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Moles video wins Sleek Geeks
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
In 2006, a team from the Conservatorium High School in Sydney were
not afraid to ask hard-hitting questions and seek expert advice for a
journalistic video that unearths some startling facts about moles. The
Year 10 filmmakers: Kartika Suharto-Martin, Joanna Brooke and Rosa
Gollan won the $5,000 first prize in the 2006 University of Sydney
Sleek Geeks Eureka Schools Prize.
The University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Schools Prize
is awarded to secondary students for a short video piece that
communicates a scientific concept in a way that is accessible and
entertaining to the general public. The award is supported by Abbey’s
Bookshop, Microsoft and ABC Science.
Second prize in 2006, and $3,000, went to Kaleah Balcomb, Hannah
Butler, Matthew Wardrop, Laura Cavanagh and Jonathan Woodbury from Year
12 at Gosford High School. Their film, A Brief History of Light
explores how the theory of light has evolved over the centuries. By
‘consulting’ with some of the greatest minds in science, such as
Faraday, Einstein, and Hawkings, the team shows how scientific theories
can be ever-changing.
Third prize and $2,000 went to Maddie and Lizzy Finnigan, from
Year 12 and Year 9 at Northern Beaches Christian School, NSW. This was
their second place winning tilt at the Sleek Geeks Eureka. Their film Inertia, the musical
was a musical tribute to the laws of inertia. Using well known show
tunes and fabulous costumes, Maddie and Lizzie’s performance explains
inertia in a truly unique way.
Fourth prize and a $1,000 book voucher went to Alex Lee-Rekers,
Olivia Jablonski and Thomas Marr, Year 10 students at Sydney’s
Conservatorium High School. Their film, Nanosamurai Defense offers
a simple explanation of the body’s complex immune system. Through the
clever use of analogies and dramatic action sequences, Alex and Olivia
explain how the body’s immune system works in a simple and entertaining
way.
“We greatly appreciate the support of the Faculty of Science at
the University of Sydney, Abbey’s Bookshop and Microsoft for this
school prize,” says Frank Howarth, Director of the Australian Museum.
“By encouraging students to look at science in a humorous way, it makes
the science accessible to the students and their peers.”
The Prizes are shared equally between the students and their schools. In addition they win Microsoft software.
