Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SitC (Science in the City, Malta)
Reporting period: 2021-05-01 to 2022-03-31
The Science in the City project has been conceived to engage, empower and enable children and youths to consider STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) careers.
In 2021, Science in the City (SitC) concentrated most of its activities on the Sowing Seeds theme, acknowledging the fact that each and every one of us can make a difference. We are that much closer to creating a better world: environmentally, politically, and economically, if we develop our ability to think critically, join forces with scholars to address today's problems, and make an active decision to seek that change. All of these elements contribute to a higher standard of living. As always, we hope to engage new audiences through scientific research projects, theatre, music, dance, exhibitions, installations, and other kinds of art.
Through science and the art, the year 2021' theme Sowing Seeds was about more than just introducing academics and citizens to the concept of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). It's all about giving citizens the power to shape their own destiny. RRI focuses on ensuring that all citizens take responsibility for their future, and we seek to bring industry, government, citizens, and researchers together to address the problems we face as a nation and as global citizens through the addition of citizen science.
We need to improve critical thinking abilities across the board in Malta, as well as in other countries around the world if this is to be successful. We believe that these abilities enable us to make a deliberate, reflective change. This holds true in any field, from the arts and sciences to ethics, the environment, and politics.
What are the problems/issues being addressed?
These are the issues we are looking to explore with the festival are:
What role does the citizen play in the conservation of the environment?
What roles do the arts have in bridging the gap between citizens, industry, scientists, and policy-makers? Where can research play a role in this process?
Can storytelling help in conceptualizing a more sustainable future that merges science and culture?
How can the Maltese people contribute to Europe’s green transformation?
How have changes throughout the history of the Maltese Islands shaped the state of our environment today?
What role do our culture and history play in our collective environmental consciousness?
What is the importance of critical and creative thinking skills in the development of active citizenship when it comes to our public identity, concerns, and political environment?
How does an improvement in the environment contribute to the well-being of society (physically, psychologically, spiritually)?
Why is it important for society?
In 2021, the festival’s projects brought together members of our communities, researchers, and artists, to work towards a clean, circular economy, restoration of biodiversity, rehabilitation of our environment and elimination of pollution.
Following the policy areas mentioned in the European Green Deal, projects feature topics around biodiversity, clean energy, building and renovation, climate neutrality, eliminating pollution, and sustainability in areas such as food systems, agriculture, industry, and transportation. We are also interested in artworks around research concerning engineering, social sciences, behavioral science, well-being, neuropsychology, inclusive economy, health, language, and education.
In fact, it is really important for everyone to understand the stakes and the issues that we have to face, and what could be done to solve them. But the information is not accessible easily for everyone, and by reaching an audience through the festival, a lot more people could be aware of the issues, and what they can do to face them. Also, science information is sometimes out of reach for some people, and is more accessible through a festival that communicates science in an “easy” way for a large scale of the target audience.
It is important for people to understand that research is accessible to everyone and is also important for societal and modern issues. It shows that everyone can play a role in these issues. Also, for the young generations, it is important to show them that science is an open door for every student who’s interested and for every gender.
In 2021, Science in the City (SitC) concentrated most of its activities on the Sowing Seeds theme, acknowledging the fact that each and every one of us can make a difference. We are that much closer to creating a better world: environmentally, politically, and economically, if we develop our ability to think critically, join forces with scholars to address today's problems, and make an active decision to seek that change. All of these elements contribute to a higher standard of living. As always, we hope to engage new audiences through scientific research projects, theatre, music, dance, exhibitions, installations, and other kinds of art.
Through science and the art, the year 2021' theme Sowing Seeds was about more than just introducing academics and citizens to the concept of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). It's all about giving citizens the power to shape their own destiny. RRI focuses on ensuring that all citizens take responsibility for their future, and we seek to bring industry, government, citizens, and researchers together to address the problems we face as a nation and as global citizens through the addition of citizen science.
We need to improve critical thinking abilities across the board in Malta, as well as in other countries around the world if this is to be successful. We believe that these abilities enable us to make a deliberate, reflective change. This holds true in any field, from the arts and sciences to ethics, the environment, and politics.
What are the problems/issues being addressed?
These are the issues we are looking to explore with the festival are:
What role does the citizen play in the conservation of the environment?
What roles do the arts have in bridging the gap between citizens, industry, scientists, and policy-makers? Where can research play a role in this process?
Can storytelling help in conceptualizing a more sustainable future that merges science and culture?
How can the Maltese people contribute to Europe’s green transformation?
How have changes throughout the history of the Maltese Islands shaped the state of our environment today?
What role do our culture and history play in our collective environmental consciousness?
What is the importance of critical and creative thinking skills in the development of active citizenship when it comes to our public identity, concerns, and political environment?
How does an improvement in the environment contribute to the well-being of society (physically, psychologically, spiritually)?
Why is it important for society?
In 2021, the festival’s projects brought together members of our communities, researchers, and artists, to work towards a clean, circular economy, restoration of biodiversity, rehabilitation of our environment and elimination of pollution.
