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14 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 5 SEPTEMBER 2018 CULTURE SCIENCE in the City—European Re- searchers' Night has unveiled its 2018 programme. This year it presents many of the Malta's leading scientists, artists and influential thinkers – bringing sci- ence and the arts to life on Friday 28th September after 6pm in creative ways, in Valletta. The event celebrates science and cul- ture with original programming that includes theatre, dance, film, work- shops, debate and interactive instal- lations, innovators, scientists-in-the- making, and families, that transform the city and bring some of the world's leading scientists in direct contact with the broader public. In a press conference to launch the festival's campaign, Alex Felice, Co- ordinator of the European Union's funded project, stressed the impor- tance and privilege of bringing science to a large audience. "We bring together those people pushing the frontiers of discovery, so they can discuss the most important issues we face today and to- morrow; our culture and future." With Valletta being European Capital of Culture, Science in the City is col- laborating closely with Valletta 2018 Foundation to give the participants a unique experience. Artists and scien- tists from the University of Applied Arts, Vienna and University of Malta have joined forces to create three in- teractive installations in the activity Of Mice, Carbon and Tritons. Wilfred Kenely Chief Executive Of- ficer of the University of Malta Re- search Trust (RIDT), said: "Science in the City plays a major role in promot- ing the University's scientific research. The event is a collaborative effort be- tween researchers, academics, students and performers who, together provide an annual evening of fun and crea- tive learning for people from all back- grounds". Speaking about the festival's theme, 'Science is Culture' and outlining over 30 festival activities, Edward Duca, the Festival's Manager said: " Science in the City 2018 promises to be the best so far, featuring more science and arts events than ever before. We have a packed science theatre weekend, activities at Notte Bianca and Esplora, but the 28th September remains our big night with engaging, creative, thought provoking and highly entertaining activities." This year, Science in the City spreads to Triton Square with Of Mice, Carbon and Tritons, showcasing a giant com- puter mouse and a virtual sculpture. In St George's Square there will be an in- teractive art piece triggered by the hu- man body to celebrate Valletta, being a European Capital of Culture. The Science Fair at City Gate will be bursting with experiments, film, exhi- bitions, cars and installations. These will include Cinexjenza, Quakes and Shakes, street labs by the Malta Col- lege of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) and the Institute of Applied Science Student Organisation (IASSO), an EU Corner, Coca-Cola's Alteraqua, a non-conventional water harvesting programme, Go To, an upcoming idea to reduce the traffic on our roads, Aqua Biotech will take us on an underwater journey, while the Junior College will be participating for the first time. The Department of Systems and Control Engineering together with the Centre for Biomedical Cybernetics of the Uni- versity of Malta will be showing tech- nology controlled by the human brain. The Department of Mathematics will be challenging minds and the Malta's Entomological Society will be intro- ducing the Mediterranean's creepy crawlies. St James Cavalier (Spazju Kreattiv) will be hosting Kids Dig Science – a puppet show and workshop on the power of electricity while a series of talks will be held at Malta Café Sci, on the science behind the artworks of the festival. As part of the project Get Your Act Together, two theatrical per- formances by actors and playwrights Lizzie Eldridge and Simone Ellul will be held for adults only. Magna Zmien a project that blends the old with the new, will be located in front of St James, in Castille Square. De Vallette Square on the other hand, will feature a racing car and Water Ser- vices Cooperative's the Future of Wa- ter. At Teatru Rjal dance, jazz and time travel will entertain the audiences. While a series of science debates will run at Palazzo Ferreria, in Republic Street. The Parliament Building will show- case Science in the House, an exhibi- tion of exciting research projects by the University of Malta. Along Ordinance Street, the Univer- sity of Malta's Health area will be teem- ing with information about disease and research. Here's the place to find out what is happening behind the scenes in the struggle to defeat illness. A number of performances combin- ing science and human ingenuity, sci- ence magic shows , flames dancing to the tune of science, FameLab scientists, the world's last radio show and many more will be showing some pretty dan- gerous stuff. 'Meet the Reseachers' event gives the audience the opportunity to meet the minds leading innovative research that is shaping all aspects of culture. There will be close to thirty research- ers to speak to, whose fields vary from marine biology and mathematics to mechanical engineering and biochem- istry. The National Museum of Archaeol- ogy will open its doors for the Gran Salon Project, a journey into the con- servation of our culture. Meet science artist Liliana Fleri Sol- er and Gaby Agius who introduce the Creative Communities project Ekologi- ja at the corner of St John's Street. The three upside down, vibrantly coloured Maltese ecosystems, were created by Inspire Foundation's students. Nature loving NGOs will paint Great Siege Square green. Here Birdlife Mal- ta, Zibel, ACT-Malta, Nature Trust, Gaia, Friends of the Earth Square and ERA will give you all the info you need to help make this planet a better place. The digital area, under the arches just before Pjazza Regina, boasts games by the Institute of Digital Games, comput- er face descriptions by the Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology and control robots with MissInTech. Exciting times lie ahead! St George's Square will be under siege by the University's Student Organisa- tions to share their enthusiasm for eve- rything science in STEAM². Over 300 students will be on hand to perform ex- periments, playing games and quizzes with those attending. Other activities include Esplora's Shadows of Malta's Times a shadow puppet show that focuses on the time- line of Maltese history, highlighting the links between science and culture. Health checks throughout the night and a mobile dental clinic. The Science in the City festival—Eu- ropean Researchers' Night is funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Ac- tions of the Horizon 2020 Program (H2020, 2014–2020) of the EU. The festival is led by the University of Malta, Malta Chamber of Scientists and the University's Research Trust (RIDT), in partnership with Valletta 2018, Parliamentary Secretary for Fi- nancial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation, MCAST, Esplora, JUGS Ltd, Studio 7, BPC International, GSD Marketing Ltd, Aquabiotech Ltd, MEUSAC, PBS, Spazju Kreativ, Pjazza Teatru Rjal, Valletta Local Council, Notte Bianca, Melita, More or Less Theatre, Transport Malta and Arts Council Malta. The programme can be viewed on www.scienceinthecity.org.mt or fol- low the Facebook page for regular updates: www.facebook.com/Scien- ceInTheCityMalta Science in the City 2018 The power of science and culture Double-bassist Diccon Cooper and Karl Galea on guitar interpreting the golden ratio into a jazzy piece