SitC · Science in the City, Malta

Science in the City is Malta's national science and arts festival. In 2021 it will be a hybrid event held on the 24th and 25th September. The physical festival will be held in Fort St Elmo, Valletta. Here research-inspired dance, music, theatre, art installations, street science, talks, experiments, science stage comedy, and more will transform the 500 year old fortification. Our digital festival will run concurrently with a 'Live Virtual Festival' broadcast on Facebook live, Zoom and the SitC website and consisting of shows ranging from environment-themed online escape rooms to animal-inspired concerts and puppet theatre, as well as our Explore the Arches area featuring exclusive prerecorded content and activities that are always available. This year we aim to attract 35,000 people (c. 7% of Malta?s population) through both online and real world attendees and make c.350,000 people aware of our goals). All this effort provides a memorable platform for citizens to engage with scientists, researchers, artists and performers. SitC was conceived to eliminate misconceptions about science and researchers, increase appreciation for European funding for research, and to increase the number of students opting for STEAM careers. This year, the theme is ""Sowing Seeds"" which ties in with the EU's efforts to raise awareness and involve its citizens in the European Green Deal policy. We want to embed the elements of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) and the quintuple helix in Malta. The quintuple helix framework brings together the education system, economic system, natural environment, civil society, and the political system to address societal issues such as climate change. Sowing Seeds will enable citizens to take an active role in shaping their future. This focus on involving all stakeholders, will help citizens take responsibility for their future, and bring together the helix to address issues we face as a nation and as european citizens.""