Bombshell
2023

OxFilm Oxford, MS

with

Dr. Ísis da Costa Arantes, PhD

Department of Biology, University of Mississippi

and

Dr. Cecille Labuda, PhD

Physics and Astronomy, University of Mississippi

and

Prema Balachandran, PhD

University of Mississippi

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story— Women in STEM

Our panel will discuss the past, present and future of women in STEM. Each of our guests discusses what inspired them to enter STEM and the path they took into their field. They will also explore the workplace dynamic of a predominantly male field.

OxFilm Oxford, MS

Film Synopsis

This documentary reveals the Hedy Lamarr hidden behind the famously beautiful Hollywood star's glamorous image: a technological trailblazer whose inventions form the basis of modern WiFi, GPS, and Bluetooth systems.

Startlet. Screen Siren. The Most Beautiful Woman in the World. All phrases used to describe 1940’s Hollywood actress Hedy Lamarr. Alexandra Dean’s illuminating documentary adds Inventor to the list. Known for her matchless beauty and electric screen persona, Lamarr’s legion of fans never knew she possessed such a beautiful mind. An Austrian Jewish émigré who acted by day and drew mechanical and electronic inventions by night, Lamarr came up with a “secret communication system” to help the Allies to beat the Nazis. Weaving in Lamarr’s own voice from archival recordings, Dean reveals how Lamarr gave her patent to the Navy, received no credit for her contributions, and wound up impoverished in her latter years. Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story is a film for lovers of history, Hollywood, and science. 
-Tribeca Film Festival



About the Speaker

Ísis Arantes currently works at the Department of Biology, University of Mississippi. Ísis does research in Ecology and Evolution.

Dr. Cecille Labuda's research is in physical ultrasonics and biomedical applications of ultrasound. This includes the ultrasonics properties of tissue, development of tissue-mimicking phantoms and wave propagation in complex media. Her current focus is studying the ultrasonic properties of brain tissue, directly and through a bone mimic.

Dr. Balachandran’s research focuses on the discovery of new active drugs from the plants that contribute to human health benefits, especially those that exhibit anti-cancer and immune enhancing properties.