Pictured above: Valletta Community show called Kallu. Photo credit Elisa Von Brockdorff

At a time when social and environmental change are knocking on our door, Changemakers are urgently required to ensure a better future. This year, on the 29th and 30th September, the Science in the City festival is exploring the role research can play in societal transformation. The main events are the Street Festival with stands, VR and experiments from 6–11pm at Triton Fountain and Biskuttin Gardens, Astronomy at Argotti Gardens and the Performance festival with shows and workshops at 7pm at Sala San Duminku and 5pm–10pm Fri, 10am–10pm Sat at Catholic Institute.
The festival is promoting research-based knowledge and creativity to solve the political, social, environmental and technical challenges that confront humanity. This year it is posing a very important question that should affect all citizens: what does Malta and the world need to create change for the better?
Change requires community. For the first time, Science in the City has a programme of sensory friendly events which have been adapted to ensure that they are inclusive for neurodivergent children and young people. Activities include the upcycling performance, “What We Wear”, the science-inspired puppet show, “Kids Dig Science”, Mythoxenzja, a performance that pitches ancient mythology against the latest in seismology and the community show Kallu by the Vucijiet Beltin project. Prisms accredited the sensory friendly events while APS Bank is providing the equipment for the sensory room in the Catholic Institute. Look out for the autism friendly icon on this year’s programme for more information about this part of the festival.

Change requires innovation. This year’s Festival will showcase several exciting, pioneering research projects happening in Malta. Solar Desalination is one game-changing opportunity coming to Malta through the MED-WET project at MCAST. Dr Francesca Busuttil (MCAST), states that it “Explores three novel and nature-based technologies that can improve irrigation efficiency and natural resource use within smallholder farms in the Mediterranean”. Their team will run interactive water-based activities alongside many other pioneering research groups at this year’s Street Festival .
Change requires creativity. At this year’s Festival, theatre, dance, artistic installations and storytelling are exploring different scientific concepts. Vuċijiet Beltin is one project that shows how the artistic process can give a voice to an underserved community. Angele Galea created the project to “give the community a platform to voice their concerns, to empower and strengthen their position in society”. This powerful project will culminate in a performance called ‘Kallu’ at at 7pm, Sala San Dominku on the 29th and 30th September. Free tickets can be reserved through Eventbrite, on the Science in the City Facebook Events page and on the website events page.
Other highlights include an art installation inspired by Dr Alessio Magro’s research on space debris detection, created by international artist Pep Walls. This will involve live street art painting at Triton Square on both days. The public will be able to see an artist creating a giant art piece and the researcher explaining the problem with space junk. .
MythoXjenza, is a unique interactive performance built on a collaboration between artist Jeremy Grech and seismologist Dr Matthew Agius which will take place in the Catholic Institute on the 29th and 30th September. It tells the story of a young scientist seeking evidence to debunk the mythological beast that haunts Crete. Storytelling is used to illustrate how science can be used to better understand our world. The performance is a lively medley of science and art, and shows the importance of both when solving a wicked problem.
This year’s Science in the City doesn’t just provide an opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in arts and science but also drives for real tangible change at multiple levels. Malta is already facing challenges that mirror those of a changing world. The festival encourages everyone to be part of the action to mitigate and adapt to our new reality. The festival attempts to be accessible to everyone, so that everyone can participate in and contribute their ideas to make this change possible.

Science in the City is part of European Researchers’ Night, an EU-wide celebration. It is co-funded by the European Commission’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions of the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme (grant agreement No 101061120). It is recognised by Europe for Festivals and Festivals for Europe (EFFE). 
The Science in the City consortium is led by the University of Malta and the Malta Chamber of Scientists, in partnership with the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation​, Malta Enterprise, MCAST, Qualia Analytics, Esplora, tech.mt, SEM, PBS, Spazju Kreattiv, Valletta Design Cluster, Valletta Cultural Agency, The Environment and Resources Authority, WasteServ, Heritage Malta, More or Less Theatre, the Arts Council Malta, Queen Mary University of London and St. Martin’s Institute, Green Pak, AcquaBioTech, Impetus, MED-WET, the Floriana Local Council and the European Parliament Office in Malta. 

“Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or grant agreement No 101061120. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”