University of Cambridge research led to the 2016 Netflix Original film, Into the Inferno, made with Werner Herzog. The film is available in nearly forty languages and distributed worldwide via Netflix’s streaming video on demand platform.
Issue
Volcanology interfaces with many disciplines beyond geology, including climatology, risk communication, archaeology and history which had previously not been well-communicated to public audiences.
Action
Research at the University of Cambridge underpinned the themes of the film on volcanic hazards and processes; the long-range climatic and societal consequences of volcanism; the wider significance of volcanic resources and landscapes in prehistory; and studies of Mount Paektu volcano, through collaboration with geoscientists in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The collaboration on Into the Inferno came about through a shared vision to take scientific filmmaking in a new direction. Into the Inferno was commissioned as a Netflix Original, and released in 2016 by Netflix
Impact
The film, which was made into nearly 40 languages, helped pioneer a new approach to science communication through documentary filmmaking and has worked to increase public understanding of volcanology. Through screenings in schools, the film has helped to engage students in volcanology and inspire further study in the field.
Screening of the film at international conferences played an instrumental role in initiating Netflix’s policy for open educational access to documentaries. This policy now grants permission for free screenings of films marked as educational documentaries in the classroom and community groups.
More information
Institution: University of Cambridge
Researcher: Professor Clive Oppenheimer