2025 Symposium
Reel Science – Exploring the Facts in Fiction
OCtober 10th
sponsored by the NYU LANGONE HEALTH institute for systems genetics
Location: NYU Langone Science Building, SB 103
SCHEDULE:
2:00 - 2:35 Aki Watanabe, PhD – “Behind-the-Scenes” Science in Jurassic Park/World
2:35 - 3:15 Kevin Grazier, PhD – The role of a Hollywood Science Advisor: what we do, and what we DON’T do
3:15 - 3:40 Intermission
3:45 - 4:15 Tom McNamara – I'm a Science Filmmaker in a Science-Fiction World... Help! A Talk About Rediscovering Wonder in Science Communication
4:15 - 4:45 Lisa Beth Kovetz – The distrust of scientists vs love for engineers as reflected in pop culture
4:50 - 5:20 Panel Discussion
5:30 - Reception to follow.
SPEAKERS:
Dr. Aki Watanabe
Dr. Aki Watanabe is an Associate Professor of Anatomy at the New York Institute of Technology and Research Associate at the American Museum of Natural History. His work focuses on understanding how the “intelligent” brains in modern birds evolved from their dinosaurian ancestors.
Dr. Kevin Grazier
Dr. Kevin Grazier is a researcher in the Department of Physics and Nuclear Engineering at the United States Military Academy in West Point, NY. His current research explores space weather and its operational effects. Grazier also works in STEM Communications for the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) where he developed, and is implementing, a communications strategy focused on uncovering and sharing stories about technology development and innovation within the department.
Grazier has also consulted in the entertainment industry, serving as the science advisor for a number of television series (the Peabody-award-winning Battlestar Galactica, as well as Eureka, Defiance, Falling Skies, and Foundation) and feature films (Gravity and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales). He is also co-author of the “Hollyweird Science” series of books that explore the depiction of science, scientists, and the culture of science in TV and film.
Tom McNamara
Tom McNamara is a filmmaker, journalist, and educator. He’s made videos and films for PBS, Popular Science Magazine, The Field Museum, Science Friday, Pioneer Works, Columbia Climate School, Wildlife Conservation Society, Chemistry Shorts, and a bunch of other places. He’s filmed in the Amazon rainforest, Serengeti Plain, brain banks, and underground government labs where the universe was redefined. He found the lost, first-ever recorded underwater film footage mislabeled in a Dutch film archive. Also, he was a National Park ranger for one year.
Lisa Beth Kovetz
Lisa Beth Kovetz is the Emmy nominated showrunner and host of the nationally distributed, half hour television show Science Goes to the Movies, where working scientists review popular movies. Ms. Kovetz also created the Science Sings album of science concepts set to music for kids, and Jazz Baby, which won the National Parents Publication Gold Award, the Parents Choice Approval Award and the Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence.
A native New Yorker and graduate of Smith College, Ms. Kovetz lives in Brooklyn.