Mike Brotherton on Science in the Movies

[deborahjross]

Mike Brotherton, University of Wyoming Associate Professor of Astronomy, speaks about science in movies at the Summer 2011 Saturday University event in Jackson, Wyoming. Does it matter if Hollywood gets the science right in movies? Entertainment informs opinions about science and scientists, and is stealth education for better or worse. Good science is rare in the movies, but perhaps even bad science offers teachable moments. In this talk, he illustrates examples of good and bad science in cinema.

Mike organized and taught Launch Pad Astronomy Workshop, with the goal of improving the portrayal of science in books and films. This clip is a bit long - almost an hour - but full of interesting perspectives.

Comments

[controuble.livejournal.com]

He's our Science GOH at WindyCon this coming November - I hope I manage to get out of the art show a little bit and catch some of his panels.

[deborahjross.livejournal.com]

Do say hello for me. He's a fun and interesting speaker, combining perspectives as a writer of hard sf, a scientist, and a science educator. Plus being a fun person. I mean, my goodness, an astronomer with a tattoo?

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

I thought Sigourney Weaver did a good job of portraying a scientist in 'Avatar' and there was emphasis throughout on how it was important to observe, take notes / samples.

Oh, and Sam Worthington was nice to look at too. :-p