Jun 20
Athens Ciné Athens, GA
TicketsCassandra Hall, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Computational Astrophysics and Observatory Director at the University of Georgia
andMeg Fletcher, M.S.
Ph.D. Candidate, Researcher, and Award-winning Educator, Department of Linguistics at the University of Georgia
moderated byMorgane Golan, Ph.D.
Educator, Postdoctoral Associate, University of Georgia
Arrival— Do Aliens Tell Knock-Knock Jokes
Program Description
The discussion and Q&A will explore the idea of other life forms, potential communication through the use and universality of physics, computational astrophysics. forensic linguistics, and anthropology. Our 3D Collaborator will be creating demos of 3D circular 'inkbot' shaped fidget toys. Rec Room Books will have with this film's literature tie in of Ted Chiang's 1998 novella Story of Your Life and other sci-fi short stories and novellas.
Film Synopsis
After twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world, a linguist recruited by the military races to decipher the aliens' language and intentions before fear leads to war.
When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team—lead by expert linguist Louise Banks (Amy Adams)—are brought together to investigate. As mankind teeters on the verge of global war, Banks and the team race against time for answers—and to find them, she will take a chance that could threaten her life, and quite possibly humanity.
Director Denis Villeneuve (Blade Runner 2049) cemented his auteur status with this superb and cerebral sci-fi masterpiece, featuring a stellar lead performance by Adams.
Banner image courtesy of PHOTOFEST
About the Speaker
Cassandra Hall, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Computational Astrophysics and Observatory Director at the University of Georgia. She is a prominent researcher specializing in exoplanet formation, astrobiology, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to astrophysics. Dr. Hall’s work seeks to address the fundamental question: “Are we alone in the universe?”
Meg Fletcher, M.S., is a Ph.D. candidate, researcher, and award-winning educator in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Georgia. Her primary academic and research focus encompasses sociolinguistics, forensic linguistics, and indigenous/minority languages.
Morgane Golan, Ph.D., is an award-winning educator and postdoctoral associate specializing in regenerative biology and medicine at the University of Georgia. Dr. Golan recently earned her Ph.D. in Regenerative Bioscience, and her doctoral research focused on optimizing a stem cell-derived therapeutic to create more accessible treatments for brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases.