Cosmology with ben (no)
About
The universe is so vast, fascinating, and distant. How can we take what feels far away and make it close? Through familiar elements, cosmologist (/astrophysicist) Ben takes you on a journey through the solar system, the galaxy, and eventually the entire universe. The solar system is measured out along the streets of Trondheim. The galaxy becomes a pizza. Dark matter turns into a hammer throw. Yes, the whole universe will be explained through what is familiar and dear.
Specifications
Pedagogical value
The target audience is anyone interested, with an emphasis on young people. The films are well suited for science classes from 7th grade up to and including upper secondary school. We aim to combine nerdy precision (for example, a demonstration of the Doppler effect!) with humor and a light, engaging storytelling style. The hope is that this creates a broad educational potential, where fascination is the hub that drives the viewer forward.
Let’s look at some examples:
- In a 7th-grade class, students could watch an episode and then discuss what they’ve learned through a class quiz: How big is the solar system? What is it mostly made of? How many ice giants do we have? Why are they the farthest out? WHO WANTS TO BE A COSMOLOGIST?!
- A student in their second year of upper secondary school will be able to understand more of the physics behind it. In episode 3, for example, we look at dark matter and explain that there is a connection between the speed of stars and the amount of matter in the galaxy. Why is that? This gives the teacher a great opportunity to show that even the physics taught in high school has unexpected applications. The teacher can build on what is demonstrated and ask students to explain what they see based on the laws they’ve learned.
Our pedagogy is built on fascination and intuition. Fascination for the vast universe. Intuition through examples drawn from familiar, beloved elements (pizza, city walks, etc.). Through this, we hope to create mastery, curiosity, and hooks for future deep learning. This mini-documentary is a small step toward thinking professionally about filming “boring classroom teaching.” Planned social media clips will be shared to spark interest in the subject
Info
Screenings
Read about the other selected films
Dna break repair by homologous recombination (au)
Homologous recombination is crucial in repairing double-strand breaks in DNA, correcting errors, and maintaining genomic integrity. This animation highlights the role of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in DNA break repair in homologous recombination. Designed to support outreach on WEHI research into breast cancer and provide world-class education materials on foundational cell biology topics.
Things that keep me up at night (se)
Thirteen young people from six different countries share the innermost thoughts that keep them up through the night. Videos of baby elephants, the fear of dying, of girls, and of losing someone you love. Things we rarely talk about, but often have in common.
Southern sami identity (no)
Identity is shaped by, among other things, a shared language, culture, and history. This short documentary offers insight into how two Southern Sami sisters perceive their identity, what they take pride in and the challenges they navigate. It is a story of how belonging to a minority can be both empowering and demanding. It comes with certain expectations – from the Southern Sami community, from Norwegian society, and from the sisters themselves.
Hansine Hansens veg 18, 9019 Tromsø
