Variety is key in the Science in the City (SitC) Festival. Internationally renowned science musician and comedian John Hinton, the latest in forensic tech, the laws of physics in a street sport show by the BMX riders of MSSA are just a few of the exciting activities in store for all visitors.

On 30th September and 1st October 2022 Science in the City is moving to the historic Fort St Elmo Sala San Duminku and Spazju Kreattiv, ending on the 7th October with an online festival.

Jan-Marc Bleck, from the SitC 2022 team, said, “This year’s theme, Taking Root, means something different every time I think about it. It alludes to the plants and trees and the recognition that we need to take concrete action if we are to secure a future on this planet, a call to action if you like. It also refers to the concept of science and creativity being closely related, taking root in our society. The festival has been sowing the seeds of knowledge inspiring critical thinking for 10 years. We hope that these seeds are starting to take root”.

On 30th September between 6 and11pm the street festival will cater for visitors of all ages. There is no need to be an expert in any scientific field, curiosity is the only prerequisite. Gazing into the stars, peeping into the jaws of sharks, decoding genetics to eliminate the notion of race among human beings, proving that we are all equal by nature, communicating with robots, exploring artificial intelligence, waste biodiversity and so much more, all nestled between the walls of the age-old Fort St. Elmo.

Performances being staged below the Basilica at Sala San Duminku are as educational and rife with messages of active citizenship as they are entertaining. Enjoy a broad variety of performances on the 30th September from 5 to11 pm and on 1st October from 10am to -5 pm and from 7 to 11pm. Help a ”Solitary Bee” build its new home in a mixed media production with digital puppets and live theatre. Experience how we can tackle the loss of Biodiversity through a stunning dance performance and expect the unexpected, and expect it to rhyme with internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter John Hinton’s comedy science songs.

In addition to the main event in Valletta there will be several satellite events spread over Malta. Spazju Kreattiv will be hosting the creative puppet show Kids Dig Science which takes advantage of children’s desire to explore and discover, teaching them to solve problems in a creative way. The megalithic Buġibba temple will be a special location for lectures, performances and a Poetry Open Mic, taking place on the 30th September from 7 to 10pm and on 1st October from 2 to 5.30pm. Meanwhile, the fortified city of Senglea will be the backdrop for the interactive street theatre performance that blurs the lines between the digital and real world, using a custom made app on the 30th of September at 19:00. All the above and more will be part of this year’s Science in the City festival. To get an overview of all activities, stands and performances visit the Science in the City website scienceinthecity.org.mt

Science in the City is part of the EU-wide celebration, European Researchers’ Night. It is co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme, under grant agreement No 101061120, the Arts Council Malta (ACM) and a number of corporate sponsors. 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​, Trust Stamp Ltd, Malta Enterprise, MCAST, Qualia Analytics, Esplora, BPC International, SEM, PBS, Spazju Kreattiv, Aquabiotech, Valletta Design Cluster, Valletta Cultural Agency, Transport Malta, The Environment Resource Agency, WasteServ, Heritage Malta and More or Less Theatre. 

This communication reflects the author’s view and the European Commission is not responsible for any information it contains. 
Photocaption: Science in the City will take place in Valletta on 30 September and 1 October 2022.