From left to right: Dr Claudia Borg, Dr Lourdes Farrugia, Ms Danielle Farrugia, Dr Ingrid Vella and Prof. Janet Mifsud during Science in the City 2023.
After having played a significant role in the establishment of UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science taking place annually on 11 February, Malta was designated as the first World Capital for the inaugural year of the global event by the Royal Academy for Science International Trust (RASIT).
The Capital of Women and Girls in Science is a global initiative offered under the patronage of RASIT to advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of science, and to place these issues at the heart of the world鈥檚 attention by organising a yearlong celebration.
As the World Capital, Malta is carrying out a schedule of scientific, social, cultural, and economic events targeting a worldwide audience.
The Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade (MFET), the Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation (MEYR), and the University of Malta, have signed a Declaration of Principles to cooperate on matters related to women and girls in science, and organise a number of events. Last week, a Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Government of Malta and RASIT during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.
A series of events were organised with the first event being the Girls 4 STEM summer camp held between 28 August and 1 September, organised by MEYR and facilitated by UM. This initiative sought to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) among 11- and 12-year-old girls.
A second event saw around 60 children aged 11-13 take part in a summer camp focused on artificial intelligence. This event was organised by the Faculty of ICT at the University of Malta in collaboration with the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA).
Other initiatives to mark Malta鈥檚 year as the World Capital for Women and Girls in Science include a series of short videos on breaking gender stereotypes launched at this year鈥檚 Science in the City festival. Other activities spearheaded by Dr Lourdes Farrugia, Head of the Department of Physics from the Faculty of Science, and Ms Danielle Martine Farrugia, the Senior Executive for science engagement at MCAO, as representatives of the UM, are working on an exhibition to showcase women in various careers in STEM that will be launched later this year.
From left to right: Ms Danielle Farrugia (UM), Ms Melanie Casha Sammut (MEYR), Ms Penelope Ann Fitzgerald, Ms Christianne Caruana (MFET), Dr Lourdes Farrugia (UM) and Ms Lynette Camilleri (MFET).
