SCIENCE ON THE STREET
SUN DUATHLON
SUSTAINABILITY
MALTEZA'S PUPPET
MALTEZAS'S STONE GARDEN
EARTH SCIENCE OBSERVATORY
MONASTIC DINNER
Malteza's Puppets
The Centro Ciência Viva de Estremoz developed the Bonecos das Maltezas having been inspired by the model of the famous Bonecos de Santo Aleixo, which in 1980 were taken from oblivion by CENDREV, the theater action center in Évora, which until today dynamizes this important cultural heritage of the Alto Alentejo.
As with traditional dolls, in Bonecos das Maltezas the privileged form of communication is the autos, usually short-lived shows on a specific theme.
For the first show, the Bonecos das Maltezas present the "Auto da Criação do Mundo", precisely one of the most famous works of the Bonecos de Santo Aleixo. However, if in traditional dolls this creation is seen from the perspective of Father Chancas or Mestre Salas and his cousin, in Bonecos das Maltezas, these characters interact with some of the main scientists who, from Aristotle to Einstein, contributed to the way we see the world. Universe that surrounds us.
Although care was taken to maintain the markedly popular language of these shows, the “Auto da Criação do Mundo” by the Maltezas Puppets introduces us to the essentials of the scientific thinking of characters such as Galileo, Kepler or Newton, just to name a few of the more important.
This knowledge is consolidated with a series of interactive activities that complement the shows. It was precisely this ability of the project "Bonecos das Maltezas; Puppets of Science" to recover traditional forms of communication in extinction, combining them with current scientific knowledge, that was valued by the jury of this competition, attributing the aforementioned prize to this alternative and innovative form of Dissemination of Scientific Culture.
The Maltezas Puppets were built from scratch, by Ana Alves, following the techniques and materials used by the original puppeteers.
This precious knowledge was transmitted by Mestre Rolo, famous for his art and for having recreated traditional dolls.
This project would not have been possible without the close intersection of knowledge and skills between the Centro Ciência Viva de Estremoz and the School of Science and Technology of the University of Évora, especially through the Institute of Earth Sciences. This is one of its Research Centers considered excellent in the latest assessment by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), the National Scientific Research Agency.
