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SciCast Finalists

Highgate scientists rise to the challenge


Hugh Lindsey and Moritz Hellmich, two Y12 scientists, have reached the final of a national competition to make a short film about a scientific result. Of the 100 or so entries, their film about Archimedes' Principle has elicited plenty of praise. It is described as “a very accomplished film all-round … extremely well-planned and executed with admirable attention to detail”, and they have been invited to an "Oscars" ceremony at the Royal Institution. Hugh paused whilst writing his acceptance speech to say a little more about the project:

"Given the liberty of a video camera and a free reign over what we could film, it seemed that the SciCast Film competition wouldn’t be too restrictive. The aim was to produce a two and a half minute film “featuring science or engineering”. After much deliberating, we chose to explain Archimedes’ Principle – the fundamental law of physics which reasons why boats and balloons float. So why choose a topic which has been around for over two thousand years? Well – of course – our film could feature nudity, frost-bitten toes resulting from filming wet feet in the freezing depths of December, and a trip to the Thames. Let's not forget as well the exploding of a hydrogen balloon sufficient to break the camera, bring plaster down from the physics laboratory ceiling (don’t tell Steve the technician) and even draw the notoriously unshakable Dr Szydlo into a stupor with his ears still ringing five minutes later!"

The film can be seen on the Planet SciCast website here.

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