Educational Media Reviews Online

These are two of the ten tapes in the Rough Science series of short videos that try to put the fun into serious science. Five British and American scientists of different specialties are on a remote island tasked with solving survival type problems with both material and time constraints. They must complete three specific jobs in three days, using only their wits, simple tools and the raw materials they find on the island. The host describes the goals the scientists need to accomplish then allows the viewers to watch over their shoulders as they brainstorm, experiment, tinker, refine then ultimately succeed or fail their assigned tasks.

In the Time and Transmitter tape the scientists have to build a radio transmitter, make a portable clock and a botanical kite. It is fascinating to watch the trial and error methods they use to accomplish (or not) their goals. Watching the homemade transmitter eventually succeed while learning about basic electricity was nice but you end up rooting for scientist making the giant Rube Goldberg type water powered bell clock that failed spectacularly. A sundial on the wrist with a compass to find north finally did the trick.

The Sun and Sea tape’s goals where to make a light source that worked underwater, powered by a battery that needed distilled water and a re-charge. All the goals had to succeed in order to test the underwater light. Basic middle to high school science along with lots of ingenuity and perseverance made this very enjoyable. Many scientific steps were added together cleverly such as using a convex shape with broken mirror pieces to focus the sunlight that boiled the salt water into distilled water.

Both films are briskly paced, well-edited and quite fun to watch. The scientists clearly explain each principle of science he or she was applying as they went about building their devices. Some of the English accents and slang (only one scientist is American) could confuse a younger viewer but otherwise the films are unique and appealing. Even the failures that were mostly due to primitive tools at hand had learning value. With the current strong interest in reality shows these can be a clever way to validate the lessons in any appropriate science classroom.