A flood of bright ideas: Science in the City takes over Triton Square

This past weekend, Valletta was transformed into a city of discovery, experimentation and imagination as Science in the City returned for its 15th edition, bringing researchers, scientists, artists, students, NGOs and members of the public together to explore this year’s theme, “Research, Resist, Reimagine.”

Across 94 stands in eight themed zones, from Environment & Food to Astronomy, visitors were invited to get hands-on with science through interactive experiments, creative activities, demonstrations and STEAM experiences. With three satellite events across Valletta and some of the festival’s biggest crowds, Science in the City once again brought research and the arts into the heart of the city.

On Friday the festival got off to a strong start, with visitors exploring all eight zones, seeing how research can shape Malta’s future, from sustainability and food security to health, technology, astronomy and the environment.

Saturday drew in large crowds from the start, remaining strong throughout the day before a sudden downpour shortly after 8pm brought the Street Festival to an early close. As the rain came down fast, participating organisations, volunteers and the Science in the City team worked together to quickly secure stands and equipment and clear the site safely and efficiently. The unexpected ending did not take away from a weekend filled with curiosity, creativity and community.

The festival brought together 10 NGOs, 12 student organisations, 50 volunteers, more than 240 content providers and over 350 researchers, highlighting the communities working behind the scenes to make such a large festival possible.

For those still wanting more, the celebration of science and the arts continues in November with nine Performance Festival events across Valletta on 6 and 7 November and in Sliema on 8 November, followed by a Virtual Festival in January.

A festival of this scale does not happen without the support of partners who share its commitment to making research and innovation accessible to citizens in Malta. Esplora Interactive Science Centre and Xjenza Malta returned to the festival with a collaborative presence in the Hands-On Science Zone, inviting visitors to explore Malta’s future through interactive STEAM activities and discover how research and innovation are shaping the world around us. In the Sport, Body & Health Zone, the JAMRAI-2 EU Project encouraged visitors to learn more about antimicrobial resistance through interactive activities, arts and practical challenges focused on protecting antibiotics for future generations. Science in the City is also grateful to Arts Council Malta, the Ministry for Education and Sport, the Ministry for Justice, Research and Innovation and the University of Malta's Research, Innovation and Development Trust for their support of this year’s festival.

The festival also welcomed the Spanish Ambassador Miriam Álvarez de la Rosa Rodríguez, who visited the event and expressed her appreciation for the festival and its programme. Science in the City extends its thanks to all sponsors, partners, participating organisations, researchers, artists, students and volunteers who contributed to making the 15th edition possible.

The festival’s reach extended far beyond the streets of Valletta, with more than 1 million social media views from over 300,000 people in the past month and almost 20,000 visits to the Science in the City website.

The festival also received significant media attention, with TVM covering the festival on both Friday and Saturday and further media interviews on all major news platforms either before or after the event. Most importantly, the response from visitors and participants reflected the special place Science in the City continues to hold for the Maltese Islands, with many describing this year’s edition as one of the best festivals they had attended.

Science in the City is a national science and arts festival bringing research, innovation, creativity and public engagement into the heart of Valletta. Fifteen editions in, the festival continues to create opportunities for people of all ages to discover research, question the world around them and imagine the future together.

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About Science in the City

The Science in the City consortium is led by the University of Malta and the Malta Chamber of Scientists, in partnership with Institute for Methods Innovation, Arts Council Malta, Research Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT), Xjenza Malta, Esplora, JAMRAI Project, Ministry of Education and Sport, Malta Enterprise, Malta Digital Innovation Authority, APS Bank, Piscopo Gardens, Transport Malta, Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), Servizzi Ewropej f'Malta, Digital Traffic Brain, ProHealth, Project Green, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry for Health, Embassy of Spain, European Institute for Emerging Technologies (EIET), Ministry for Justice, Research and Innovation, Ministry For Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights (Aquatic Resources), Ministry for Arts, Culture and National Heritage, Embassy Hotel Valletta, Storm Design, Heritage Malta, Public Broadcasting Services Limited, Ministry for Social Policy and The Family, Sala San Duminku, GreenPak, Tech.mt, St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation.