcher Alexia Massa Galluci, to learn about the superpowers of seagrass and how it can help save the planet from burning, the resulting concert and songwriting workshop will be staged at St Dominic’s theatre.

Meanwhile, choreography is being created by dance practitioners Sandra Mifsud and Douglas Comley who are  working with researchers from Birdlife Malta and youths, to highlight the importance of biodiversity.

The dance will be held in Piazza D’Armi, Fort St. Elmo on Friday 30th September.

On Friday 30th September, University student organisations, researchers, artists and creatives, NGOs, government agencies and private companies will converge on Piazza D’Armi and Piazza Cavalier to enthral visitors of all ages.

Between 6pm and 11pm, the streets will be coloured with art, labs, comedy, games, shows, music, interactive and hands on experiments, and demos.

There will also be satellite events at Spazju Kreattiv, in Senglea and at the Citadel in Gozo.

Meanwhile online, interactive activities will be held for those who prefer a quiet night in, between 7pm – 11pm.

On the other hand, performances and game shows will be held below St Dominic’s Basilica in Merchant Street, in the underground theatre between 5pm and 11pm and again on Saturday 1st October between 10am and 5pm, and during Notte Bianca from 7pm till 11pm.

More about the programme of activities will be revealed during the press conference planned for the third week of August.

Will you be visiting Science in the City?

READ NEXT: 21 Solutions For Malta To Curb Environmental Problems, By A Coalition Of Maltese NGOs

Ana is a university graduate who loves a heated debate, she’s very passionate about humanitarian issues and justice. In her free time you’ll probably catch her binge watching way too many TV shows or thinking about her next meal.

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