Consulting
Inspire
One of my major goals is to use short films and the increasingly ubiquitous screen to reach people with science. To use high impact, intriguing images to captivate the viewer. I always try to emotionally engage or inspire a viewer, rather than attempt to formally 'educate'. Through broadcast media, classrooms or mobile phones the intention is to exploit emerging technologies as a means to distributing science based content.
Education
Wellcome Trust / DFG ~ Science on Film Wellcome teamed up with the Documentary Filmmakers Group for a new initiative entitled, bringing scientists and filmmakers - of which I was one, see Life Support - to create a series of 8 short films. March 2008.
Wellcome Trust Broadcast Development Award ~ 4Science The working name for my collaboration with production company Redbird and Channel 4's FourDocs website for short documentaries. The goal is to help teachers and students work closely together to create self-sustaining, curriculum-led short science docs for the web. Now in Final phase.
Still from 'A Taste of Candy', a short film about drug addiction and redemption made by Year 9 pupils at Winchmore School, London
Ignite! This year marks the launch of Ignite's exciting 3 year project, Ignition*, to stimulate creative approaches to STEM - and I'm delighted to have filmed the launch at Greenwood Junior School, Nottingham - see We Have Ignition*. March 2008.
Wellcome Trust - Creative Encounters Working closely with the Public Engagement Development Group, I'm acting as a consultant to help develop a project that will maximize the educational potential of the Trust's diverse public engagement portfolio.
Science Learning Centre, London With the support of London's SLC, a range of films by digitalis media is being shown online for teachers to use as a teaching resource and/or stimulus.
Film / Broadcast / Art
Wellcome Trust Broadcast Development Award ~ Pilot series development Together with Andy Glynne, Mosaic Films Managing Director and Peter Firstbrook, producer of the outstanding BBC 4 series, A Year In Tibet.
Wellcome Trust Arts Award ~ Neurotic Working with Soda as a science education advisor and neuroscientist, they have developed an extraordinary array of robots that learn - and then dance to - punk music played by the accompanying band, Neurotic and the PVCs!
Wellcome Trust - Image Awards 2008 This year, I interviewed many of the award winners. These interviews were prepared for several media outlets including an accompanying print publication and the Wellcome Trust's website.
National Science & Engineering Week 2007 Together with Ignite!, Creative Partnerships and the East Midlands Development Agency, digitalis media is part of a collaborative team of filmmakers working with schools in Nottingham to help pupils make their very own short science film. These films were screened for all the participants in Nottingham's Broadway Cinema, March 21st, 2007. This is a valuable opportunity to stimulate interest in science while simultaneously stretching the pupils' creative talents. digitalis media is also acting as the 'creative science consultant' throughout this exciting venture.
Nintendo
Following the release of More Brain Training on the Nintendo DS, I acted as a spokesperson for Nintendo on the various benefits of keeping a healthy, active mind. Numerous media outlets.
Workshops
Within the folds of University College London's Postgraduate Skills Development Programme, I produced a workshop entitled - Walking the Line: An Interdisciplinary Workshop For Artists & Scientists. The feedback was positive, with some unexpected outcomes.
digitalis media produced an Ignite! workshop for NESTA, aimed at young, creative minds between the ages of 9 and 13 years old. In the course of three hours we explored the various avenues of the brain: from intelligence to consciousness. Just for the record, a Venus Flytrap is NOT conscious!