LACES Project
LACES (Lab for Art, Communities, Ecology and Science) was set up at the Faculty of Education (university of Malta) in 2025 t foster interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary teaching and research, support the integration of ecological themes into art and science education, and foster critical thinking and scientific awareness through creative methods. The LACES team (Raphael Vella, Edward Duca, Censu Caruana) developed the LACES UM Library project in 2025-25, in collaboration with staff from the University Library. This research and creative project lasted several months and combined artistic and scientific inquiry as well as sustainable awareness, within a context of community engagement. The project involved Art MTL students and students in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Science for Education and Communication in knowledge-sharing sessions, while connecting with the area surrounding the university’s campus and community members. The process was mentored and developed in collaboration with socially engaged artist Kristina Borg. The final aim was to produce a collaborative artwork for the University Library. The LACES team chose to ask the students to research the area around the university campus. The research questions were:
Who is present in the area and who’s not?
What types of pollution are present in the area and what is triggering this?
How are the different needs of the diverse users and community members catered for or hindered?
How can a participatory transdisciplinary project raise awareness about these issues?
The LACES project involved the students in walks around the university campus, especially the Msida Skatepark and Msida Circus area. They took photos, explored the environment and its diverse community members. The science and art students were involved in peer-to-peer learning sessions. The science students taught the others how to use sticky tape placed in different areas to be able to analyse and monitor Particulate Matter in the air. This simple use of ‘citizen science’ was combined with sessions about the effects of air pollution, light pollution, sound pollution and litter on the body and human behaviour. Skaters who use the skatepark and members of a Muslim prayer group also participated in meetings and project activities.
The project culminated in the creation of a large artwork for the University of Malta Library and an exhibition that displayed the documentation of the research process in five vitrines.
Mind map showing some initial ideas developed by the students
The Msida skatepark
Art and Science students collaborating on the creative development of the main project themes
During the launch of the final artwork at the University of Malta Library
Documentation of some creative processes developed during the research project
