ATHENS, Ohio — The Athena Cinema will present “Project Hail Mary” Tuesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m., beginning with a special talk by plant molecular biologist Dr. Sarah Wyatt.
The Athena Cinema received a nationwide grant from Coolidge Corner Theatre and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, receiving a total of $7,500 to create and present three or more Science on Screen events, which pair expert-led discussions of scientific topics with screenings of feature and documentary films. The Athena is among 15 film organizations nationwide participating in the National Evening of Science on Screen, featuring science speakers and movie screenings on March 24.
The National Evening of Science on Screen is an annual tradition where grantee theaters choose one night to simultaneously host Science on Screen events, creating a coast-to-coast offering of thought-provoking programs that pair film screenings with explorations of science, technology, and medicine.
Participating organizations use one of the nation’s favorite pastimes – going to the movies – to promote public understanding of science. The Athena’s Science on Screen program, started in 2012, allows acclaimed scientific experts and technological innovators the opportunity to present their expertise in a fun and engaging way on an unexpected platform.
“We’re looking forward to playing a first-run movie for this year’s National Evening of Science on Screen,” Athena Cinema Associate Director Stacie Somerset said. “There’s a lot of buzz around ‘Project Hail Mary,’ so we’re hoping it gets people excited to learn about life in space.”
The Athena Cinema will launch this year’s series with “Project Hail Mary”on Tuesday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. The evening will begin with a special talk by plant molecular biologist Dr. Sarah Wyatt. Dr. Wyatt has collaborated extensively with NASA, including five experiments conducted aboard the International Space Station. The Athena is especially excited to welcome her following her Ohio University Distinguished Professor Portrait Unveiling and Lecture. Dr. Wyatt’s talk, titled “The Realities of Living in Space,” will explore what life beyond Earth could look like for future astronauts.
Admission to the event is free, sponsored by Arts for OHIO. The Athena will also be giving away 10 free copies of the novel “Project Hail Mary”by Andy Weir to a random selection of audience members.
Science on Screen grant recipients run three or more Science on Screen events per year, creatively pairing screenings of classic, cult, science fiction and documentary films with presentations by notable experts from the world of science and technology. Each film serves as a jumping-off point for the speaker to introduce current research or technological advances in a way that engages general audiences.
The Athena Cinema will announce additional Science on Screen events later in the spring.
For more information about the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, visit sloan.org or follow the Foundation on X, Instagram and Facebook at @SloanPublic.
For more about the Science on Screen program, visit scienceonscreen.org.
