She Can exhibition
The exhibition continued on its tour during academic year 2024-25 (after visiting a number of schools and colleges during the previous academic year, Parliament, Esplora and Science in the City during the previous academic year) and was hosted at MCAST in October 2024, at the Engineering, Research and Innovation Laboratories (ERIL) at UM for the third edition of Unconventional Science Careers and the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and Technology on 11 February 2025. It also visited the Science in the Citadel festival on 27 April 2025 at the 膴ittadella in Gozo.
Unconventional Science Careers 2024
On Thursday 28 and Friday 29 November 2024, the University of Malta opened its areas and laboratories dedicated to the Built Environment, Education and Science Communication, Engineering, Health Sciences, ICT, Media & Knowledge Sciences, Medicine & Surgery and Science, to around 1000 students and educators from 13 schools (a mixture of state, independent and church schools) to be able to do just that - explore and engage in exciting activities that will help them choose their future career options.
Malta Cafe Scientifique
The events were held at Spazju Kreattiv Studio B, Valletta
St Edward’s College Careers Fair
The University of Malta participated in the St Edward’s College Careers Fair, which was held on Friday, 14 March 2025. The Marketing, Communications & Alumni Office together with the Students Advisory and several of UM’s academic entities, namely the Institute of Space Sciences & Astronomy, the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, the Faculty for Knowledge & Media Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering, the Department of Midwifery and the Medical Physics Unit were among the list of exhibitors, at this event, highlighting different career paths.
Brain Awareness Week 2025
During Brain Awareness Week at UM between 10 and 16 March, groups of students visited the Cognitive Science Laboratory, the Immersion Laboratory, and the Boundaries of the Brain Laboratory, where they explored current brain research through a series of engaging activities. The students took part in an interactive puppet show, listened to thought-provoking talks, and carried out hands-on experiments that brought neuroscience to life. The event was organised by the Faculty of Media & Knowledge Sciences through the Department of Cognitive Science, together with the Faculty of Medicine & Surgery’s Department of Physiology & Biochemistry, in collaboration with the Marketing, Communications & Alumni Office as part of the #STEAM@UM initiative.
EMBL visits March 2025 (24-27 March)
The Advanced Mobile Laboratory (AML) of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) was a key component of the Traversing European Coastlines (: as part of the pan-European expedition exploring coastal ecosystems along the continent’s coastline, the mobile laboratory brought cutting-edge technology and methodology to the field. This enabled unprecedented experimental standardisation, fresh sample processing, and data integration.
The AML was stationed at the University of Malta from 17 March to 11 April 2025 in order to provide advanced technology, expertise and training to Malta’s scientific community. Several sixth-form students visited the AML, a visit coordinated by STEAM@UM, with a personal tour of this laboratory and other UM facilities at the Faculty of Health Sciences:
25 March - Junior College students
27 March - St Martin’s Sixth Form students
FestaSTEM
FestaSTEM, held on Sunday 6 April 2025 at St Monica School in G偶ira, brought together children, families and the wider community for a vibrant morning of hands-on STEM activities, workshops and talks, with strong participation from University of Malta departments and student organisations. The event empowered young learners, supported families in accessing science and technology, and encouraged attendees to explore future careers in STEM through engaging, interactive experiences.
NSTF Contest for Young Scientists
In March 2025, the Senior Executive for Science Communication within MCAO, Dr Danielle Farrugia, was invited to the panel of judges of the NSTF Young Scientists Contest. The contest, open to students between 14 years of age and those in Sixth Form, involves developing and showcasing a research project, allowing the students to gain insight into science and innovation. The winners then have the opportunity to represent Malta and exhibit the project at the EU Contest for Young Scientists.
St Michael’s School Science Fest
St Michael's School's Science Fest in St Venera was held on Friday, 16 May 2025. UM’s participation at this event was facilitated by the STEAM@UM Office. Paul Immanuel Buhagiar (Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine & Surgery), Prof. Liberato Camilleri (Department of Statistics & Operations Research, Faculty of Science) and Prof. Joseph Borg (Department of Applied Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences) showcased the research related to their specific areas of expertise to the students who attend the Science Fest intending to inspire young leaners and instil a passion for science.
STEAM@Kidsoncampus - Summer 2025
across Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics during STEAM@Kidsoncampus. Through age-appropriate activities—like simple experiments, basic coding, sensory activities, building challenges, and interactive mathematical games learners are exploring real-world concepts in a fun and meaningful way. These activities encourage curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, making STEAM learning engaging and accessible for every age group.
Braintastic! on 8 July
Fifteen children, four to five years of age, had an incredible opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of the brain through an exciting, hands-on activity led by Dr Claude Bajada from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery! Using amazing 3-D printed brains, the little explorers discovered the wonders of different animal brains, including their very own human brains! The joy of learning came alive as they engaged in sensory experiences, sparking curiosity and inspiring future scientists.
Computer Science
10 July: Years 5-7 (children ages 9-11) - 15 children
10 July: Year 8 upwards (flexible)
Prof. Christian Colombo from the Faculty of ICT brought an exciting twist to learning for students in grades 9-12 with an interactive, hands-on game that merges the fun of play with the fundamentals of computer science! Through the use of marbles and mechanical components, students jumped into the world of coding as they crafted their very own "marble-powered computers."
Statistics
Dr Derya Karagoz delivered sessions on 15 July to 15 children ages 6-6.5 years, and 20 children between 11 and 12 years of age.
Geosciences
The Department of Geosciences was pleased to welcome two groups of children from the University of Malta's Kids on Campus programme on 18 July. The children were enthusiastic to learn about the fascinating world of geoscience, through the sessions by Dr Matthew Agius. They toured three laboratories: the geophysics lab, where they saw sophisticated, state-of-the-art drones, ground-penetrating radar, and a marine drone; the seismology lab, where they learned how earthquakes are monitored and discussed the associated hazards, especially in the context of Malta and the Mediterranean region; and the physical oceanography lab, where they explored how marine geoscience research is conducted and what it teaches us about our oceans.
Maths
A session was held on 23 July for 20 children between the ages 13-14.
30 July - Engineering 7/8; 9-11 - 16
31 July - Engineering 6-7 - 15; 12-14 - 20
This workshop shows how engineers are using cutting-edge technology to listen to the human body. Through interactive demos, you'll get a hands-on look at how brainwaves, eye tracking, and thermal imaging are being used to control devices, detect early signs of illness, and open up new possibilities in healthcare and human-computer interaction.
Geosciences - A science show about pressure
4 August - blooming explorers and future sparks - Dr Anthony Galea
A journey from outer space (low pressure) to deep ocean (high pressure) to learn about the effect of pressure, using hands-on experiments.
Geosciences - A science show about Oceans
18 August - blooming explorers and future sparks - Dr Anthony Galea
A journey through the depths of the world ocean to discover different ocean floors and how the sea moves around the globe.
Science Communication Workshop
A hands-on Science Communication Workshop for students was held on 29 August 2025 from 09:00 onwards at NSTF, where participants received practical guidance on how to transform complex research into clear and engaging stories for competitions, presentations and public outreach. The session was delivered by Dr Edward Duca and Dr Danielle Martine Farrugia and was open to all students.
Science in the City 2025 Science in the City, Malta’s national science and arts festival, took place in Valletta on 26 and 27 September 2025 under the theme “Past Forward”, bringing together researchers, artists and the public to explore how past innovations shape the present and future. While an outdoor Street Festival at Triton Fountain was planned for both evenings from around 18:00–23:00, heavy rain and storms led to the cancellation of the street activities, and most engagement continued through indoor performance and workshop programmes at venues such as Sala San Duminku across both days. The festival featured interactive exhibitions, theatre, music and hands-on science experiences for visitors of all ages.