Richmond's favorite historic cinema palace, the Byrd Theatre, announced today that it is a recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the Coolidge Corner Theatre Science on Screen Grant.
That means that the Byrd will be participating in the 9th National evening of Science on Screen, starting on March 22, when the theater will start using popular movies to help promote a better public understanding of science (which, if you've been paying attention since the pandemic started, you may have noticed - ain't that great.)
The Byrd will host three events this spring that will involve pairing a short lecture with a screening, according to the release. The events are the following (per the release):
March 22 at 7 p.m.: "Star Trek" [the remake from 2009]: Today’s Technology From Yesterday’s Science Fiction.A discussion about tricorders, phasers and warp speed and how science fiction has influenced our real-world technology with at pre-film talk by Dr. Robin Ashworth, Media, Art, and Text, VCU."
April 19th at 7 p.m. "Don’t Look Up": How 'Don’t Look Up' Has Scientists Saying 'Do Listen In'"
A trio of Science Museum of Virginia scientists debate the real-life threats affecting the world. Speakers include Dr. Catherine Franssen, Life Scientist, Dr. Jeremy Hoffman, David and Jane Cohn (Scientists) and Justin Bartel, Immersive Experience Manager.
May 17th at 7 p.m. "Hidden Figures: When the Computer Wore A Skirt - Women in Computing and Space."
Learn about the role women played in the development of computing at NASA during the Cold War, their contributions to supersonic and space research, and how studying this history adds to our understanding of technology and opportunities in STEM today with the pre-film talk by Dr. Sarah McLennan, Assistant Professor of U.S. history at Virginia State University.
According to the press release, "the grant is funded by the Sloan Foundation’s Program for Public Understanding of Science, Technology & Economics and administered by the Coolidge Corner Theatre, the Massachusetts art-house cinema that launched the Science on Screen format in 2005."
For more information, or to find links to tickets, go here.