Onze Natuur Doorgrond
A mini-documentary series created in collaboration with KU Leuven.
Onze Natuur Doorgrond is a four-part mini-documentary in which we follow in the footsteps of KU Leuven researchers to show different facets of Belgian nature.
This video series is the outcome of a collaboration between Onze Natuur and KU Leuven. Apart from the essential planning, coordination, and logistical aspects inherent in any partnership, the ultimate responsibility for bringing the series to life and giving it form rested with me. The original concept was to produce four videos, each shedding light on distinct facets of Belgian nature and showcasing the significance of KU Leuven's research. It quickly became evident that the selected topics would revolve around soil, aquatic ecosystems, urban nature, and invasive species.
My role
As is customary for professors, they provided me with a substantial amount of information that they wished to include in the videos. It fell upon me to condense this wealth of knowledge into a script that struck a delicate balance between delving deep into the subjects while remaining accessible and comprehensible to a wider audience.
Once the script and scenes were agreed upon, the next step was to schedule the filming days. Working with a limited budget, I had only six days to capture all the necessary footage. Given my intention to create distinct scenes featuring experts actively engaged in various activities, this posed a considerable challenge. Fortunately, I could rely a little on previously filmed material from the Onze Natuur documentary series.
Furthermore, I took on the roles of directing and editing for the series. The professors and KU Leuven expressed great satisfaction with the end result.
The episodes
Episode 1. The soil as the foundation of nature
The soil is not an ugly brown blob; it determines what lives there. There is an intricate relationship between below and above the surface. Professor Karen and researcher Ellen show how diverse the soil can be, how digging a spade can work like time travel, and why soil management is essential for nature conservation.
Episode 2. The world underneath the water surface
Just like the soil, water bodies also contain a multitude of often overlooked worlds. Several professors delve into the distinct attributes of water, their impact on biodiversity, as well as the various threats these aquatic environments face.
Episode 3. The city as a natural habitat
The city is not a concrete wasteland. You can even discover a surprisingly abundant amount of nature within it. In this episode, you'll embark on an urban safari with researchers from KU Leuven. They'll demonstrate the impact of the urban environment on nature and also highlight the advantages that nature in the city offers to its human residents.
Episode 4. An abundance of invasive exotic species
Invasive exotic species are one of the major problems facing our nature. Ecologists at KU Leuven not only study invasive exotic species, they also look for ways to stop them. For example, they sterilize bull frogs in the lab and try to hunt them with the help of pikes. However, not every exotic species has to be a problem.
