900+ science communicators gather at Ecsite 2023 in Valletta, Malta

Ecsite, the European network of science centres and museums, has drawn more than 900 science communicators from 50 countries to its Conference.

It is open to all professionals who engage audiences in science and technology, whether working in science centres, museums, research bodies, festivals, universities or companies.  The Conference is hosted by Esplora Interactive Science Centre at locations across Valletta and Kalkara to offer international science engagement peers an inspiring setting and professional playground.

The 2023 ECSITE Conference Opening Ceremony was held today at the Mediterranean Conference Centre,Valletta. It opened with ‘Everlasting’ by ŻfinMalta, a dance choreographed by Paolo Mangiola and visuals by visual artist Matthew Attard. The piece was inspired by the wild plant Helikrijsum Melitense. The plant is endemic to Malta particularly to Dwejra, Gozo.

The conference was inaugurated by Hon. Clifton Grima, Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation. Minister Grima, spoke about the importance of inclusive education being equal for all, as well as how education continues to work on the inspirations of students in relation to the needs of the industry and the working world.

“We are working to be able to offer opportunities to students by also looking at the needs of the world of work. Thus we are giving importance to STEM subjects and to education that approach what we are facing in today’s world holistically, including what we are discussing in this conference: the climate crisis and biodiversity; misinformation; the importance of science; the skills sought in the 21st century; and inclusion and equity,” said Minister Grima.

From his end, the Parliamentary Secretary Keith Azzopardi Tanti spoke about the importance of science today, particularly in the field of industry and work. “Malta is continuing to emphasize more and more on STEM subjects so that we can continue to strengthen our sectors and leave a positive economic impact. Each year the investment in research and innovation is always increasing as we believe that this is the way forward so that we do not only create more jobs, but also valuable careers.  This conference brings together our vision with the vision from several other countries from all over the world.”

Addressing the Ecsite Community, MCST Chairman Dr. Portughese “Since we have joined ECSITE in 2011, ESPLORA has been an active participant in the activities and information-sharing for which ECSITE provides such a useful and effective forum.” He added that “we are fully in tune with the aims and objectives of ECSITE, and the hosting of this year’s conference was a natural outcome of our active and enthusiastic particpation. We too want our citizens to be emboldened to engage and participate in science.”

After the speeches on behalf of the organising hosts, a cultural interlude followed with Teatru Malta’s production, O. The O referes to Professor Friggieri, with a performance entitled ‘Ambjent’. Choreographed by Cheryl Lofreda featuring ‘The Movement’, Jamie Cardona and Claire Tonna, created and directed by Sean Buhagiar.

Ecsite President, Bruno Maquart, said “The Ecsite Conference is where the brightest minds in science engagement gather to inspire, connect, and shape the future of science engagement. Our Conference serves as a powerful platform for exchanging ideas, foster collaboration, and reimagine the possibilities of engaging the public with science and we are delighted to be hosted this year by Esplora Interactive Science centre.”

During the ceremony Dr. Tonio Portughese, MCST Chairman signed the Ecsite Environmental Emergency Pledge on behalf of ESPLORA and the Malta Council for Science and Technology, in which he fully committed to particpate in this startegic initiative. The pledge is intended to help ECSITE members to take steps to do better, small steps in the right direction.

The three-day event will run from 15-17 June 2022 and showcase the latest research and developments in public engagement with science through dynamic sessions, debates, workshops and a trade show called the Business Bistro. Pre-conference meetings and workshops, held one day prior to the main Conference (14 June 2023), will give in-depth insight into numerous aspects of the science communication field. The programme offers a diverse mix of more than 80 sessions delivered by over 300 speakers, ranging from biodiversity and climate crisis, equity and inclusion, 21^st Century skills to misinformation. The Conference invites the science engagement community to build on three decades of science communication and look ahead, pushing the boundaries of our field and practices.

High profile guest speakers will be:

• Keynote speaker Dr Lauren Vargas, Independant researcher and Consultant

• Keynote speaker Rob Hopkins, Author, Podcaster and co-founder of Transition Network

41 exhibitors will be showcasing their latest products and services at the buzzing Business Bistro Trade show. In addition, there are many networking opportunities like the Gala Dinner with the Marianoo Gago Ecsite Award ceremony; the Nocturne, an evening of science entertainment at Esplora; and the Farewell Party on Saturday evening. Tailormade events include the newcomers breakfast, Onboarding event for new members, speakers reception and new for 2023 the CEO Focus.

https://www.ecsite.eu/conference/programme

Iktar minn 900 komunikatur tax-xjenza jiltaqgħu waqt l-ECSITE 2023 fil-Belt Valletta, Malta

Ecsite, in-network Ewropew ta’ ċentri u mużewijiet tax-Xjenza qed ilaqqa’ iktar minn 900 komunikatur minn madwar 50 pajjiż għal konferenza.

