Graeme Plank
Personal and outreach page
Fire walking.
Since 1989 I have been involved in dozens of fire walks throughout New Zealand with Dr John Campbell from the Physics and Astronomy Department. These public events educate the public in the real science behind fire walking rather than the often portrayed "mind over matter" techniques.
Our fire walks have featured in several documentary series as well as in their own right in television broadcasts and news articles. I was a key member in John's "Death defying physics demos" DVD resource for school teachers and over the years appeared with him in many public lectures.
MoreFM in Christchurch
In 2004 I became involved with Simon Barnett and Gary McCormick from the MoreFM radio station in Christchurch. Physics related, publically performed dares, were carried out including fire walking, bed of nails, chest concrete block smashing. The MoreFM team are a great bunch to work with, always up for a laugh and I continue to be a regular contributor to the show.
Simon's forfeit challenge, to walk on hot coals. He was fine with the idea right up until he saw breakfast being cooked on the fire. Hundreds of degrees and not a blister!
A crushing blow for Si. Gary smashes a concrete block on Si's chest
Simon has a rest on the department's bed of nails.
He finally gets the point of physics!