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CMA presents "The Science and Speculations of Interstellar"

Wednesday, March 18, 2015
4:50pm to 6:00pm
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Kip S. Thorne (BS '62), Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, Emeritus, Caltech,
Jonathan Nolan, writer of film, fiction, and television,
Sean Carroll, theoretical physicist and author,

Embark on a thrilling exploration of the awe-inspiring universe of the film Interstellar with Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Jonathan Nolan and celebrated physicist Kip Thorne. Find out how Nolan, Thorne, and Nolan's brother Christopher brought theoretical physics into the multiplex and turned cutting-edge science and speculation into a compelling and thought-provoking global blockbuster. Please join us for the discussion, which will be moderated by Sean Carroll.

Jonathan Nolan is a writer of film, fiction, and television. His credits include The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, The Prestige, and Interstellar. Nolan's short story Memento Mori, first published in Esquire magazine, was adapted by his brother Christopher into the critically acclaimed film Memento, for which they share an Academy Award nomination for best original screenplay. Nolan is also co-creator and executive producer of the television series Person of Interest and Westworld.

Kip Thorne received his B.S. degree from Caltech in 1962 and his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1965. He returned to Caltech as an Associate Professor in 1967 and became the Feynman Professor of Theoretical Physics, Emeritus, in 2009. Thorne's research has focused on Einstein's general theory of relativity and on astrophysics, with emphasis on relativistic stars, black holes, and especially gravitational waves. He served as executive producer on Interstellar, and coauthored the treatment from which the movie sprang.

Sean Carroll is a theoretical physicist and author whose research focuses on issues of dark matter, dark energy, spacetime symmetries, and the origin of the universe.

This event is free. All members of the Campus and JPL communities and retirees are welcome. Because of security requirements, individuals without JPL badges must have a Laboratory employee or resident affiliate submit a visitor request and be their escort. Foreign-person visitor requests must be submitted at least four working days before the event; U.S.-person visitor requests must be submitted at least two working days before the event. For more information, contact Michael Eastwood, (818) 354-9273; or Randii Wessen, (818) 354-7580. Or email [email protected].

Your membership in CMA is what inspires us to bring great speakers and events to Caltech (Campus and JPL). If you enjoy attending these events, please support CMA so we can continue to provide the best in thought-provoking engagements. Membership is open to all active and retired employees of Caltech and to contract employees as affiliate members. See http://cma.jpl.nasa.gov for more information about our mission.

Join now or renew your membership for FY 2015. For membership information, see http://cma.jpl.nasa.gov/membership.html.

For more information, please contact Michael Eastwood by phone at (818) 354-9273.