When the 2008 Bond film came out with the title Quantum of Solace, science fans may have been hoping for a plot that hinged on quantum physics. Bond didn’t deliver, but there are some pretty great quantum-inspired movies out there. And soon there’ll be a few more.
The Centre for Quantum Technologies at the National University of Singapore, in partnership with Scientific American and Nature, is launching its Quantum Shorts 2014 short film competition.
This online contest for films that take inspiration from quantum physics boasts prizes that include cash amounts of up to 2,000 Singapore dollars (around $1,500 U.S. dollars), digital subscriptions to Scientific American and engraved trophies. A team of eminent judges will select the winners in open and student categories. The judges include Mariette DiChristina, Editor in Chief of Scientific American, Artur Ekert, co-inventor of quantum cryptography and Charlotte Stoddart, Head of Multimedia at Nature. There will also be a “people’s choice” prize decided by public vote.
You have until 11:59 p.m. EST on February 1, 2015 to enter films. You can find details on how to enter, inspiring quantum facts and the contest rules on the competition website.
Perhaps you aren’t convinced that quantum physics has the raw materials for making a good movie? Let Mariette DiChristina persuade you. At the conclusion of last year’s Quantum Shorts competition for flash fiction, she wrote, “this stranger-than-fiction discipline has inspired some first-class narrative thrills.” Scientific American joined Quantum Shorts in 2013 as a media partner, and DiChristina was a judge then too.
