This year the Science in the City festival will take place on a hybrid basis, meaning that it will be a combination of physical and digital events, culminating into the main events taking place over 2 days on the 24th and 25th of September. This year’s theme will be ‘Sowing Seeds’.
The term ‘Sowing Seeds’ is used in reference to the festival’s aim of taking root in our society and introducing an element of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) among researchers and citizens. This year’s theme builds upon last year’s festival which was about engaging, empowering, and enabling citizens through science and the arts to think critically and be more creative and innovative.
‘Sowing Seeds’ is about enabling citizens to take an active role in shaping their future. This year Science in the City hopes to bring the industry, government, citizens, and researchers together to address challenges we face as a nation and as citizens of the world. The importance of this responsibility will be highlighted by encouraging artists and scientists to set up activities that involve citizens through workshops and focus groups, to help shape the outcome of the event.
In his opening speech, Minister for Equality, Research, and Innovation Owen Bonnici stressed that “Responsible research and innovation is crucial for socioeconomic well-being in Malta and this festival is a great way to educate and raise awareness about this in the general public.”
“The government is committed to keeping working to enhance investment in more research and innovation, especially after having experienced their benefits first-hand as a country, throughout the pandemic period”, the minister said.
The minister explained that the Science in the City festival is a great opportunity for scientists and artists to come together to bring science closer to the community.
Fort St Elmo in Valletta has been identified as the most suitable place to hold physical events in accordance with the Health regulations. Here visitors will be able to interact with researchers and artists through street art, labs, music, dance, installations, games, shows, talks, interactive experiments, and a host of other activities. For health reasons this year, the festival will be focusing on attracting a larger online audience. Online visitors can take part in webinars, quizzes, do-it-at-home experiments, performances, online escape rooms and other hybrid and digital arts and science events.
For physical events, bookings will be required, and visitors will require a vaccination certificate when booking the event in accordance with the health regulations. Ushers will be available to make sure necessary health measures are adhered to throughout.
Source: Government of Malta