A series of events in the run-up to this year’s edition of Science in the City are showcasing the powerful role community has in shaping and enriching the festival.
The pre-festival programme, being held between August 30 and September 25, is designed to challenge, entertain, provoke thought and offer communities a chance to explore pressing scientific questions, emerging technologies and overlooked histories − through the arts, dialogue and hands-on experiences.
“Our pre-festival programme is more than just a warm-up, it’s a lab for community-driven innovation,” festival manager Karen Fiorini said. “These events allow communities to get involved, share their perspectives, and co-create a festival that reflects Malta’s diverse voices.”
The first event, Using Science to Unravel the Past (7+, Fort St Angelo, Vittoriosa, August 30), immerses participants in archaeological science with object scanning, bone analysis, and digestive system simulations, uncovering how we reconstruct stories from history through science.
For the very brave, SARA and BRIAN’s Brains (6+, Valletta Design Cluster, September 3) offers the unique opportunity for attendees to try their hand at brain dissection, no prior experience necessary. This playful, tactile look at how scientists study the brain using jelly models gives kids the chance to understand neuroscience.
In Read Our Past, To Write a Better Future, Experiences of Slavery in Malta (16+, Notarial Archives, September 11), attendees can reimagine the past through reinterpretation of original archival documents, uncovering new meanings and cultural insight.
In From Lab to Table (13+, Valletta Design Cluster and online, September 4), families can enjoy hands-on experiments that bust common food myths.
Flashbacks from a Fragile Planet (12+, Argotti Gardens, September 18) presents a visually rich talk that traces Earth’s climate history, revealing why today’s crisis is both urgent and unprecedented.
“A lab for community-driven innovation”
Tackling serious social issues, Exploitation and Human Trafficking in Malta (16+, APS Hub, September 22) examines the ongoing realities of trafficking in Malta, contextualised through the island’s past.
Analysing the X and Y of the Maltese (11+, Valletta Design Cluster, September 15) sees genes in action, giving attendees the chance to extract DNA and take part in genetic research.
Lastly, a Malta-Romania curator talk, The Intertwine Between AI and the Arts (16+, Valletta Design Cluster, September 25) invites participants to a cross-cultural exploration of AI’s impact on creativity through live workshops and panel discussions.
Each of these events is developed in collaboration with researchers, artists, NGOs, community members and students, ensuring that the ideas and issues being explored resonate with Malta’s people and culture.
The Science in the City team is taking its commitment to the community one step further, in a collaboration with APS Bank. The APS Hub in St Julian’s, created to foster community collaboration, cultural expression, and accessibility, will allow individuals to meet the team on Mondays. It will also host events and an exhibition about the festival.
Visitors are welcome to engage in the ‘Community Canvas’ during banking hours, to share thoughts on science communication. Other activities include: two ‘Memory Makers: Exploring our memories through objects’, a creative, interactive workshop introducing the idea of objects as triggers for personal and collective memory and ‘Changing Tides: Save Sorna Island’, a workshop that looks to tackle climate-related issues and explore the consequences of the attendees’ choices.
The main Science in the City festival is being held on September 26 and 27 in Triton Square and Sala San Duminku, Valletta. Visit the Science in the City social media platforms or website for more information about the events. For free event booking, click here.
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