NEW technologies that will shape our future are the focus of the 2014 Science Film Festival (SFF), which opened on November 4 at the Mind Museum in Taguig City. The SFF is organized by the Geothe Institut and other partners, including the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). The SFF has been serving as an alternative way for students to learn more about science and technology, and its relevance to the society. This film festival is held annually across Southeast Asia and in the Middle East.
For this year, the featured films tackle future technologies, like gentech, nanotech, synthetic biology, graphene, algae fuel and quantum computers, as well as the developments in other fields of contemporary science. The opening program featured the films Nine-And-A-Half: Life Without Plastic and Annedroids—New Pals. Life Without Plastic, a documentary where a boy experimented to live without plastic for 24 hours.
Annedroids is a science-based action-adventure that tells a story of genius kid-scientist Anne, her kid assistants Nick and Shania, and her android creations.
As part of the SFF, teachers, students and other participants witnessed a number of science experiments, including making of homemade ointments and do-it-yourself robots.
As one of the venue partners, ACB will host a series of screenings from November 12 to December 6 for schools based in Los Baños, Laguna.
As a side event, an on-the-spot poster-making contest will be conducted every after film screening at the participating schools.
The competing artworks must illustrate “how students can help conserve biodiversity.”
Each artwork will be evaluated according to message and relevance to the theme, artistry and creativity, and mastery of the medium. ACB will select the top 10 finalists and will award the winners on December 12 at the ACB Conference room.
The winners will receive cash prizes and medals. The screening schedule in Los Baños: The Learning Place, November 18; Maquiling School Inc. and San Antonio Elementary School (to be announced), and ACB Conference Room, December 12 (special screening for ACB staff). The following are the films to be screened: Annedroids —New Pals, From Fireflies to Space Invaders, Password Green: A Good Game Alejandro, Password Green: A Recipe for Recycling Paper, Password Green: Trade Batteries for Seeds—Citadelli and Simply Complex.
Eisen Bernardo