Science Flicks series resumes with 'The Day the Earth Stood Still'

Aug. 29, 2008 -- The Department of Biological Sciences at Arkansas State University resumes its film series of “Science Flicks” Tuesday, Sept. 9, with the showing of the sci-fi classic ‘The Day the Earth Stood Still.’ The film will be shown at 5:30 p.m. in Room 219 of the Laboratory Sciences Center, East Wing. Admission is open to ASU students and the general public and is free of charge.

The series, launched in 2007 by the departments of Biological Sciences and Chemistry and Physics, presents a different film each month that portrays scientists and their work. A full schedule of movies can be viewed at http://biology.astate.edu/science_flicks.htm.

Following the film’s showing, Dr. Al Romero, chair of the department of biological sciences, and Dr. John Pratte, chair and professor of chemistry, will serve as panelists to discuss the validity of the movie from a scientific viewpoint.

“The Day the Earth Stood Still,” featuring actors Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal, was released in 1951. Briefly, the story tells of a lone occupant and giant robot in a flying saucer which lands in Washington, D.C. and a messenger who knows the robot is a member of a race of enforcers designed to keep galactic peach and will destroy the Earth if provoked.

The remainder of the ‘Science Flick” schedule includes “Deep Impact” (Sept. 30), “Outbreak” (Oct. 21), “2001: A Space Odyssey” (Nov. 11) and “Dr. Strangelove”
(Dec. 2).           

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