The Science Department has introduced a new elective for the 2025-2026 school year, open to all students entering 10th through 12th grade.

The new Science and Film elective will study how science is represented in films, such as documentaries and science fiction movies. Possible films include Armageddon, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Blackfish, and Apollo 13. 

Students will look at various aspects of the films, such as looking at the role science plays in the film, and even identifying facts versus fiction. Students are also given the opportunity to write and shoot their own narrative film, although studying films will be the main focus of the course.

The class was initially proposed by Mr. Collins, an Earth Science teacher, who will be teaching the class this fall if enough students enroll. “When I first started teaching… I would try to show either a documentary or a narrative film with each unit that I taught,” Mr. Collins explained. “The students were really engaged in it, so I’ve always had this idea to try to have a class that was fully focused on science and film.”

As this will be the first year the class is taught, there is yet to be any set-in-stone format. However, this will allow students to have a greater influence on the class’s direction, allowing teachers to work off of their feedback. Students may even be able to suggest films to be shown in class.

Mr. Collins asks any entering students to show up with an open mind, as student participation will be an instrumental part in the success of the class.