A Collaboration: The Science and Entertainment Exchange
The National Academy of Sciences provides entertainment industry professionals with access to top scientists and engineers to help bring the reality of cutting-edge science to creative and engaging storylines:
"We can help flesh out ideas that depend upon accurate details relating to insects, extraterrestrial life, unusual Earth-based life forms, or the mysteries of oceans. We can refine concepts relating to emerging science concepts in areas such as space travel, multiple dimensions, nanotechnology, computer technology, and engineering. We can find experts in environmental and ecological issues, health, medicine, and disease, and US educational practices. We are also well positioned to work with you on public policy issues that relate to science such as stem cell research, global climate change, and teaching about evolution and the nature of science."
Here are a few examples of collaborations:
The Science and Entertainment Exchange explores The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon and social network theory.
The Science and Entertainment Exchange: Guest blogger E. Paul Zehr discusses what it would really take to become Batman. Could a real world superhero ever exist?
University of Minnesota physicist and Watchmen consultant, Dr. James Kakalios, recently won an Emmy award for his video Science of Watchmen. Read more about the story behind Jim's experience working with the Exchange and the producers of Watchmen over at The X-Changes Files blog.
Here are some of the advisory board members: Ralph J. Cicerone, Chair, President, National Academy of Sciences; Steve Chu, Secretary of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy; Former Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; Nobel Prize winner; Neil Gershenfeld, Director, Center for Bits and Atoms, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Len Amato, President, HBO Films; Seth MacFarlane, writer and producer; and Michael Mann, Writer/Producer/Director.
http://www.scienceandentertainmentexchange.org/bios.html#ramachandran">biographies of those who were presenters at last November's symposium as well as some subjects explored: Artificial Intelligence and Cutting-Edge Robotics, Rare and Infectious Diseases and The Mysteries of the Brain and Mind.