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Last Updated: 2009-10-08 00:00:00
Timaru Boys win top prize for DVD on Astronomy.
The major prize in the Freemasons BIG Science Adventures DVD competition has gone to a team from Timaru Boys High School. Their film on the theme of Astronomy and revolutions in our thinking has won them the first prize of a trip to Italy.
The Europe itinerary will take the Timaru Boys, Ryan Ammar, Matthew Keelty and Adam Simpson, on a two week trip to UK and Italy visiting London, Venice, Florence and Rome. They will visit Martin Lord Rees, Astronomer Royal, in Cambridge and the Vatican Observatory in Rome as well Galileo’s observatory in Florence, Pisa and the Moses project in Venice. Whilst in Venice, they will visit the New Zealand delegation at the Venice Biennale.
The theme of Astronomy and revolutions in our thinking was chosen by the Royal Society of New Zealand, which administers the competition, to mark International Year of Astronomy 2009.
The video produced by the Timaru team, The Burning Question, addresses the recent discovery of planets beyond our solar system and the possibility of life elsewhere in the Universe.
The film starts with a dramatic depiction of Giordano Bruno, often considered an early martyr for modern scientific ideas, being burned at the stake. Important discoveries in the next 400 years mean that we now know other planets exist outside our solar system and that some could support life. But the burning question that drives our search for life elsewhere in the Universe is really a search for who we are.
In addition to the trip to Italy in July, a special prize has been awarded to the teams from Hauraki Plains College, Ngatea and Otumoetai College, Tauranga. They will be joining HMNZS Manawanui on 6 October and sailing around the islands off Auckland and down to Gisborne to join in the Cooks Landing Commemoration celebrations. During the trip the teams will be shown the art of astro-navigation.
Please note that the views expressed by the filmmakers do not necessarily reflect those of the Royal Society of New Zealand
Winner Timaru Boys High - The Burning Question
Winning Team: Ryan Ammar, Matthew Keelty, Adam Simpson from Timaru Boys High
Prize:
The film produced by the Timaru team, The Burning Question, addresses the discovery of planets beyond our solar system and the possibility of life elsewhere in the Universe.
Highly commended entry information coming soon.
St Bedes - To Live!
Joseph Stretch, Roger Dehn, Charles Cheng from St Bedes
Beginning with the search for life elsewhere in our universe this film advocates the importance of space exploration.
Otumoetai College - One Small Step
Matt Lee, Alex Cairns, James Wilson from Otumoetai College
One Small Step looks at the history of space exploration and possibilities for the future.
Nelson College for Girls - Copernicus
Amy Hill, Lancia Hubley, Bonnie Shaw from Nelson College for Girls
This film uses Lego sets to illustrate the history and influence of Nicholas Copernicus and his work.
Hauraki Plains College - Pacific Star Navigation
Theresa Speedy, Kayla Leonard, Barbara Jones from Hauraki Plains College
This film explains how and why the pacific people where able to migrate throughout the Pacific using celestial navigation.
Burnside High School - Our Place in the Universe
Jim Huang, Philip Allan, George Xian from Burnside High School
This film investigates what makes Earth capable of sustaining life and the search for life elsewhere in the galaxy.
Tawa College - Impact Controversy
Mark Baker, Arun Arasu Ashok, Patrick Brian Sharp from Tawa College
Impact Controversy explains the history and science behind the formation of craters on the moon.
Rotorua Boys High School - Moon Landing
Ashton Ledger, Sam Biddle, Jone Leko from Rotorua Boys High School
A film about the impact the 1969 moon landing has had on our view of the world.
