Putting the Science in Science Fiction: Star Wars

February 29, 2020
12:45 pm – 1:45 pm

McCormick Place-South Building, Room S503
McCormick Place - South Building, Chicago, IL 60616, USA

Program Series:
Science and Society

The minds responsible for mega franchises Star Wars, Star Trek, and the Marvel Universe are arguably some of the most creative of our time. But how do these creatives ensure the science in their science fiction holds up to the test of time and the ever-ready-to-pick-it-apart nerd community. This is where the scientists come in! The Chicago Council on Science and Technology, producer of over 30 free and low-cost, adult STEM programs per year in Chicago, wants to show the C2E2 community the value that real science adds to franchises like Star Wars! Dr. Voula Saridakis of the Museum of Science and Industry and Dr. Dirk Morr of the University of Illinois at Chicago are two such scientists who happen to also be Star Wars enthusiasts! They’ll discuss how science enhances these films and how the science in Star Wars has inspired real scientific discoveries!

Event Details

Saturday, February 29th, 2020, 12:45 pm – 1:45 pm, McCormick Place-South Building, Room S503, Chicago, IL 60616

This program is a part of Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), to attend, you must purchase a pass through their website. No single program passes are available for this program.

Notice: As a guest of Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST), you agree to be photographed, videotaped, or filmed and grant C2ST permission to put the finished footage/photography to any uses that it may deem proper including marketing, advertising (print, radio, and television) and PR-related activities.

We are dedicated to providing an inclusive environment for everyone. Please respect diversity in individuals and in cultures.

Featured Guests

Dr. Dirk Morr

Dirk K. Morr is a professor of physics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. His research in the area of theoretical condensed matter physics focuses on the evolution of complexity from the nano- to the macroscale. Dr. Morr is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the German Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service, and held the Leibniz chair at the University of Leipzig (Germany) in 2011/12. From 2003 to 2010, Dr. Morr was a member of the task force that developed the new 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.

Dr. Voula Saridakis

Dr. Saridakis is a curator in the Collections department and is part of the team that is responsible for the care of MSI’s 35,000+ artifacts. Dr. Saridakis, a historian of science and technology by training, has 19 years of college-level teaching experience in subjects including history of science, women and gender in science, world civilizations, European history, and women’s history. She has a Master of Science and a Ph.D. in Science and Technology Studies (interdisciplinary history, philosophy, and sociology of science) from Virginia Tech, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Cornell University. She has been an invited speaker to several conferences including the History of Science Society, Society for the History of Technology, and Biennial History of Astronomy Workshop, as well as local libraries, the Rotary Club and the 2019 Macy’s Flower Show. She appeared as a historical investigator on the History channel series Lost Worlds for the episode, “Al Capone’s Secret City,” and Atlas Obscura’s video series “Objects of Intrigue,” as well as several local television outlets including CBS Morning News, Fox 32 Live, and The Jam on WCIU-TV (The U). She has also been interviewed by the Chicago Tribune, starwars.com, and WBEZ radio.

Darren Crawford

Darren received his BS in Physics in 1990 and his MS in Physics in 1992 from Ohio University. He has worked at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia, Illinois for 25 years. For 16 years, Darren worked in the Operations Department and served as a crew chief for the entirety of Tevatron Collider Run II, where protons and antiprotons were smashed together in order to study the top quark and help identify the mass of the Higgs boson. He currently works at the Fermilab Accelerator Science and Technology (FAST) Facility as an engineering physicist, helping research and test new magnets and particle beam detectors.
Star Wars: A New Hope premiered on Darren’s 10th birthday and he has been a fan ever since. In 2005, Darren wrote the screenplay for Star Wars: Forgotten Realm. With Fermilab’s approval and the help of fellow employees, both in front of and behind the camera, Darren started filming the movie on the lab’s campus. The Chicago Midwest Garrison chapter of the 501st Legion Star Wars costuming group were instrumental in the success of the movie. The film premiered on December 10th, 2016 at Fermilab and can be seen at vimeo.com/liquidquiche/forgottenrealm.