Mar 25
SNF Parkway Theatre Baltimore, MD
TicketsDr. Kevin Lewis
Curiosity Mars Rover Team Member; Planetary Geophysicist; Morton K. Blaustein Vice Chair and Professor in Johns Hopkins University's Earth and Planetary Science Department
The Martian— Fact, fiction, and the science of survival
Program Description
Join Dr. Kevin Lewis as he provides a “ground truth” perspective on the visuals and science depicted in The Martian, drawing on his real-world experience as a team member on the Curiosity Mars Rover. He’ll explore the Red Planet’s landscape, climate, and the challenges of survival, comparing the film’s depiction of Mars to what we actually know from robotic explorers.
This is your chance to engage directly with a scientist who has been at the forefront of Mars exploration, learn about the realities of driving a rover on another planet, and ask your burning questions about the Red Planet.
This event is part of our 2025 National Evening of Science on Screen.
Film Synopsis
When astronauts mistakenly leave Mark Watney behind on Mars, the stranded visitor must use his wits, spirit, and scientific know-how to find a way to survive on the hostile planet.
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return. Based on the best-selling novel by Andy Weir, and helmed by master director Ridley Scott, The Martian was nominated for three Golden Globes.
About the Speaker
Dr. Lewis’s research focuses on problems in planetary geophysics, from the scale of a grain of sand all the way up to the crust of a planet. He has worked in depth on the nature of sedimentary rocks of Mars, and what they might record about that planet's past climate and habitability. He is also interested in understanding the large-scale properties of planetary lithospheres using magnetic, gravity, and topography data sets.