Mar 25
Jacob Burns Film Center Pleasantville, NY
TicketsAndrew Wier, PhD
Associate Professor, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Pace University
On the Invention of Species— Girlhood and the Galápagos
Program Description
The Galápagos Islands are a magical place, containing multitudes of human and scientific stories. On the Invention of Species masterfully brings together these themes, exploring how evolution occurs in both nature and within us. Professor Andrew Wier of Pace University’s Biology Department shares his first-hand knowledge and experiences in the Galápagos and his research from his time there.
Film Synopsis
On the cusp of womanhood and grappling with the loss of her brother, Carla finds herself adrift on the historic archipelago that led to Charles Darwin’s breakthrough studies on adaptation.
When Carla’s dad drags her to the Galápagos Islands for a convention on conservation and species evolution, she is less than thrilled. On the cusp of womanhood and grappling with the loss of her brother, Carla finds herself adrift on the historic archipelago that led to Charles Darwin’s breakthrough studies on adaptation. Befriending two young boys who become her emotional foils, Carla pretends to be a different version of herself in order to surmount this emotional and physical journey. In this stunningly lensed lyrical debut, Tania Hermida deftly toys with parables while exploring the evolving relationship between man and nature. With Terrence Malick stylings, hints of Agnès Varda observational irony, and a dash of Alice Rohrwacher magical-realism, this tender film is a celebration of the shared sentient experience—biological and emotional.
About the Speaker
Andrew Wier is a professor in the Biology Department at Pace University, where he has been teaching for 15 years. He specializes in Evolution, Microbiology, and Introductory Biology, bringing a deep passion for the mechanisms that drive life’s diversity. His research includes the rehabilitation of cold-stunned sea turtles at the New York Marine Rescue Center in Long Island and the study of the symbiotic relationship between the Hawaiian bobtail squid and its bioluminescent bacteria. Through his work, Andrew bridges conservation and microbiology, exploring how species adapt and survive in changing environments.
This event is part of our 2025 National Evening of Science on Screen.