Physics Program Presents
Chasing the Moon
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Olin Hall
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
8:00 pm – 9:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
A Film Screening and Discussion with Robert Stone and Michael Robinson
Of this summer's many commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the first Moon landing, the Los Angeles Times deemed the Robert Stone's 6-hour PBS documentary Chasing the Moon to be the "most all-encompassing . . . deep and thorough, detailed but never dull." Chasing the Moon reveals the unknown stories of the fascinating individuals whose imaginative work across several decades culminated in America’s momentous achievement. More than a story of engineers and astronauts, the Moon landing grew out of the dreams of science fiction writers, filmmakers, military geniuses and rule-breaking scientists. After screening excerpts of the documentary, writer-producer-director Stone will be interviewed by historian of exploration and podcaster Michael Robinson, followed by a question and answer session with the audience. Weather permitting after the event, the Bard Physics Program and members of the Mid-Hudson Astronomical Association will have telescopes set up outside the auditorium to view the rising full moon and other celestial objects. The event is free and open to the public.Note that the full documentary can currently be streamed here through the end of August.
Robert Stone is an Oscar and Emmy-nominated documentary filmmaker, who's works such as Radio Bikini, Guerrilla: The Taking of Patty Hearst, Oswald’s Ghost, and Pandora's Promise, have appeared in theatrical release, CNN, PBS, and the Sundance Film Festival. He wrote, produced, and directed the 6-hour Chasing the Moon documentary, which premiered on PBS's American Experience this summer, and co-authored a companion book of the same title.
Michael Robinson is a professor of history at Hillyer College, University of Hartford who studies the role of exploration in science and culture, both through his award-winning academic books (The Coldest Crucible: Arctic Exploration and American Culture, The Lost White Tribe: Scientists, Explorers, and the Theory that Changed a Continent) and his popular weekly podcast Time to Eat the Dogs (named for certain eventualities in many Arctic expeditions).
For more information, call 845-758-7584, or e-mail [email protected].
Time: 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
Location: Olin Hall