Introduces the basics of how a nuclear power station works. What is fission and the role of cooling water in nuclear reactors? Understand the nuclear fuel cycle: mining, milling, enrichment, fabrication and spent fuel (storage and reprocessing). Also discover other uses of nuclear energy, including ‘non-power’ uses. Includes sequences designed for student enrichment/ teacher background (breeder reactors, fusion and fusion reactors, and fission).
Producers: Rees Films
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The Greenhouse Effect: Climate Change and Global Warming
What exactly are greenhouse gases? Are they really causing climate change? Global warming has suddenly become the hottest environmental issue, and this program clearly explains the science of greenhouse effect and the evidence that we are causing climate change. The DVD contains an advanced version for senior students, with in-depth analysis of greenhouse gases and their effects. In addition there are fascinating extras including ice core research in Antarctica, how warming threatens coral reefs, and how carbon capture and storage work.
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The Greenhouse Effect: Climate Change and Global Warming (US)
What exactly are greenhouse gases? Are they really causing climate change? Global warming has suddenly become the hottest enviornmental issue, and this program clearly explains the science of greenhouse effect and the evidence that we are causing climate change. The DVD contains an advanced version for senior students, with in-depth analysis of greenhouse gases and their effects. In addition there are fascinating extras including ice core research in Antarctica, how warming threatens coral reefs, and how carbon capture and storage work.
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Stem Cells: The Ethical Issues
This program comes to grips with the ethical issues raised by one of the most contentious areas of contemporary science: embryonic stem cell research. A range of viewpoints are presented, and speakers include: Professor Alan Trounson, prominent stem cell scientist;
Father Norman Ford, an ethics commentator; Patients with life-threatening medical conditions. They clearly explain what they believe the important issues to be, and the reasons for their viewpoints. Each section is introduced with relevant facts explained in simple terms. Also includes two segments exploring moral/ethical questions raised by related areas of medical science: IVF; genetic testing of IVF embryos (known as PGD, or ‘pre-implementation genetic diagnosis’). -
Understanding Stem Cells
This 30-minute program is an introduction to stem cells. It assumes no prior knowledge, and covers the following topics: What stem cells are; The difference between embryonic and adult stem cells; IVF as a key source of embryonic stem cells; Therapeutic cloning (somatic cell nuclear transfer); The difference between therapeutic and reproductive cloning; Potential medical applications of stem cell research; A brief overview of ethical issues raised by stem cell research.
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The Synchrotron
Presenter Mark Boland, an Accelerator Physicist at the Australian Synchrotron, explains the physics and operation of a synchrotron, then covers their uses in medicine, mining, forensics, manufacturing and other fields.
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Photonics
Presenter: Dr Alex Mazzolini, Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Sciences at Swinburne University covers the following topics: Photonics in everyday life; Light sources; Fibre optics; Ideas for practical demonstrations.
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Special Relativity
Presenter: Joe Wolfe, Professor of Physics, University of New South Wales covers the topic Approaches to teaching Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity.
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Light Phase and Matter
Dr Catherine Low discusses difficulties students have with models and concepts of light and matter. Catherine recently completed her PhD in Theoretical Particle Physics and is currently teaching senior physics in New Zealand. Catherine Bell discusses the importance of phase in understanding the behaviour of waves. She is completing a PhD on Phase Microscopy and is currently teaching senior Physics.
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Sound and Other Demonstrations
Sandor Kazi presents a range of demonstrations related to waves, including: wave machines, standing waves, Chladni figures, ripple tanks and resonance. Sandor teaches senior Physics. Nick Nicola is the Undergraduate Laboratory Manager, School of Physics, University of Melbourne. His demonstrations focus on upper secondary physics.