In a special Science On Screen event Tuesday, February 11, in Santa Fe, special guests physicist Geoffrey West and director Mark Levinson introduced 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."
Hear West's interview on the Santa Fe Radio Cafe (40 minutes, February 10, 2014)
Read the article in the Albuquerque Journal North (February 12, 2014)
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.
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 discussed the significance of the machine for physics and for humanity. He is a Distinguished Professor and Past President of the Santa Fe Institute.
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.
More about PARTICLE FEVER
Read the article about PARTICLE FEVER in The New York Times (February 24, 2014)
This special event was a collaboration of SFI, CCA Cinematheque, and The Lensic. Support was 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 14 Science on Screen events since 2012.
Past Science On Screen showings:
Particle Fever with Geoffrey West, February 11, 2014
The Road with Ole Peters, January 21, 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 Cristopher 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