Science in the Citadel · 2019-08-09 · Bower, C. (2017).Xjenza Online, 5:81{82. Xjenza Online -...
2
Bower, C. (2017). Xjenza Online, 5:81–82. Xjenza Online - Journal of the Malta Chamber of Scientists www.xjenza.org News and Views Science in the Citadel Colleen Bower * On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the 22 nd of April, Science in the Citadel was held in Gozo’s iconic medieval Citadel. It provided an atmospheric venue for the first sci- ence festival on the island. The festival was sponsored by Eco- Gozo, and inaugurated by Minis- ter of Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo. The aim of the festival was to engage the public with science, to inspire the next generation towards scientific endeav- our and to showcase Gozo as a potential future hub for scientific discussion and development. Figure 1: The citadel located in Victoria (Rabat), Gozo. As a historical venue, the Citadel presented a number of logistical challenges. The organisers were clear from the outset that, if you want to engage local people, the Citadel was the place to start. The centre of the island since before medieval days, the citadel provided a secure refuge against attack. It could not have done so were it not for the foresight and growing specialisation of the military scientists and engineers of the day. The latest in thinking regarding construction, food and water stor- age and defence were all incorporated into its structure. Moreover, the first Hospital on Gozo was built within its walls. Advancements were made in disease control, medicine and pharmacy, with the influx of physicians, surgeons and apothecaries under the rule of the Knights of St John, the Hospitaller Order. Hence the Citadel and its internal structures provide tangible testimony to the fact that scientific inquiry was as relevant to the lives of the people of the past as it is today. It also presented a concrete symbol of the continuity of scientific endeavour though the centuries; the truth that, to paraphrase Newton, today’s scient- ists might see further ahead, but only because they can stand on the shoulders of giants. And its physical situ- ation allowed us to truly situate the various strands of science presented in what was known and perceptible to the visitors. A walk around the Citadel reveals an archaeology mu- seum, perfect as a venue for discussing the chemical transformations involved in turning clay into pottery; a nature museum, its exhibits the backdrop to talks about the relevance of geology to everyday life and the science attached to the flora, birds and bees of the island; an Old Prison, the context for forensic science demonstra- tions and an Old Hospital, the cue for biomedical and anatomical research displays and talks. The imposing bastions offer panoramic views of the skies, seas and layout of the island, inviting further investigation and interest in astrophysics with telescopes, geoscience with seismology stories and marine sciences offering results of underwater explorations. Thus the subject matter of the festival was truly embedded in its situation. Furthermore, the festival offered tiered engagement opportunities. Whilst adults and the already science- savvy could take in a talk, meet the researcher or debate with peers in a Caf´ e Scientifique style discussion, chil- dren from kindergarten upwards were the target audi- *Correspondence to: Colleen Bower ([email protected]) c 2017 Xjenza Online
Transcript of Science in the Citadel · 2019-08-09 · Bower, C. (2017).Xjenza Online, 5:81{82. Xjenza Online -...
Bower, C. (2017).Xjenza Online, 5:81–82.
Xjenza Online - Journal of the Malta Chamber of Scientistswww.xjenza.org
News and Views
Science in the Citadel
Colleen Bower∗
On a sunny Saturday afternoon,the 22nd of April, Science in theCitadel was held in Gozo’s iconicmedieval Citadel. It provided anatmospheric venue for the first sci-ence festival on the island. Thefestival was sponsored by Eco-Gozo, and inaugurated by Minis-ter of Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo. Theaim of the festival was to engage the public with science,to inspire the next generation towards scientific endeav-our and to showcase Gozo as a potential future hub forscientific discussion and development.
Figure 1: The citadel located in Victoria (Rabat), Gozo.
As a historical venue, the Citadel presented a numberof logistical challenges. The organisers were clear fromthe outset that, if you want to engage local people, theCitadel was the place to start. The centre of the islandsince before medieval days, the citadel provided a securerefuge against attack. It could not have done so wereit not for the foresight and growing specialisation of themilitary scientists and engineers of the day. The latest
in thinking regarding construction, food and water stor-age and defence were all incorporated into its structure.Moreover, the first Hospital on Gozo was built withinits walls. Advancements were made in disease control,medicine and pharmacy, with the influx of physicians,surgeons and apothecaries under the rule of the Knightsof St John, the Hospitaller Order.
Hence the Citadel and its internal structures providetangible testimony to the fact that scientific inquiry wasas relevant to the lives of the people of the past as itis today. It also presented a concrete symbol of thecontinuity of scientific endeavour though the centuries;the truth that, to paraphrase Newton, today’s scient-ists might see further ahead, but only because they canstand on the shoulders of giants. And its physical situ-ation allowed us to truly situate the various strands ofscience presented in what was known and perceptible tothe visitors.
A walk around the Citadel reveals an archaeology mu-seum, perfect as a venue for discussing the chemicaltransformations involved in turning clay into pottery; anature museum, its exhibits the backdrop to talks aboutthe relevance of geology to everyday life and the scienceattached to the flora, birds and bees of the island; anOld Prison, the context for forensic science demonstra-tions and an Old Hospital, the cue for biomedical andanatomical research displays and talks. The imposingbastions offer panoramic views of the skies, seas andlayout of the island, inviting further investigation andinterest in astrophysics with telescopes, geoscience withseismology stories and marine sciences offering resultsof underwater explorations. Thus the subject matter ofthe festival was truly embedded in its situation.
Furthermore, the festival offered tiered engagementopportunities. Whilst adults and the already science-savvy could take in a talk, meet the researcher or debatewith peers in a Cafe Scientifique style discussion, chil-dren from kindergarten upwards were the target audi-
*Correspondence to: Colleen Bower ([email protected])
c© 2017 Xjenza Online
82 Science in the Citadel
ence of a range of theatrical science demonstrations,busking and shows provided by Esplora and Kids DigScience in the equally theatrical surroundings of theDitch (moat), and workshops in some of the arched in-ternal spaces. The schools on the island took part in achallenge to use the Citadel as inspiration for a piece ofscientific investigation with the wide-ranging results ontopics from the physics of sound, inspired by the ancientbells to camouflage in nature. It is estimated that over3000 visitors attended the festival. The results of theexit survey and the anecdotal evidence suggest that theparticipants were highly engaged.
Figure 2: Adults and children bubbling with enthusiasm forscience.
Science in the Citadel was organised by ColleenBower, coordinator of Cafe Scientifique in Gozo and asmall team of volunteers in association with Esplora, theMalta Chamber of Scientists and EcoGozo. Contribu-tions to the event included personnel from several de-partments of the University of Malta, researchers fromMalta College for Science & Technology (MCST) andMalta Life Sciences Park projects, and special interestorganisations such as BirdLife Malta, SharkLab and theNational Aquarium.
Figure 3: Young scientists experimenting with bubbles and thephenomena of surface tension.
www.xjenza.org
