The Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) has published a Public Consultation on the National Strategy for the Environment 2050 (NSE 2050). Public consultations allow people to express their views to lawmakers in the course of setting policy orientations and drafting legislation. Essentially the public provides feedback on the propositions presented. It is a fantastic tool for democracy if used properly.
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Malta’s science and arts festival, Science in the City, is Taking Root once more and proudly presents its 10th festival! Our theme for this year? Taking Root – a means of empowering citizens to use research to uncover socio-political, environmental, and technical hurdles and opportunities while contributing to decisions which impact society.
Science in the City is coming to life in Malta’s capital city of Valletta between Friday 30 September and 1 October, when you can enjoy the sprawling festival within the historical walls of Fort St Elmo, Sala San Duminku, and Spazju Kreattiv. 1 October will bring with it a full day of fun and educational activities for all, taking place in Sala San Duminku and Spazju Kreattiv from 10am to midnight, coinciding with the well sought-after Notte Bianca.
The Astronomical Society of Malta, a voluntary organisation, will be present at Fort St Elmo, telescope at the ready, for anyone who wishes to be transported into a world of cosmic venture! Discover more about the universe and fall in love with the nocturnal sky to better help preserve it. Visitors will have the opportunity to gaze into the night sky from the fortified enclosure of Fort St Elmo while being shrouded in darkness in an effort to minimise light pollution.
Join the fun at the sing-along at Sala San Duminku on 30 September from 5pm to 11pm and 1 October from 10am to 5:30pm, when John Hinton, comedy-science-singer-songwriter and the creator of Ensonglopedia of Science, will deliver a fusion of science and comedy, rhythmically combined with music. The goal is to educate people about our planet and save it from climate catastrophe. For all those ambitious vloggers, there will also be a workshop in scientific songwriting for you to create your very own unchained melody!
Do you seek to transport yourself to the world of Criminal Minds or Bones? Then this is perfect for you! The European Forensic Institute goes back to 2011, when experts in the fields of criminology, investigation, insurance, and security decided to unite to establish a professional hub in the field of forensic investigations. Walk in the shoes of Dr Spencer Reid and Dr Temperance ‘Bones’ Brennan and try your hand at investigating the latest in forensic tech with the experts. The event will be held at Fort St Elmo from 6pm to 11pm with the aim of bringing to light and clarifying the concepts of forensic science.
The Interactive Science Centre, known as Esplora, was founded in 2016 with the aim of delivering an interactive experience of science through over 200 hands-on exhibits in a fun, exciting, and enjoyable way. The design of the displays enables visitors to see the importance and presence of science in everyday life. This experience also involves access to the Planetarium, an immersive experience into the other-worldly realm of the solar system. Esplora’s performance, ’What’s so special about water?’, explores the unusual things water can do in an interactive science show!
Stay tuned for more on Science in the City, Malta!
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Visit the capital on Friday 30 September and Saturday 1 October. Come and celebrate the 10th anniversary of Science in the City with us at Science in the City 2022 – Taking Root! We hope to see you there!
Check out our festival programme here.
How do you simplify one of the most common surgical procedures, knee replacement surgery, and get patients back on their feet faster and with less pain? A collaboration between the University of Malta Faculties of Engineering and Medicine, alongside their industrial partner EMPAV Engineering Ltd, is attempting a solution.
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Elderly people in residential care homes have been particularly affected by the pandemic and the safety measures associated with it. Isolation, loneliness, and the lack of physical touch are a few factors that have impacted their mental well-being.
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Have you ever felt stressed about your future when hearing about environmental issues and climate change in the news? Have you ever felt particularly anxious about the future of humanity and our planet? Well I can assure you, you are not alone.
There is a formal term for this phenomenon: eco-anxiety. The American Psychology Association describes eco-anxiety as ’the chronic fear of environmental cataclysm that comes from observing the seemingly irrevocable impact of climate change and the associated concern for one’s future and that of next generations.’ While this is not yet considered as a psychological illness, it can have numerous mental consequences in some people.
Eco-anxiety does not affect everyone in the same manner. Various studies in the last few years have shown that eco-anxiety tends to impact younger generations the most, mainly children and youths. Surveys show that many young people rank climate change as the most significant societal problem. In one recent study published in The Lancet Planetary Health and conducted in 10 different countries among 16 to 25-year-olds, 59% of respondents stated that they are very or extremely worried, while 84% of participants said that they felt at least moderately worried.
Moreover, the majority of respondents ‘felt sad, anxious, angry, powerless, helpless, and guilty,’ about climate change. Eco-anxiety also tends to be more prevalent among people who are aware of the environment and knowledgeable on climate change. This group feels largely responsible for solving this problem that has been dumped onto its shoulders by governmental inaction and earlier generations.
This might also explain why it is quite common for young students studying in the environmental field to feel the symptoms of eco-anxiety. As a student currently following a sustainability-related course, I am aware that it can get quite overwhelming. In fact, as part of a recent Sustainability Week on university campus, a workshop was organised to help students cope with the symptoms of eco-anxiety. While coping mechanisms vary from one individual to another, these are some things you can try out if you find yourself in a similar situation: