Outreach Programme
Part of CTVR's outreach programme is aimed at schoolchildren at the end of the primary school cycle and start of the secondary cycle. The aim is to both encourage younger students to consider the sciences as a possible career and to publicise the work undertaken by CTVR and its constituent members.
The Resistors!
The Resistors! is an animated action series set in the near future in "Cybernia" a post apocalyptic Ireland, a team of four children use science to defeat an evil junta of hackers.
Each episode is approximately 30 minutes broadcast time and storylines for 2 six part series are being written. The four characters each have particular physical and scientific specialisms:
- Sonia (sound)
- Luc (light)
- Amber (electricity and magnetism)
- Dig (ICT)
So that the entertainment factor is not compromised by wieldy scientific concepts, a support website will be employed in addition to a special Schools DVD of educational materials. These will conform to the existing science curricula of both primary and secondary schools in Ireland (and elsewhere where possible.). The website and DVD will introduce children to the science issues involved in each episode and encourage them to see how Irish Scientists made significant discoveries in these respective areas. Simple experiments (as per curriculum) will show the principles involved. Finally short films will show how institutions around Ireland are continuing ground breaking scientific research today (CTVR).
Advanced production methods
The Resistors! is being created using an advanced production model with a dispersed production team with networked communications such as voice over IP, the HEANET videoconferencing platform and production management software.
The project is designed and managed for CTVR by Metadigita with animation performed by Rumblestudios. The series is scripted by Liz Nugent and Tom Cunningham
A team of graphic designers, 3D modellers and programmers have been assembled from Ireland, Europe and North America. Several postgraduate students from TCD's Image Synthesis Research Group with experience of 3D modelling have been employed at CTVR to create virtual sets for use within the series.
The series is being made with high aesthetic production values that can compete with main studio offerings. This should ensure broadcast, garner audience share and engage the children to encourage discovery learning. As the content of The Resistors! website (www.theresistors.com) closely mirrors the stated units of the national primary and secondary school science curricula, broad parental and teacher support for the series is expected.
Another technological advantage has been exacted by using redundant computer time in universities for render farms, greatly improving output times.
There has been consolidation with other research and academic departments including the Digital Imaging group at TCD who are permitting use of numerous 3D Models from the Virtual Dublin project. The design of the cityscape in The Resistors! has incorporated many iconic landmark buildings including the Central Bank, Civic Offices, Four Courts and TCD. In doing so, we hope to engage the children´s imaginations and sense of place.
Professional actors have recorded the voice track for the pilot as have the effects soundtrack and incidental music. CTVR was granted the use of the sound studio within the Music & Multimedia technologies division of TCD´s Electronic Engineering Department.
There has been significant commercial support from e-Frontier who have contributed over 50 licences for the creation of the production.
A trailer for The Resistors! was premiered at the BA Festival of Science 2005 in September to a very enthusiastic response.
The first broadcast of series on is anticipated on RTE in October 2006.
If you have any suggestions for the inclusion of science sub plots or storylines, or want the work of your centre featured on the website, please contact tom.cunningham (at) ctvr.ie