Tertiary Catalogue

This programme is about seawater. It is the most important liquid on Earth, not only from its sheer volume, but also because it has remarkable qualities. A few of them, like buoyancy, are common to all liquids - but seawater is also the cradle of life. Three key factors of water underpin life in the sea: water’s dissolving power, its tendency to keep a stable temperature, and its transparency to light. This programme explains the mechanisms and the outcomes of these key facts—and other things—that make seawater both weird and wonderful. Show Less

Rivers wield transformative power on the landscapes through which they flow. This video takes viewers through the upper, middle and lower courses of the longest river in the UK, introducing key terms such as drainage basin, tributary, erosion, discharge and estuary. Real footage paired with informative diagrams makes this essential viewing for secondary geography students. Show Less

The calm appearance of a river in the middle course hides the fluvial processes at work under the surface. This video explains how landforms such as meanders and billabongs, or oxbow lakes, are created through erosion and deposition and shows viewers the rapid transformative power of floods. Real footage and informative diagrams makes this essential viewing for secondary geography students. Show Less

As a river comes to end of its journey in the lower course, distinctive fluvial landforms emerge. This video explains how floodplains, levees and estuaries are created through deposition and shows viewers the transformative impact of changing water levels, through flooding and tides. A combination of real footage and informative diagrams makes this essential viewing for secondary geography students. Show Less

The upper course of a river contains impressive landforms created from thousands of years of vertical erosion. This video explains how landforms such as waterfalls, gorges and interlocking spurs are created through the fluvial process of erosion, showing the effects of hydraulic action and abrasion. Real footage together with clear diagrams makes this essential viewing for secondary geography students. Show Less

As rivers journey from source to sea, they shape the landscape through a variety of fluvial processes. This video offers viewers in-depth explanations of erosion, transportation and deposition, covering the four types of erosion, the four types of transportation and the variety of landforms created through deposition. Real footage complemented by explanatory diagrams makes this key viewing for secondary geography students. Show Less

Nuclear energy generates massive amounts of electricity but also produces highly dangerous radioactive waste. This clip explains waste production in reactors, its treatment and containment and how technology continues to improve safety around nuclear fission. It also explores reprocessing of waste and summarises the costs and benefits of nuclear power generation. Show Less

Nuclear reactors contain radioactive fuel that undergoes fission, producing immense heat that drives turbines. Globally, about 10 per cent of electricity is generated this way. This clip details what happens inside a reactor, nuclear fuel and its processing, how reactions are contained and how the heat generates power. It provides a clear explanation of nuclear power generation for middle to senior secondary students of science/physics. Show Less

Understanding how nuclear fission produces such vast quantities of energy starts with unimaginably tiny sub-atomic particles. This clip details how fission occurs in radioactive nuclei to release energy. It also explores why the amount of energy generated when nuclei split is so great, using Einstein’s equation: E = mc2. Aimed at middle to senior secondary students of science/physics, this resource will assist in gaining a clear understanding of nuclear fission. Show Less

The energy produced by nuclear fusion powers stars like our own Sun. This clip examines nuclear fusion, including what occurs at the sub-atomic level and why the energy released by fusion is vastly greater than in nuclear fission. Einstein’s equation, E = mc2 is used to calculate specific energy quantities. Senior secondary students of chemistry and physics will find this a valuable resource. Show Less

Everyone likes to visit the beach. But for living things a beach represents one of the toughest environments on earth. Beaches are in constant flux, hammered by waves and wind and extremes of temperature, sometimes submerged and sometimes dry. Beach erosion threatens human activities too. This program looks at many aspects of beaches, from the life in the littoral zone to the basic geology of beaches. Show Less

We all know that throwing rubbish on the ground is littering, so why is letting a balloon float away seen as something different? "Rubber Jellyfish" explores the effects of helium balloons on the environment, wildlife, and human beings. Carly Wilson sets out on a personal journey to meet key players on all sides in the fight to ban balloons, and exposes the confronting truth behind our favourite party product. As she travels around Australia seeking to understand the science and various points of view, Carly discovers a range of issues, from the heartbreaking impact on sea turtles to the potentially deadly effect of helium on children. Her journey takes her from littered beaches to the capital, as she speaks to activists, businesses, and politicians to find out why the balloon problem is being ignored and if something can be done. Show Less

Estuaries… many of us live on or near an estuary and maybe use it for boating or fishing or swimming, or even just for the view. Estuaries are often at the heart of coastal cities. But what’s their story? What’s happening under the water and why are our estuaries increasingly threatened? This programme defines what an estuary is, explains where they are found, and describes the ways that they are formed. It also includes a case study of a typical estuary and how tidal flow, salt water wedging, seasonal change, human use and pollution are effecting it. Show Less

Australia is home to one of the world’s largest, most complex and amazing ecosystems – the Great Barrier Reef. This video explores the reef’s biotic and abiotic features, including coral formation and how changes in abiotic factors affect it; the food chain, nutrient cycle and carbon cycle; and the impact of human activity. It is an excellent resource for middle/senior students of Geography, Biology and Environmental Science. Show Less

