No matter how relevant and applicable it may be, research loses its value if it ends up in a drawer. THINK’s endeavour of giving a platform to the work of the University of Malta community is already a noble act of dissemination via the printed word, but the team’s latest effort makes the words jump out of the pages and come alive, bringing it to the streets.
You might have already heard about THINK’s recently-held Soapbox event, which took place at Maori in Valletta. But...
What’s the hype behind it?
As David Mizzi, THINK’s new editor, told Newspoint, the THINK Soapbox is about “getting contributors from the last edition of the magazine to present their research in a brief and informal setting”, all while standing on a makeshift wooden crate. So...
Why is there a need for all these antics?
The concept of the soapbox builds on the tradition of public speaking of the early 20th century. Soapbox orators, as they were called, would use empty crates of soap as an impromptu, raised platform to share their news or passion for ideas.

How does this translate to THINK’s public outreach efforts?
Simple: people who don’t usually think about this research (excuse the pun), get to hear about it first-hand. The soapbox becomes a literal platform for the outstanding work of the researchers, trading their lab coats for a more casual look, and as soon as the soapbox touches the ground, the area is transformed into a place where everybody can get inspired and debate freely.
And there is power in bringing research back to the streets, in encouraging people to think more critically and have the opportunity to be heard aloud. Going back to spoken eloquence will also increase the potential of THINK outreach.
This is just the beginning for THINK...
David expressed his intention for the publication to grow its international reach. The content is of international relevance – the further away from that drawer the research goes, the wider the scope it has, and the more valuable it can be to society on the whole.
Stay tuned and make sure to follow the THINK website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter profiles for the latest updates!