In a special Science On Screen event Tuesday, February 11, in Santa Fe, special guests physicist Geoffrey West and director Mark Levinson introduce the hit documentary film PARTICLE FEVER, the story of the machine and the people who sought, and found, the long-predicted but elusive Higgs boson, popularly known as "the God particle."
For the first time, a film gives audiences a front row seat to a significant and inspiring scientific breakthrough as it happens. PARTICLE FEVER follows six brilliant scientists during the launch of the Large Hadron Collider, marking the start-up of the biggest and most expensive experiment in the history of the planet, pushing the edge of human innovation. Housed in a 17-mile long tunnel on the French-Swiss border, the LHC offers scientists a peek at the high energy physics in the moment after the Big Bang and, potentially, clues to the origin of all matter.
With the energy and unfolding thrills of SPELLBOUND, plus wonderfully easy to-grasp graphics and fantastic subjects, this film explains and makes exciting the largest scientific experiment in human history.
The show begins at 7:00 p.m. at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe. Advance tickets are recommended. Tickets are $10 ($5 for students and educators).
Buy tickets online at ticketssantafe.org, by calling 505-988-1234, or in person at the Lensic Box Office.
Geoffrey West's career as a theoretical physicist has kept him at the frontiers of a scientific field that saw many surprises in the 20th century, and the LHC holds promise for explaining many of them. He'll discuss the significance of the machine for physics and for humanity. He is a Distinguished Professor and Past President of the Santa Fe Institute. In 2006 he was named one of Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World."
PARTICLE FEVER has been a hit at film festivals in Telluride and Toronto. It is scheduled to be released nationwide in March and is expected to be among the biggest independent film hits of 2014.
Praise for PARTICLE FEVER:
- "A surefire crowdpleaser with ravishing imagery and immensely likeable subjects." - Variety
- "Full disclosure: I cried at a movie about particle physics." - Scientific American
- "Mind blowing!" - New York Times
- "Succeeds at every level." - Hollywood Reporter
More about PARTICLE FEVER
This special event is a collaboration of SFI, CCA Cinematheque, and The Lensic. Support is provided by the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
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The Science On Screen series was created by SFI and the CCA Cinematheque. During each showing, an SFI scientist presents a favorite film, offering personal perspectives and insights from the world of science. It's an idea-rich spin on the movies.
SFI and CCA have presented 13 Science on Screen events since 2012. (Watch the 4-minute event trailer for Groundhog Day with Murray Gell-Mann, screened May 17, 2012, at the CCA.)
Past Science On Screen showings:
The Road with Ole Peters, January XX, 2014
Dr. Strangelove with Clio Andris, October 28, 2013
Zardoz with Doyne Farmer, August 20, 2013
Sneakers with Simon DeDeo, May 8, 2013
Never Cry Wolf with Paula Sabloff, March 13, 2013
Primer with Cris Moore, February 6, 2013
The Gods Must Be Crazy with Murray Gell-Mann, December 13, 2012
Raiders of the Lost Ark with George Gumerman, November 28, 2012
Memento with Chris Wood, October 17, 2012
Groundhog Day with Murray Gell-Mann, May 17, 2012
Future cities with Geoffrey West, April 26, 2012
Blade Runner with Nathan Collins, March 29, 2012
WarGames with Simon DeDeo, March 8, 2012