The Real Science Behind Star Trek: Predicting the Technologies of Our Future`

FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE

CHICAGO, IL March 18, 2014

Chicago Council on Science and Technology presents: “The Real Science Behind Star Trek: Predicting the Technologies of Our Future.”

Star Trek is a story of exploration that has fascinated us for the last 50 years.

Gene Roddenberry and the writers of Star Trek started with the science we know to be true, and stretched the boundaries with unbelievable scientific and technological advances — warp drive, wormholes beaming technology, holodecks — to make the exploration of the universe possible, and immensely entertaining in a one-hour show.

Are these advances really beyond our reach, or have we already surpassed some of them? Are they scientifically possible, simply waiting around the next corner to be discovered?

Join Chicago Council on Science and Technology and the University of Illinois at Chicago Physics Department for a presentation on the (crazy?) scientific ideas behind Star Trek technologies, and the physical laws that we have to “bend” to make them work.

Dr. Dirk Morr, professor of physics at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an associate of the James Franck Institute at the University of Chicago, will lead us through the science of Star Trek , and discuss the links between what scientists do every day — investigating the “why?” and “how?” of nature — and  the technologies  used by the explorers in the popular series.

From 2003 to 2010, Dr. Morr was a member of the task force that developed the Science Storms exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago.  His public engagements include popular science talks, in which he does not only discuss the “mysteries of the quantum world”, but also examines the relation between art and physics.

“We as humanity are extremely curious,” Morr said. “What resonates with people, besides the cool lasers and action, is wanting to know what is around the next corner.”

No knowledge of physics is required to enjoy this talk, only an interest in science and/or Star Trek.

DETAILS: Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014 5:00pm to 7:30 pm (5:00pm social hour / 6:00pm program).  Behavioral Science Building (BSB) at the University of Illinois at Chicago, 1007 West Harrison St., room 250, 60607 Chicago, IL. Free for C2ST Members & UIC Students, Staff & Faculty; $5 for non-UIC students; $20 regular admission. Registration and more information at c2st.org. For more information contact Andrea Poet at 312/567-5795 or apoet@c2t.org