NTU documentary on earthquake research wins awards

By Sophia Tan

PHOTO: GARY KHOO

A documentary on earthquakes in Nepal by a team from the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) has clinched three international film awards this year. The film has also been screened at 13 film festivals worldwide since last December.

Titled the Ratu River Expedition, the 25-minute documentary was shot over five days in 2014, and documents a team of seven scientists conducting fieldwork in Nepal to determine if the region is at risk of earthquakes.

Apart from conveying scientific findings, the film also shows the social side of the scientists when they interacted with the local community over meals and dancing.

The film’s accolades include the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival Platinum Remi prize, the Mountain Film Festival Sierra Nevada Award and the Rochester International Film Festival’s Certificate of Merit.

Producer Professor Isaac Kerlow said: “Through the Internet, films shorten the time for cutting-edge scientific research to reach communities at risk, [which] often lack access to cultural centers, science museums and cinemas, [bringing] the fruits of scientific research closer to the general public.”

Located in NTU’s North Spine, the EOS is a science research centre that conducts research on earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunami and climate change around Southeast Asia.

The film is available on Vimeo.