Rough Science - Series 2: Survival on Carriacou (6 Parts)

Synopsis

Compilation of the series of 6 programmes in which five scientists are taken to a remote island, left with only the most basic of equipment and asked to use their scientific knowledge as survival skills to demonstrate how useful science is outside the laboratory.

1) MAPPING IT OUT -The scientists have to develop the means to make a permanent record of the island - from the highest peak to the loudest sound. Sound recording involves producing a mechanical design similar to Edison’s original recording device and making a loud noise to record. To make the map, the scientists have first to make instruments including a metre stick, protractor and even a telescope before ‘measuring’ the island and checking on local rock formations and the environment. They must make paper and ink from local, natural ingredients - which includes fashioning a quill pen from a bird’s feather. Their efforts are compared with the ‘real’ map.

2) BUGS AND BAROMETERS - To cope with life on the island - from mosquitoes to storms - is the challenge. A bacteria-busting cream from the island’s plants is needed - and the scientists must prove it works with no animal testing. Growing bacteria from one of the scientist’s spit, extracting oils from plants and building a microscope to check on progress, are all part of the test. They also build a weather station to detect storms.

3) TIME AND TRANSMITTERS - how to keep in touch and when to do it is the challenge. First the team must make a transmitter and receiver able to communicate over half a mile. Their ingenuity with a car battery, spark transmitter, wire and a razor blade is to their credit. They build a clock which chimes on the hour as well as two portable timepieces synchronised to the main clock. The third challenge is to make a kite from plant leaves to carry an aerial.

4) FEEL THE HEAT - The theme is heat and how to use a variety of scientific methods to measure it, adapt to it, and even to change it. The scientists struggle with their new environment as they strive to stay cool. They try to produce an ice cube for a cool drink in the mid-day sun. The main challenge is to transform a tiny region of a desert island into a winter wonderland. To check on the quest for ice, the team also have to make a thermometer. They also have to produce some sunscreen.

5) SUN AND SEA - Harnessing the energy of the environment and using it to explore the ocean by night is the challenge. To help them the scientists are given an old car battery but it’s not as straightforward as it may seem - the battery needs distilled water and recharging before it can be used to power the torch, which they also have to construct. The torch, too, presents a challenge - not least for the need to make waterproof glue to hold it all together.

6) THE SCIENCE OF CELEBRATION - Finally the scientists need to celebrate their success with a firework concert. All they need to do is make the fireworks and the musical instruments with which to accompany the firework display.

Series

Rough Science Series 2, Xs003

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Year of release

2002

Year of production

2001

Notes

Open University seres XS003. Broadcast on BBC2 from .

Documentation

Related website: www.open2net/science/roughscience

Subjects

Science

Keywords

applied science

Online availability

URI

http://www.ouwcb.co.uk/viewerdefault.asp?CompID=12327&Baudrate=0

Price

£34.99

Delivery

Download

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£15.00

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

180 minutes

Year

2011

Production Company

Name

BBC Open University Productions

Distributor

Name

Open University Worldwide

Web

http://www.ouw.co.uk External site opens in new window

Phone

+44 (0) 1908 274066

Address

Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA

Notes

NB. As of May 2016 Open University Worldwide are no longer distributing DVDs. They have posted this message on their website: ‘Unfortunately Open University Worldwide Limited has decided that product sales are no longer viable given the reduced funding to Higher Education institutions and diminishing demand for the products we have traditionally stocked. At present the Open University Students Association (OUSA) will continue to sell the "Good Study Guide", and we are in discussion with other possible distributors to continue to make The Open University’s products available for purchase. As soon as we have any information on other channels of distribution we will update this notice’. Some products are still available via second hand dealers on Amazon.co.uk

Online Retailer

Name

Open University Bespoke DVD - Clips & Bits

Web

http://www.ouwcb.co.uk/index.html External site opens in new window