Following the policy areas mentioned in the European Green Deal, projects feature topics around biodiversity, clean energy, building and renovation, climate neutrality, eliminating pollution, and sustainability in areas such as food systems, agriculture, industry, and transportation. We are also interested in artworks around research concerning engineering, social sciences, behavioral science, well-being, neuropsychology, inclusive economy, health, language, and education.
In fact, it is really important for everyone to understand the stakes and the issues that we have to face, and what could be done to solve them. But the information is not accessible easily for everyone, and by reaching an audience through the festival, a lot more people could be aware of the issues, and what they can do to face them. Also, science information is sometimes out of reach for some people, and is more accessible through a festival that communicates science in an “easy” way for a large scale of the target audience.
It is important for people to understand that research is accessible to everyone and is also important for societal and modern issues. It shows that everyone can play a role in these issues. Also, for the young generations, it is important to show them that science is an open door for every student who’s interested and for every gender.
As always SitC showcased the work of Maltese scientists and artists but on an international level. This year, we reached 468,079 unique users who had any content from our Facebook Page entering their screen compared to a higher total reach of 518,991 people in 2019. The population of Malta is just below half a million. Our campaign was intense, innovative, focused, and targeted different sections of the groups of people that make up the public. We again managed to tap into as much free coverage as possible.
Awareness campaign - WP 1
Overview of the results
In the 7-week public relations build-up for the Festival,
- 3 press releases
- 27 press clippings
- 2 interviews and 1 feature for Science in the City in the press
- 2 interviews were broadcasts on on Radio Malta and XFM and one online + print feature.
- 27 direct press references
- Facebook reached 229,980 between May and September 2021
- Website 12,419 views in September
Activities during the Night Work Package 2
A number of local organizations sponsored or set up their own activities on European Researchers’ Night. With 36 organizations, 70 partners, 12 Interns, 13 volunteers, 2 photographers and videographers, 118 researchers, this EFFE (Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe) awarded national festival is attracting many local and international artists, government agencies, private companies and scientists.
Over 40 activities *including exhibitions, up from 35 last year and 21 from 2019 were held during SITC 2021 festival. 8 activities in the pre-festival event, 18 activities in the live virtual festival, 35 in the real-world festival on Saturday 24th September and Sunday 25th September 2021.
Dissemination level
Final report on impact assessment of SitC produced by QA (Partner 4) which will be open access. The report
included the number of responses of both the pre-and post-surveys, the tools used, the main trends and conclusions.
The questionnaires and interviews were made available. The streamlined evaluation across multiple ERNs
means that our evaluation report could also include considerations on how findings are similar or different to the
overall results across the participating ERNs. The evaluation report was professionally graphic designed using
images from our ERN- as well as infographics- to enhance its ‘shareability’ both for those involved in our ERN and
to share with others running ERNs elsewhere.
Awareness campaign - WP 1
Overview of the results
In the 7-week public relations build-up for the Festival,
- 3 press releases
- 27 press clippings
- 2 interviews and 1 feature for Science in the City in the press
- 2 interviews were broadcasts on on Radio Malta and XFM and one online + print feature.
- 27 direct press references
- Facebook reached 229,980 between May and September 2021
- Website 12,419 views in September
Activities during the Night Work Package 2
A number of local organizations sponsored or set up their own activities on European Researchers’ Night. With 36 organizations, 70 partners, 12 Interns, 13 volunteers, 2 photographers and videographers, 118 researchers, this EFFE (Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe) awarded national festival is attracting many local and international artists, government agencies, private companies and scientists.
Over 40 activities *including exhibitions, up from 35 last year and 21 from 2019 were held during SITC 2021 festival. 8 activities in the pre-festival event, 18 activities in the live virtual festival, 35 in the real-world festival on Saturday 24th September and Sunday 25th September 2021.
Dissemination level
Final report on impact assessment of SitC produced by QA (Partner 4) which will be open access. The report
included the number of responses of both the pre-and post-surveys, the tools used, the main trends and conclusions.
The questionnaires and interviews were made available. The streamlined evaluation across multiple ERNs
means that our evaluation report could also include considerations on how findings are similar or different to the
overall results across the participating ERNs. The evaluation report was professionally graphic designed using
images from our ERN- as well as infographics- to enhance its ‘shareability’ both for those involved in our ERN and
to share with others running ERNs elsewhere.
Impact
The impact on respondents’ attitudes is not clearly defined but hints at a slight upward trend after the event.
o Increase in the awareness of the importance of research and innovation;
o More favorable general attitude towards its funding;
o Better understanding of the key benefits that research brings to society
o Reduction in the stereotypes about researchers;
o Increase of young people taking up research careers ….
o Improvement of the quality and effectiveness of the festival’s public engagement approach.
The impact on respondents’ attitudes is not clearly defined but hints at a slight upward trend after the event.
o Increase in the awareness of the importance of research and innovation;
o More favorable general attitude towards its funding;
o Better understanding of the key benefits that research brings to society
o Reduction in the stereotypes about researchers;
o Increase of young people taking up research careers ….
o Improvement of the quality and effectiveness of the festival’s public engagement approach.