Science in the City · Science in the City, Malta

The European Researchers’ Night, Science in the City Consortium, Malta, will engage the publics in the framework of a Science and Arts festival. In 2022, the festival theme ‘Taking Root’ builds upon previous themes while focusing the festival on the European Green Deal and Horizon Europe's missions. Taking Root emphasises how important science and research are in everyday life, and in active, responsible citizenship, in a world which is undergoing monumental changes, especially to its environment, nutrition and health. COVID-19 has shown us just how true this is, while climate change is an unavoidable threat we need to adapt and build resilience towards. The festival will be held online and in the streets and buildings of Malta's capital city, Valletta, a UNESCO world heritage site making it the second hybrid science and arts festival. The main aims of ‘Science in the City’ (SitC) since 2012, have been to engage people emotionally and intellectually through science and the arts, showcase local and international excellent research projects, increase awareness of the importance of R&I, encourage interest in STEM and research carers, and instil a more favourable attitude towards research and its public funding. It has done so by introducing creativity, critique and analysis, as well as the trend of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) among researchers and citizens alike. For ten years it has offered a platform for all stakeholders to meet, discuss and engage with R&I. In 2022, the element of research action design will be at the centre of the activities. Here collaborative, creative planning and design of activities grounded in the vision and needs of the community will bring all stakeholders on board from the start. Every stage of SitC will be developed using a user-centered and participatory design process to make the festival as inclusive as possible no matter their background.