Din il-konferenza hija miftuħa għal professjonisti kollha li jaħdmu ma’ diversi udjenzi fix-xjenza u t-tekonoloġija f’ċentri jew mużewijiet tax-xjenza, entitajiet tar-riċerka, festivals, universitajiet u kumpaniji. Il-Konferenza hija organizzata miċ-Centru Interattiv tax-Xjenza, l-Esplora u qed iseħħ fil-Belt Valletta u l-Kalkara, sabiex jiġi offrut ambjent ta’ ispirazzjoni u atmosfera professjonali.

Il-Konferenza ECSITE tas-sena 2023, fetħet illum b’ċerimonja li laqqgħat ix-xjenza mal-arti bis-sehem ta’ ŻfinMalta li ppreżentaw korjografija bl-isem ta’ Everlasting, li hija ispirata mill-pjanta selvaġġa, il-Ħelikrijsum Melitense. Pjanta endemika għal-Malta partikolarment għad-Dwejra, Għawdex. Bil-korjografija ta’ Paolo Mangiola u arti viżiva ta’ Matthew Attard.

Il-konferenza ġiet inawgurata mill-Onorevoli Clifton Grima, Ministru għall-Edukazzjoni, Sport, Riċerka u Innovazzjoni. Fil-ftuħ uffiċjali tal-konferenza l-Ministru Clifton Grima tkellem dwar l-importanza ta’ edukazzjoni inklussiva u ekwa, kif ukoll li l-edukazzjoni tkompli taħdem fuq l-ispirazzjonijiet tal-istudenti b’rabta mal-ħtiġijiet tal-industrija u d-dinja tax-xogħol.

“Qed naħdmu ħalli noffru lill-istudenti l-opportunitajiet billi nħarsu wkoll lejn il-bżonnijiet tad-dinja tax-xogħol. B’hekk qed nagħtu importanza lis-suġġetti STEM u lill-edukazzjoni li tħares b’mod ħolistiku lejn dak li qed naffaċċjaw fid-dinja tal-lum, fosthom dak li qed niddiskutu f’din il-konferenza: il-kriżi tal-klima u l-bijodiversità; il-misinformazzjoni; l-importanza tax-xjenza; il-ħiliet imfittxija fis-seklu 21; u inklużjoni u ekwità,” qal il-Ministru Grima.

Min-naħa tiegħu, is-Segretarju Parlamentari Keith Azzopardi Tanti tkellem dwar l-importanza tax-xjenza fil-ġurnata tal-lum, b’mod partikolari fil-qasam tal-industrija u tax-xogħol. “Malta qed tkompli tenfasizza dejjem aktar fuq is-suġġetti STEM biex inkomplu nkattru s-setturi tagħna u nħallu impatt ekonomiku pożittiv. Ta’ kull sena l-investiment lokali fir-riċerka u l-innovazzjoni qiegħed dejjem jiżdied għaliex nemmnu li din hija t-triq ‘il quddiem biex noħolqu mhux biss aktar impjiegi, imma karrieri ta’ valur. Din il-konferenza tlaqqa’ din il-viżjoni tagħna mal-viżjoni ta’ diversi pajjiżi oħra minn madwar id-dinja kollha,” qal is-Segretarju Parlamentari Azzopardi Tanti.

Jindiriżża l-komunità tal-membri tal-ECSITE Dr. Tonio Portughese, iċ-Chairman tal-MCST qal:

“Minn meta ngħaqadna ma’ ECSITE fl-2011, l-Esplora kienet u għada membru u parteċipanta attiva fl-attivitajiet u fl-iskambju tal-informazzjoni fil-forum informattiv u utli tal-ECSITE.” Huwa żied jgħid li “ċ-ċentru jinsab konformi mal-għanijiet u l-objettivi ta’ ECSITE, u l-fatt li qed norganizzaw din il-konferenza din is-sena kien riżultat tal-parteċipazzjoni attiva u entużjasta tagħna. Aħna wkoll irridu nqawwu qalb iċ-ċittadini Maltin sabiex jipparteċipaw fil-komunikazzjoni tax-xjenza.”

