Earth Day premiere for climate science film

The film, 'Thin Ice – the Inside Story of Climate Science', is a co-production between Oxford University's Department of Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, and DOX Productions. Its aim is to enable climate scientists to explain what they do and what they think about climate change in their own words. 

The Oxford event is one of over 100 screenings that will take place around the world, from New Zealand to the US South Pole Station, from Bangalore to Boston, as Earth Day dawns. The Oxford screening will be followed by a panel discussion featuring some of the Oxford scientists who took part in the film. The event is free and open to all ages, you can book a place online here.

'Thin Ice' will also be available for viewing online at no charge for 48 hours from the beginning of Earth Day. 

The film has been six years in the making and was the brainchild of Dr Simon Lamb, then at Oxford University and now at Victoria University, who is the narrator and co-director with documentary filmmaker David Sington of DOX Productions. It takes viewers on Dr Lamb's personal journey of discovery as he meets and interviews 40 scientists working at the front line of climate change research in the Arctic, Antarctic, Southern Ocean, New Zealand, Europe and the United States. 

'I was motivated to make the film by a determination to have scientists' voices heard,' said Dr Lamb. 'Most of those vocal on this topic in the media are politicians, advocates and activists but I set out to use my skills and experience as a cameraman and a scientist to hear from climate researchers themselves.' 

Professor Philip England of Oxford University's Department of Earth Sciences, an executive producer of the film, said: 'It was natural for us to become involved in the making of this film, because Oxford has many strong research interests in the past and future of climate change. The film is distinct from other productions in that it relies entirely on the testimony of scientists while also telling a very compelling visual story.'

Professor Peter Barrett from the Antarctic Research Centre at Victoria University, also an executive producer, said: 'The film highlights the huge body of evidence on the risks posed by climate change and the need to start reducing emissions. It is both realistic and hopeful, giving us insights into how to go forward.'