Thursday 28 March 2024

Esplora Education Programme 2017-2018 launched

Esplora has today launched the second edition of the official Education Programme for the year 2017-2018 with Esplora now nearing its one year anniversary. The programme is a handbook which is to be used as a guide for the carefully designed activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, being offered at Esplora. Building on the past year’s experience, the Esplora team, led by the Executive Chairman of the Malta Council for Science and technology, Dr. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, has ensured to deliver a memorable learning experience for all Esplora visitors.

The launch kicked off spectacularly by Esplora Presenters demonstrating flames, bubbles, fire tornandos, and the famous Van der Graaf generator making hair stand! These are examples of how our visitors are enthused, made to be curious and encouraged to ask questions as to why is this happening and how is it happening? Esplora’s mission and vision, through its exhibits, workshops, demos and shows, aspires to cultivate a culture of scientic curiosity and creativity by igniting a passion for questioning, investigation and discovery by encouraging visitors to explore, think, imagine, appreciate and create. Esplora uses such demonstrations in the form of hands-on activities to make visitors aware that science is all around them and that they already use scientific reasoning and skills within their daily activities, including making science-based choices continuously.

Esplora Director, Ms. Rachael blackburn went through the highlights of the programme for the year. She mentioned that Esplora offers 200 interactive exhibits, 23 hands-on workshops, 6 live science shows, 6 artistic performances and workshops, and 7 planetarium films. She stated that “visitors will definitely be spoilt for choice when organising their visits.” She also explained that new to this year’s programme is the inclusion of preset combos, where visitors can choose to do multiple activities in one visit.

MCSTs, Executive Chairman Dr. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said that further to the success of the inclusion of the STEAM approach within last year’s programme it was only natural for this year to present a rich programme bringing STEAM a 21st century approach to learning, to the core of Esplora’s offer. He said that “this approach to learning is undoubtedly not easy, but the benefits to people and the entire society are incredible. Visitors who engage in STEAM activities make more real-life connections so that Esplora is not a place where you visit to learn but instead becomes the whole experience of learning itself.”

The collaborations with experts in various fields have allowed Esplora to present such a rich programme. Events include thematic events, some of which extend over the weekend; exclusive Toi Toi packages on Sundays; seasonal activities, and evening events reserved for adults only.

Esplora’s signature team building event Science Quest and 8 Continuing Professional Development programmes are now available for students, educators, science communicators and corporate organisations who wish to further their knowledge in the field of science communication or take up a team building with a science twist.
The Chairman announced that this year’s programme will start with a bang with ‘World Space Week’. This will be the first thematic event in the coming week between the 3rd and the 8th October. The event is being held in collaboration with the National Coordinator for World Space Week, The Astronomical Society of Malta and The Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy. There will be activities for all age groups including ‘meet the astronomer’, solar observation sessions, interactive talks on Earth & the Universe and space-themed hands-on workshops.

The Chairman thanked the Hon. Schembri, Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy & Innovation, as well as the Office of the Prime Minister for their continuous support.
www.esplora.org.mt

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