Wara l-kelliema Maltin, taw sehemhom TeatruMalta bis-silta ‘Ambjent’, mill-produzzjoni O, li tirreferi għall-Professur Oliver Friggieri. B’korjografija ta’ Cheryl Lofreda, bis-sehem ta’ The Movement, Jamie Cardona u Claire Tonna, b’kunċett u direzzjoni ta’ Sean Buhagiar.

Il-President tal-Ecsite Bruno Maquart, qal li “Il-Konferenza ECSITE hija fejn l-aqwa imħuħ fuq l-impenn tax-xjenza jinġabru sabiex jispiraw, jiltaqgħu u jfasslu l-futur tal-komunikazzjoni fix-xjenza. Il-Konferenza tagħna sservi bħala pjattaforma b’saħħitha għal skambju ta’ ideat, titrawwem il-kollaborazzjoni kif ukoll immaġinazzjoni mill-ġdid ta’ possibilitajiet ta’ impenn mal-pubbliku fix-xjenza. Ninsabu kuntenti ferm li din is-sena din il-konferenza qed tkun organizzata miċ-Ċentru Interattiv tax-Xjenza, Esplora.”

Waqt iċ-ċerimonja Dr Tonio Portughese, iċ-Chairman tal-MCST, iffirma l-Ecsite Environmental Emergency Pledge f’isem ESPLORA u l-Kunsill Malti għax-Xjenza u t-Teknoloġija, li fiha impenja ruħu bis-sħiħ li jipparteċipa f’din l-inizjattiva strateġika, maħsuba biex tgħin lill-membri tal-ECSITE jieħdu passi. biex tagħmel aħjar, passi żgħar fid-direzzjoni t-tajba.

Dan l-avveniment mifrux fuq tlett ijiem mill-15 sas-17 ta’ Ġunju 2023 ser iservi ta’ vetrina għal iktar riċerka riċenti u l-aħħar żviluppi fl-impenn pubbliku max-xjenza permezz ta’ sessjonijiet dinamiċi, dibattiti, workshops kif ukoll fiera bl-isem ta’ ‘Business Bistro’. Ġurnata qabel il-konferenza, nhar l-14 ta’ Ġunju,  sar  wkoll laqgħat u workshops li taw għarfien iddettaljat fuq numru ta’ aspetti fil-qasam tal-komunikazzjoni tax-Xjenza. Il-programm joffri għażla vasta ta’ iżjed minn 80 sessjoni minn iktar minn 300 kelliem fuq suġġetti bħalbiodiversità u l-kriżi tal-klima, l-ekwità u l-inklużjoni, il-ħiliet tas-seklu 21 u l-informazzjoni mhux preċiża. Din il-konferenza tistieden il-komunità tal-impenn fix-xjenza sabiex jibnu fuq l-aħħar tletin sena ta’ komunikazzjoni tax-xjenza u jħarsu ’l quddiem sabiex jespandu l-orizzonti tal-proċessi f’dan il-qasam.

Il-kelliema ta’ profil għoli huma:

• Il-Kelliema Ewlenija Dr Lauren Vargas, Riċerkatur indipendenti u konsulenta
• Il-Kelliem Ewlieni Rob Hopkins, Awtur, Podcaster u ko-fundatur ta’ ‘Transition Network’

41 eżebitur ser ikunu qed jesebixxu l-aħħar prodotti u servizzi waqt il-fiera ‘Business Bistro’. Ser ikun hemm ukoll diversi opportunitajiet ta’ networking bħalGala Dinner flimkien maċ-ċerimonja Mariano Gago Ecsite Award, l-avveniment ta’ xjenza divertenti fl-Esplora – in-Nocturne Event kif ukoll l-aħħar ċelebrazzjoni s-Sibt filgħaxija. Dawn l-avvenimenti organizzati apposta bħala parti minn din il-konferenza jinkludu wkoll il-kollazzjon għall-membri l-ġodda, avventiment tal-Onboarding għall-membri l-ġodda, festin għall-kelliema u is-CEO Focus li hija ġdida għas-sena 2023.

https://www.ecsite.eu/conference/programme