Be Tradition is a short environmental film that was produced as a part of Dr Enrico Andreoli’s current research at the Energy Safety Research Institute (ESRI) at the University’s College of Engineering. His interest in developing and applying new materials and processes for sustainable energy production, was creatively featured in this film through a two-year project in collaboration with Michela Cortese, associate lecturer and PhD candidate in Media Studies at Bangor University.

Be Tradition is not only a narrative on sustainable energy, but it also represents the efforts of the engineering field to join the humanities for the creation of educational and inspirational piece of work that can explain technical concepts to a wider audience.

Filmed in the South of Italy, and employing award-winning practitioners such as Paolo Simi, director of photography, and John Finnegan, lecturer in screenwriting at Falmouth University, this video uses ‘tradition’ as a metaphor for ‘sustainability’. The thorough work on the development of a visual narrative and additional text, which translate cultural values into scientific elements, make Be Tradition a unique piece of art that has so far attracted interest from both academic areas.

Michela said: “Co-leading this project with Enrico has been an invaluable experience. As a researcher into visual environmental communication, working on developing this film helped me understand the dynamics behind art and science partnerships and how, if you put your heart in it, you can create a story even with the most complex engineering topic. Every expert like Enrico should consider investing into artistic projects.”

However, Enrico was not the only one who believed in the power of films to communicate science and funding to produce the project was provided by the Welsh National Research Network in Advanced Engineering and Materials (NRN-AEM) and UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Enrico said: “I am proud of Be Tradition. Thanks to Michela and the trust I have been given from the funding bodies, we have now this wonderful film that I hope will reach the widest audience possible. This has been an invaluable opportunity to translate the key concepts of my work, using carbon dioxide for the future of renewable energy, into a unique and engaging fictional film. Creative experts like Michela can help us scientists and engineers look at what we do from a totally different perspective, I think this is essential for the long-term impact of our work.”

Watch the film here