Over the past 11 weeks, our students have embarked on an exciting journey exploring the science behind some of the most iconic sci-fi films – and even tested whether the science holds up in real life. Throughout the course, pupils watched movie clips and analysed the scientific concepts behind them, engaged in lively debates on genetic modification after viewing scenes from Gattaca, and explored the ethics of Artificial Intelligence using clips from Her and Artificial Intelligence. They also discussed real-world examples such as AI use by teens and even put the Turing Test to the challenge by guessing whether answers came from classmates or an AI. Inspired by Contagion, students investigated how diseases spread and used UV hand lotion to demonstrate how quickly germs can transfer through surface contact. To keep the learning fun and competitive, they played trivia quizzes after each lesson to reinforce knowledge, with bespoke scratch-and-sniff Cinema Science Lab stickers as prizes.

As a grand finale, students worked in groups to research and submit their own film clips into categories they created for the Cinema Science Oscars. They voted for the winners, and the big reveal took place during our glamorous Oscars-themed celebration in the final lesson. This course has combined science, ethics, creativity, and fun, showing how cinema can spark meaningful conversations about the world around us.

Ms Clements, Head of Biology & Digital Champion