News

March 07, 2018

See science and film collide in free program from Modesto's State Theatre

"A little science, a little cinema, a lot of learning—that's the idea behind a returning program at the State Theatre."

The Modesto Bee
March 7, 2018

A little science, a little cinema, a lot of learning — that's the idea behind a returning program at the State Theatre.

The downtown Modesto venue's "Science on Screen" events pair speakers who are experts on a variety of science-based subjects with popular films that enhance their program.

The State partners with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory again this year to offer the four science presentations. 

As in past years, the theater has been awarded an $8,500 grant from the Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to present the lecture/film screening programs.

The free events include scientists from LLNL who will talk about their subjects of expertise. Students who attend the Saturday afternoon programs have an opportunity to earn extra classroom credits, receive LLNL swag and help win $500 to be used for equipment for their school science programs.

The programs are part of the State Theatre's educational mission. The events begin at 2:30 p.m. with "meet the scientist" opportunities at 3:15 p.m. and movies at 3:30 p.m.; all are admission-free. Here's a look at this year's programs:

March 10: Laser-plasma accelerators with Felicie Albert, plasma physicist, paired with the 1985 film "Real Genius."

March 17: Biomedical accelerator mass spectrometry with toxicologist Mike Malfetti, paired with the 1992 film "Medicine Man."

April 14: Biomolecular action movies with physicist Matthias Frank and biophysical chemist Megan Shelby and the 1989 film "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids."

April 21: The evolution of computing technology with computer scientist Katherine Lewis and the 2017 film "Hidden Figures."


Read the article on the Modesto Bee website.