MBO Rijnland students animate Leiden physics

02 July 2019

There are miniaturisation beams, microrobots, and ice skaters who suddenly drop into a hole in the ice. Students of the local MBO Rijnland let their imagination run free while animating Leiden physics research. The result is eleven surprising and very diverse science animations.

Motion Graphics

‘The idea is that our students work for a real client,’ says Marieke Huisman, a teacher at MBO Rijnland, about the partnership with Leiden University. ‘So we would like the video’s to be suitable for your use.’ Students taking the course Motion Graphics and Graphical Design make animations for one of three subjects connected to the Leiden physics research institute LION.

They could take their pick. The first option is research into the physics of ice skating, by the research group of Tjerk Oosterkamp. Then there is research into building with colloids, small particle measuring about one thousandth of a millimeter, performed in the research group of Daniela Krart.

And finally, there are the ‘wall formula's’, the physics equations painted on Leiden old town walls, in stylish fonts, accompagnied with beautiful illustrations, by Jan Willem Bruins and Ben Walenkamp of the TEGEN-BEELD foundation. They work together with physicists Sense Jan van der Molen and Ivo van Vulpen.

Funny

Each subject comes with a short voice over text (in Dutch), and the students saw a presentation about the research, followed by a lab tour in the Oosterkamp and Kraft labs. The result, presented on 28 June, was colourful, quirky, and often very clear and funny.

Take for instance the wall formula video by Youri van de Weteringh, using nostalgic black-and-white photographs from old Leiden town in duotone colors, interrupted somewhat bluntly by an aeroplane that is also Leiden reality. The video features a smoothe voice and dito backing music.

Youri van de Weteringh

Due to the selected cookie settings, we cannot show this video here.

Watch the video on the original website or

Or take the crystal-clear explanation of ice skating, friction, and melting water on the ice, by Fleur de Haas, in which friction is depicted with squares that slide over each other, and that later turn out to be able to melt as well. Not only clear, but also beautiful.