This past fall, the Science in Video (SciVid) competition accepted submissions of short, two-minute videos about a wide range of materials science topics that were intended to teach, amaze, and amuse a broad audience. During the 2017 MRS Fall Meeting, SciVid spotlighted the finalists from the competition, where 23 video entries were received. Sponsors included the MRS Foundation, Goodfellow Corporation, and A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute. First place was awarded $1000, second place $500, third place $300, and People’s Choice received $700.
The video finalists were posted to YouTube, where viewers were able to vote for their favorite submission for the People’s Choice Award. There were 6500 video views in less than 10 days, with more than 1400 people voting.
Back row, left to right: Armin Vahid Mohammadi, Honorable Mention; Babak Anasori, Drexel University; Stephen Aldersley, President, Goodfellow Corporation; Yury Gogotsi, Drexel University. Front row, left to right: Antoni Forner-Cuenca, 3rd place; Monica Morales, accepted award on behalf of 1st place team; Chandana Kolluru, 2nd place.
Babak Anasori, Drexel University, created and chaired the competition. “It takes weeks to make a good video. It is much more difficult than a photo. I saw this competition as a way to encourage students to work with other departments and to help them learn communication skills without ‘teaching’ them,” said Anasori.
Because of the success of the competition, it has received funding to continue through 2018.
1st Place
Let There Be Light
Produced by Fabien Debrot, Jean Cattin, Esteban Rucavado, and Elliot Morgan, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
2nd Place
Dissolving Microneedle Patch for Polio Vaccination
Produced by Chandana Kolluru, Georgia Institute of Technology.
3rd Place
Advanced Porous Materials for Fuel Cells
Produced by Rodrigo Ortiz de la Morena and Antoni Forner-Cuenca, University of St Andrews and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
People’s Choice Award
From Denticles on Shark Skin to Ship Coating
Produced by Charlton Chai Gao Jun, Poh Yu Hui, Reneita Manogaran, Shi Yan Wen, and Sandy Sim Xue Qi, Republic Polytechnic.
Honorable Mention
The Journey to Make Better Batteries
Produced by Armin Vahid Mohammadi, Jafar Orangi, Andrew Tormanen, Emre Kayali, Hengze Chen, and Majid Beidaghi, Auburn University.
