- Ruhr-Universität Bochum

Investigating traces in metal
What causes a bike frame to break during a race—was it a structural defect or sabotage? This intriguing question is explored in a short film by PhD candidates Jan Schmidt and Ronak Shoghi from the Interdisciplinary Centre for Advanced Materials Simulation (ICAMS) at Ruhr University Bochum.
Jan and Ronak are diving deep into materials science, using machine learning to study the structures and properties of materials, especially metals. Through their short film, they aimed to make their research relatable, showcasing how science connects with everyday life. Driven by the belief that science should be accessible to all, they participated in a workshop on "Videoconcept Development for Scientific Communication" organized by the MRD and the Incubator Materials. There, they learned how to effectively convey their story through film.
Jan and Ronak’s experience teaches us that finding the right story is key to making complex scientific topics not only understandable but memorable. They also emphasize that communicating research in simple terms helps researchers themselves gain a deeper understanding of their work.