Special CU Event: Screening of The Martian with CU Boulder faculty and students

We plan to host two screenings of The Martian to talk about the fiction vs. non-fiction aspects of the movie. CU Boulder aerospace students and faculty will provide insight into the films story based on their research and discovery pertaining to Mars. The Martian, directed by Ridley Scott was based on a screenplay by Drew Goddard, a CU Boulder alumnus. We will have a special guest as part of the panel, Howie Movshovitz, a CU Boulder alumnus, CU Denver faculty member and known film critic for outlets such as National Public Radio and Colorado Public Radio, Howie will bridge the science, science fiction with the artistic aspects of the film.

David Brain, Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder in the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics and the Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences

Areas of discussion: CU Boulder’s research of Mars. MAVEN. Science in science fiction. Emirates Mars Mission partnership with CU Boulder and United Arab Emirates. Women in aerospace.

Howie Movshovitz, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Film, Theater and Video production in the College of Arts & Media at the University of Colorado Denver. He is the film critic at KUNC and contributes features on film subjects to National Public Radio; He directs the Denver Silent Film Festival.

Areas of discussion: Meaning of the film. Symbolisms. Loneliness. Science and its shortcomings brought forth in the film.

Matteo Crismani, graduate student at the University of Colorado Boulder in the astrophysical and planetary sciences department studying the atmosphere of Mars.

Areas of discussion: Atmosphere of Mars. Dust storms.

Heather Hava, a doctoral student at the University of Colorado Boulder in bioastronautics, is researching bioregenerative food systems and human-plant and human-computer interaction.  She is one of the winners of the Lemelson-MIT Prize for her invention of three pieces of technology that would help provide fresh produce for astronauts.

Areas of discussion: Impact of horticulture in space. Psychological and nutritional impacts to astronauts of growing food in space. Influence of robots in space.

Thursday, Oct. 27 CU South Denver, Parker 5:30 p.m.

Friday, Nov. 4 CU Boulder 5:30 p.m.

More info and registration coming soon!