Tens of Thousands Celebrate Research at Science in the City

The Changemakers edition of Science in the City attracted tens of thousands of people to Valletta and Floriana this weekend. Children, adults, teens and pensioners alike played with robots, spoke to researchers, saw Space-research inspired street art, and were entertained by international performers.

The event marked European Researchers’ Night that happens in over 300 cities all over Europe—Malta hosts one of the largest. Science in the City engaged over 3,000 people with its pre-festival events that opened at the end of august, and its performances and workshops that happened in Catholic Institute in Floriana and Sala San Duminku in Valletta last weekend. Many more came to the street festival stands and shows around the Triton Fountain and Biskuttin area.

Photos show the variety and diversity of activities and events that are encouraging youths to take science (or STEAM) or research careers and inspiring a curiosity about how our planet works. This year the festival focused on encouraging people to learn more about the world to then use that knowledge to make the Maltese Islands a better place for all to live in through creative actions.

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.

Photo Credit: Elisa Von Brockdorff