Monday 27th January
Dear Teacher
SCI-SCREEN – Where Science meets the Big Screen!
From Zombies and Superheroes to crime drama and space, Hollywoods blockbuster films are packed
with real-world science. STEM North East in partnership with Jam Jar Cinema, Newcastle Science City
and the British Science Association are hosting a series of science related films as part of National
Science and Engineering Week 2014. Each screening is directly linked to the curriculum and is
supported by local experts who will deliver a selection of talks, hands-on workshops and lectures
elaborating on some of the themes within the films.
Launching the week of activities on Friday 14th March is Dr Jonathan Hare with ‘Hollywood Science.’
In this interactive talk Jonathan tests the science that most filmgoers take for granted and sets out to
debunk some of Hollywood’s most famous sequences. Are these daring stunts plausible or is it just
Hollywood Science? Suitable for Key Stage 4/A level students.
On Monday 17th March we are screening the recent award winning blockbuster film, “Gravity.” Find
out all about black holes and dark matter in this interactive journey through time and space. Suitable
for Key Stage 3/4 pupils.
“X Men: First Class” - The comic books are filled with mutants, heroes and villains whose special
abilities are genetic in their origin. But what are real mutants like, and could we one day use genetics
to make us superhuman? This is an interactive lecture by Dr Simon Watt (BBC’s Natures Giants) on
Tuesday 18th March featuring games and videos that act as an introduction to genetics and genetic
engineering. Topics covered include DNA, Genetic Engineering, bacterial genetics, mutation,
adaptation and evolution. Suitable for Key Stage 4 pupils.
On Wednesday 19th March we are screening “Outbreak” starring Dustin Hoffman and Denzel
Washington. What lengths would our government go to to contain the spread of a deadly contagion?
Will you survive the outbreak? Topics covered include an overview of disease, disease transmission
and control and the nature of epidemics and pandemics. Suitable for Key Stage 4 pupils.
On Thursday 20th March we have the Robin Williams comedy classic “Flubber.” Follow this up with a
hands on (and very messy) workshop where we find out all about the properties of some more very
strange mixtures! Suitable for Key Stage 1/2 pupils.
Finishing off the week with the classic film “Back to the Future” on Friday 21st March for Key Stage 2
pupils is Dr Pete Edwards from Durham University. The idea of travelling in time appears in many
science fiction films and stories, but is it actually possible? In this talk Pete will discuss some of the
problems with science fiction time travel and explain how we can really travel in time in our back
gardens. Come along to see where (or when) we can end up. Suitable for Key Stage 2 pupils.
With only 2 school screenings available each day and a subsidised educational discount of £125 per
school (for up to 42 pupils and their teachers) this event is likely to sell out very soon. See
accompanying flyer for times of screenings and further information.
To book your spaces, contact dan@jamjarcinema.com. For further information on the workshops,
contact claire@stemnortheast.co.uk .
You’ll never watch movies in the same way again!
www.jamjarcinema.com
www.stemnortheast.co.uk