Science Carnival Parade Call for
Science in the City
(Deadline 3 February)
A fantastic opportunity for scientists and artists to collaborate and create carnival floats. We’re looking
forward to reading all of your great ideas.
Science & Art Festival 26th September (possibility of 27th September)
Maskri should be prepared for resistance against the elements
Submission for Science-inspired Art
Deadline: 3 February
Evaluation: mid-February
Notification: April/May
What are we looking for? A float with a difference, that uses the skills of maskri grotteski makers to help promote the relevance of science and art in today’s world? These pieces will be appreciated by over 15,000 people on our big night in Valletta and during Notte Bianca. Science in the City is looking for Carnival makers to send in their proposals. Who can apply? All carnival makers in Valletta who work within an organisation or as an individual rd
What we want from you by the 3 February Sketches of: Maskri isolati (isolated masks) measuring 8 x 8 feet or a set of 5 maskri grotteski (Grotesque Set of Masks) measuring 4 x 4 feet each and will be carried Submissions The sketches can be submitted in digital format or can be hand drawn. Interpreting scientific ideas Some ideas [update with theme]: ⁃
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How did the Universe start and what are we made up of? — CERN: the European Organization for
Nuclear Research is a world leader in experiments that find out what particles are made of. A 27 kmlong tunnel under Geneva in Switzerland slams particles on counter-rotating deems to find out what
makes up everything we see.
How do molecules look? How are they made? — Celebrating the International Year of
Crystallography: X-ray crystallography is used to obtain 3D models of molecules. It is involved in our
daily lives and forms the backbone of industries that develop new products, including the agro-food,
aeronautic, automobile, beauty care, computer, electro-mechanical, pharmaceutical and mining
industries.
Control a computer through your thoughts — Brain–computer interface devices: These systems
allow individuals to communicate or control equipment directly by thinking about it. They bypass the
need for physical movement. The technology has benefited individuals who are mobility impaired with
practical applications as an assisted living and communication tool. Local researchers are interested to
work with artists to develop ‘thought controlled’ gaming applications, and are open to other ideas.
Breakthroughs and best inventions of 2013 — Inspiration from any of these ideas. These include
cloning humans, making your immune system fight cancers, driverless toy cars, invisible skyscrapers,
resurrection of extinct species, and even how the bacteria living in your gut protect your health. Please
see: http://news.sciencemag.org/breakthrough-of-the-year-2013 or
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=world-changing-ideas-2013-intro or
http://techland.time.com/2013/11/14/the-25-best-inventions-of-the-year-2013/?xid=newsletter-techland
Origins — Where does humanity come from? Where does the Universe come from? What are we
made of? Where does life come from? Where do ideas come from? The possibilities are endless.
… and any other idea? Please get in touch.
Any ideas that have a degree of interactivity will be reviewed favourably by the evaluating team. Some concrete examples: • Faces of Famous Scientists linked to this year’s scientific breakthroughs (see http://news.sciencemag.org/breakthrough-of-the-year-2013 or
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=world-changing-ideas-2013-intro or
http://techland.time.com/2013/11/14/the-25-best-inventions-of-the-year-2013/?xid=newslettertechland) • The evolution of humanity (see http://media.smithsonianmag.com/images/consequences-­‐of-­‐
evolution-­‐631.jpg) • A giant fluorescent brain being studied by little people (scientists) • A book being transformed into an e-­‐book reader • A man made out of pills • A human on Mars with the Maltese flag (or a small human settlement) • A DNA double helix Values behind events: Science, art, creativity, technology, education, entertainment, quality, interactive, engagement between people. Funding The winning submissions will receive: €1,000 for a Grotesque Set of Masks with 5 designs, construction and pushing the masks on the night. Additional help will be hired to help push these masks in the parade. or €300 for the design of an isolated mask as well as the construction and pushing on the night. Evaluation Judged by the Science in the City Consortium Please send your proposals to: info@scienceinthecity.org.mt. For more information about all events contact Edward Duca (mailto:edward.duca@um.edu.mt; Mob: 99239974) and/or Karen Fiorini
(karen.fiorini@um.edu.mt; Mob: 99868348). For more information about the festival and previous programme, please check scienceinthecity.org.mt