Artificially intelligent cell phones, world-wrecking environmental catastrophes, matter transporters, genetically engineered dinosaurs and invisibility cloaking are among the subjects that many Americans think are the most interesting in science and often show up in science-related movies.
With this in mind, UNC Charlotte has developed a series of free, public film screenings for the N.C. Science Festival; the series is designed to examine the role movies play in communicating science to the public.
From Saturday, March 29, to Wednesday, April 9, the UNC Charlotte Science Film Series will show four full-length films, which will be followed with a discussion led by a panel of real-life scientists and other authorities aimed at discussing the film’s merits and the truth or fiction of the science it portrays.
The series begins at 7 p.m., March 29, in the UNC Charlotte Center City Auditorium, as UNC Charlotte and co-host Discovery Place present “Contagion,” a 2011 science fiction thriller, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Concerning a deadly, rapidly spreading epidemic disease, “Contagion” was widely lauded for its scientific realism when it was released and a panel of experts including UNC Charlotte science-in-film authority Ian Binns, Charlotte Observer medical reporter Karen Garloch and UNC Charlotte epidemic disease authority Daniel Janies will discuss the truth of that claim and discuss with the audience the realities of epidemics in the modern world.
Other films in the series include:
- “The Invisible Man” at 3 p.m., March 30, Center City Building Auditorium
- “Jurassic Park” 3 p.m., Sunday, April 6, EPIC, Room G256
- “Chasing Ice” 7 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, EPIC, Room G256
All events are free and open to the public.