In recent months, Friends of the Earth Malta has acquired a variety of astronomy and wildlife observation equipment to support citizen science initiatives at the flagship project site, Il-Forn ta’ Kemmuna, in Comino.

This equipment will be used to empower citizens to engage in biodiversity and astronomy observation and data collection. It will also help citizens gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of local fauna and the importance of dark sky preservation.Some of this equipment were already used and demonstrated at a sunset walk and stargazing session during the autumn Comino camp, Kamp Kemmuna: Edizzjoni Ħarifa.

During the camp, youths were guided by a STEM professional, our Friends of the Earth Malta Director Martin Galea de Giovanni, and shown various habitat features during the walk as well as planets, stars and constellations during the stargazing session. Youths also learnt about light pollution and its impacts on biodiversity, human health, and the visibility of the night sky, as well as species behaviour and the wider ecology of Comino.

These activities were part-financed by the National STEM Community Fund of Xjenza Malta, under whose remit operates Esplora Interactive Science Centre, on behalf of the National STEM Engagement Working Group.

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