Knowing the Future goes to the movies with the “What Does the Future Hold?” film series, featuring Contact on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m. at the Athena Cinema with Prof. Daniel Phillips.
Robert Zemeckis / 150 min. / PG
Dr. Ellie Arroway (Jodie Foster), an astrophysicist researching the presence of life in the universe, is contacted by extraterrestrials. Arroway and her team discover the messages are instructions for building a mysterious transportation machine. Only one person can travel into space to make face-to-face contact with the messengers. Arroway seems like the obvious choice, until Palmer Joss (Matthew McConaughey), a nationally respected religious philosopher, challenges her religious beliefs.
The Knowing the Future curricular theme hosts the movie screenings at the Athena Cinema. Screenings are free, and open to the public. The film series is sponsored by the Knowing the Future theme and the College of Arts & Sciences.
The movies share a common theme of understanding the future and scientific process. Fantastic Voyage and Children of Men describe futures as seen in the 1960s and today, respectively. Contact and The Imitation Game show science (and scientists) at work.
The four films explore everything from ethical issues to questions about the limitations of science. Each is followed by a question-and-answer session with experts from the Ohio University faculty.
What Does the Future Hold? Film Series
All screenings begin at 7 p.m. at the Athena Cinema on Court Street in Athens.
- Children of Men, Sept. 22, with Profs. Jeremy Morris and Beth Quitslund
- The Imitation Game, Oct. 6, with Prof. Eric Stinaff
- Fantastic Voyage, Oct. 27, with Profs. Erin Murphy and Patrick O’Connor
- Contact, Nov. 10, with Prof. Daniel Phillips
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