A film based on the research of final-year PhD student Surabhi Agrawal is being screened during CRASSH’s 20th Anniversary Outdoor Film Festival on 13 October.

The film, made during a collaborative project through Cambridge Creative Encounters with animator Ali Assaf, looks at steel corrosion leading to iron carbonate (FeCO3) scale formation.

On her research, Surabhi comments:
‘A good understanding of this corrosion reaction is of great scientific as well as commercial interest. To look at the very early stages of why, how, and where the scale forms, we examine the system in action using a range of novel techniques. These techniques use electrons, light and X-rays to image and probe and, provide information to build a detailed picture of the reaction. Many Monday afternoons were spent on calls during the first lockdown describing the research concepts to Ali, the creative lead on the project. It was a great learning experience in capturing the essence of scientific concepts and communicating it efficiently to the public. Ali and I hope that as a video on corrosion, a theme widely studied at GCSE level, it can be used to introduce scientific research to school students.’

Regarding Clare Hall, she adds:
‘Over the past five years at Clare Hall, I have appreciated the gentle support always available here. Having said that, my favourite thing is Salje, where I lived during my early years in Cambridge. I have thoroughly enjoyed my academic journey and now look forward to completing my dissertation work.’

Enjoy the film via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIGJQGWAUlw&t=25s

Find details of CRASSH’s 20th Anniversary Outdoor Film Festival, which centres on the theme of ‘Global Conversations’ and features six Creative Encounters ‘shorts’, at http://www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/29934.