The future of the Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most significant marine environments, is under threat due to modern industry and agriculture. Featuring interviews with reef experts, including the director of the GBR Marine Park Authority, accredited reef divers and a Reef Guardians cane farmer, this programme presents an outstanding case study of environmental management for middle/senior secondary students. Show Less

Following international river conservationist, Mark Angelo, RiverBlue spans the globe to infiltrate one of the world’s most pollutive industries, fashion. Narrated by clean water supporter Jason Priestley, this groundbreaking documentary examines the destruction of our rivers, its effect on humanity, and the solutions that inspire hope for a sustainable future. Through harsh chemical manufacturing processes and the irresponsible disposal of toxic chemical waste, one of our favourite iconic products has destroyed rivers and impacted the lives of people who count on these waterways for their survival. RiverBlue brings awareness to the destruction of some of the world’s most vital rivers through the manufacturing of our clothing, but will also act as a demand for significant change in the textile industry from the top fashion brands that can make a difference. Show Less

A group of passionate and adventurous young people leave their known worlds behind to spend 100 days in the jungles of Borneo. Their mission: saving rainforests and endangered orangutans. But time is running out and the odds are against them. Jojo, an orphaned baby orangutan, is entrusted in their care and they must find a way to return her to her forest home. Their challenges include building an orangutan rehabilitation centre, introducing a satellite monitoring system called Earthwatchers, replanting a forest and building a global support network. This is a story about what it takes to be an eco-warrior, an individual willing to step up and take action to avert a global catastrophe. For them, every individual matters, every action counts. Show Less

How does food get from the farm to our table? In this program we trace the route cereals, fruits, vegetables and dairy products take to get from the point of origin to the consumer. We also explore why there are often several processing steps in between before it can reach your plate. Show Less

In the solar system only earth has life, and clearly that has been made possible because we have oceans of liquid water. But why only on earth? And what are the factors that have made earth’s oceans hospitable to life? If you set up an aquarium you will have to confront some of these issues, because an aquarium has to replicate these factors or everything in it will die. Water temperature, water retention, circulation, oxygenation, temperature stability and maintaining a food chain are the main ones. We set them up artificially in an aquarium, but an aquarium is in fact a microcosm of nature. So how does nature achieve these things? This film looks at a very big picture - the big parameters of life in the sea. We explain why earth is so incredibly lucky that all the factors have come together to support life here. We also mention how they have faltered in the past and so caused extinction events and how, indeed, we should take nothing for granted for the future. Show Less

Use this fantastic video resource to encourage students to judge whether or not climate change will impact upon people differently around the world. The impacts of climate change can be quite hard to see in the UK, but as engaging footage from the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Africa, the Alps, Bangladesh, India and China shows, it’s all too much of a reality for the poorest and most vulnerable. This resource also provides clear explanations of the processes that can cause climate change and gets students engaged in the debate about the extent to which these are caused naturally or are the result of human activity. Show Less

Filmed in the honeypot site of Chamonix in the Alps, this programme looks at the social, economic and environmental opportunities and challenges facing the region. The resource explores the variety of activities in the area, including tourism, HEP and farming. It examines their impact, the conflicts that arise between them and how they can be sustainably managed within the context of a fragile environment. Examples of eco-tourism are provided and the risk from avalanches is assessed. Show Less

National Parks conserve the natural beauty of a region: unique landscapes, flora and fauna for present and future generations. But what qualifies as a National Park? In this documentary style programme we look at Yellowstone, The Lake District and Kakadu National Parks and the challenges they face. It provides a brief history of the National Park movement, the growth of tourism and its impact, the conflicts between recreation and conservation, mining and conservation, environmental and economic needs as well as various interest groups including local and indigenous communities living in National Parks. Ideal for middle and senior secondary to TAFE in geography, environmental and cultural studies, this visually stunning programme highlights the many and varied challenges facing National Parks. Show Less

National Parks conserve the natural beauty of a region: unique landscapes, flora and fauna for present and future generations. But what qualifies as a National Park? In this documentary style programme we look at Yellowstone, The Lake District and Kakadu National Parks and the challenges they face. It provides a brief history of the National Park movement, the growth of tourism and its impact, the conflicts between recreation and conservation, mining and conservation, environmental and economic needs as well as various interest groups including local and indigenous communities living in National Parks. Ideal for middle and senior secondary to TAFE in geography, environmental and cultural studies, this visually stunning programme highlights the many and varied challenges facing National Parks. Show Less

National Parks conserve the natural beauty of a region: unique landscapes, flora and fauna for present and future generations. But what qualifies as a National Park? In this documentary style programme we look at Yellowstone, The Lake District and Kakadu National Parks and the challenges they face. It provides a brief history of the National Park movement, the growth of tourism and its impact, the conflicts between recreation and conservation, mining and conservation, environmental and economic needs as well as various interest groups including local and indigenous communities living in National Parks. Ideal for middle and senior secondary to TAFE in geography, environmental and cultural studies, this visually stunning programme highlights the many and varied challenges facing National Parks. Show Less