The SMC is bringing its science animation workshop to Auckland and will also head to Christchurch to explore how scientists can harness short videos to communicate their science.
These free one-day workshops aim to give scientists and science communicators skills to harness off the shelf tools to create short animations and videos showcasing science concepts in innovative, entertaining and informative ways.
ANIMATION WORKSHOP
WHERE: University of Auckland
WHEN: 9am – 5pm, Tuesday 14 April, 2015
PRICE: Free – by invitation only – apply below (applications close April 3)
Brought to you by University of Auckland microbiologist and Prime Minister’s Science Communications Prize winner, Dr Siouxsie Wiles and featuring the animation and infographics team from Mohawk Media. Some of the best animation ideas will receive funding to help get them into production!
The workshop would suit scientists or science communicators looking to build up their science animation skills and toolbox. Participants will need to bring an abstract of an idea to workshop into an animated video script, will learn about the animation writing and production process, and leave with a toolkit for producing their own animated videos.
This workshop is free to attend, but is limited to 20 places. This is a competitive application process – the best applicants will be selected based on the animation concepts outlined in the application form.
Please click on the link below to apply to attend the workshop. Lunch and refreshments are provided.
The workshop will cover:
- Why animation? – when video just isn’t enough to tell your story
- The anatomy of an animation – from data to words, pictures, audio and motion
- Laying the groundwork – scripting and storyboarding short animated videos
- Creative Commons – finding content to use in your animations and encourage sharing
- DIY animation – creating your own basic animations with off-the-shelf tools
- Go Pro – working with professional animators to take animation to the next level
- Unpacking the best science animations – How were they put together? The creators explain
- Going viral – publishing and promoting your animations
- Finding Funding – from grants to crowdfunding
- Your animation project – we will workshop your concept for an animated science video into a script, giving you expert feedback and… the opportunity to enter our Science Animation Showdown!
The Science Animation Showdown is a competition allowing attendees to pitch their animation project idea to win funding to get it into production. Up to three videos will be funded with the support of PM’s Science Communicator’s Prize winner Dr Siouxsie Wiles.
VIDEO WORKSHOP
The Mohawk Media crew will hit Christchurch with the SMC to host a workshop on communicating scientific concepts in 90 second science videos aimed at an online audience and leveraging platforms like Youtube and Vimeo.
Great short videos can be produced using the high-definition camera built into your smartphone or tablet. How can you harness this technology to bring your science to life and want are the best ways to shoot, edit and distribute your video content? The Mohawk team will answer all of your questions and introduce you to great tools that will help you in the video production process.
This workshop is free to attend, but is limited to 20 places. This is a competitive application process – the best applicants will be selected based on the video concepts outlined in the application form.
WHERE: University of Canterbury
WHEN: 9am – 5pm, Wednesday 15 April, 2015
PRICE: Free – by invitation only – apply below (applications close April 3)
The workshop will cover:
- Video – the medium of the moment – why it is so powerful?
- The best science videos and why they went viral
- Scripting and storyboarding short videos
- Finding images and footage to make your video
- DIY video – harnessing your smartphone to make great videos.
- Software and tools you can use to get the best out of video
- Go Pro – working with professional videographers to take video to the next level
- Finding Funding – from grants to crowdfunding
- Your video project – we will workshop your concept for an science video into a script, giving you expert feedback.
These events are the latest in a series of Science Media SAVVY workshops that last year covered science blogging and science podcasting.
Bios of workshop presenters:
Dr Siouxsie Wiles
Dr Siouxsie Wiles describes herself as a microbiologist and bioluminescence enthusiast but to others she is “that pink-haired science lady”. Head of the Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab at the University of Auckland, Siouxsie combines her twin passions to understand infectious diseases. In a nutshell, Siouxsie and her team make nasty bacteria glow in the dark. Siouxsie is also interested in demystifying science for the general public; she is a keen tweeter, blogger, podcaster and radio commentator. In 2011Siouxsie began working with Australian graphic artist Luke Harris, and his team, to make a series of short animations describing nature’s amazing glowing creatures and the many uses of bioluminescence in science. Did you know NASA use fireflies to search for extraterrestrial life?! In 2012, Siouxsie won the New Zealand Association of Scientists Science Communication Award, and in 2013 the Prime Minister’s Prize for Science Media Communication and the Royal Society of New Zealand Callaghan Medal.
Helen & Chelfyn Baxter, Mohawk Media
Helen and Chelfyn produce animated infographics and web-friendly videos. They enjoy making data-driven stories and were science and technology commentators on Afternoons, Radio New Zealand for three years.