When science meets musical theatre, magic happens – and Dr Danielle Martine Farrugia proved just that at her recent graduation ceremony.

Danielle, a Senior Executive from the Marketing, Communications, and Alumni Office, has gone viral after delivering a memorable speech during her graduation on the 11th of March. Danielle graduated with a PhD from the Faculty of Education with her thesis 'Public Engagement with Science - Breaking hegemony and shifting paradigms'. She is also the first in Malta to earn a PhD in science communication.

In a creative twist, Danielle broke into song during her speech, performing 'Popular' from the hit musical Wicked while ending her speech with a clever nod to another Wicked classic, 'Defying Gravity.'

The video of her unique performance has captivated hundreds of viewers online.

In an exclusive interview, Danielle revealed that only her husband and son knew about her plan to sing during the speech – even her parents were taken by surprise. She expressed her shock at the video going viral and shared that the audience appreciated the innovative approach. The reason she chose 'Popular' was not only because it comes from a well-known musical and is one of her son’s favourite songs but also to convey her message in a fun and engaging way: to make science not just more popular, but more accessible, equitable and inclusive. As stated in her speech, Danielle encourages our nation to work on a national strategy to unite various entities for a more cohesive approach to public engagement with science and to have a national space where practitioners and academics can collaborate, provide resources, and involve citizens.”

As Danielle continues to inspire future science communicators, her viral moment serves as a reminder that sometimes, thinking outside the box – or in this case, singing on stage – can make a powerful impact.

View Danielle's Interview HERE.