Maltese and Greek youths debating the challenges of AI on our world

Citizens under 25 years have driven higher turnouts in European elections in 2019, according to a Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Parliament in the same year. This is particularly important for Malta, which became the second European Union member state to lower the national voting age to 16 in all elections. By promoting active citizenship, Wired Youth:Science Forum, an Erasmus+ funded project, is seeking to foster political, civic, and social engagement among young people.
The project is open to 30 students aged 15–18, who wish to contribute to their society and to gain necessary skills to become effective active citizens. Students with an interest in science subjects, particularly artificial intelligence, and European politics will be ideal candidates for participation in this project. Selected youths will attend a series of training sessions by researchers and policy makers that will provide them with the required tools to engage in debates. The project will launch on the 5th September 2023 and run for 7 months in Malta and Greece.
Wired Youth:Science Forum will help youths understand the importance of their voting rights and shed light on current issues, the latest scientific research related to artificial intelligence, and how to apply scientific results to develop evidence-based policies. By developing transferable skills such as team-working, scientific understanding, and communication, young people will be better equipped to become effective active citizens.
The project will contribute to strengthening democracy in Europe by training young people to develop policy papers that can benefit their country and society. At a broader level, Wired Youth:Science Forum aims to enhance the awareness of the societal need of STEM subjects and research for the creation of effective evidence-based policies.
The project is coordinated by the Malta Chamber of Scientists and supported by Esplora (Malta), Aġenzija Żgħażagħ (Malta), and Science View (Greece).
Students interested in participating are encouraged to contact the project coordinators at info@wiredyouth.eu.