Teen Science Cafe: Hollywood Science
April 24 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Hollywood Science with Dr. Alper Bozkurt
Please join us at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center for April’s Teen Science Cafe! In this interactive session, Dr. Alper Bozkurt will share his firsthand experiences at the intersection of science and storytelling. From consulting on Disney films to collaborating with creatives behind movies, documentaries, and games, he has seen how science inspires Hollywood and how Hollywood, in turn, inspires real scientific breakthroughs.
This talk will take you behind the scenes of:
- Interactions with studios like The Walt Disney Company and Pixar
- Collaborations with Oscar-winning or nominated actors and filmmakers
- Visits to Hollywood studios and creative environments
- How ideas from science shape Xbox and PlayStation games
If you are curious about the future of technology, storytelling, and imagination, this is your chance to see how your interests can come together in unexpected ways.
Open to teens ages 13-18, our monthly cafes include exciting activities, engaging talks from expert speakers, and even free food! Plus, we cover a variety of different topics, ranging from cell biology to deep space galaxies, making it a one-of-a-kind spot for high school students to explore new ideas, interact with each other, and have fun!
Doors will open at 6:00 pm for pizza and conversation. The cafe will start at 6:30 pm and wrap up around 7:30 pm.
About Dr. Bozkurt
Prof. Alper Bozkurt joins us from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State University where he holds an associated appointment at UNC-NCSU Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering. He is the director of the Integrated Bionic MicroSystem (iBionicS) Lab and co-director for National Science Foundation Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) and NC State Institute of Connected Sensor Systems (IConS).
Alper Bozkurt is the McPherson Family Distinguished Professor in Engineering Entrepreneurship at NC State University. At iBionicS Lab, he builds technologies that connect electronics with living systems, from insects to plants, from animals to humans. He received his PhD in electrical engineering from Cornell University and his MSc in biomedical engineering from Drexel University. His work has been featured by major media outlets and earned him a spot on Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” list. His research achievements on the Internet of Bionic Things have been covered by several media agencies, including BBC, CNN, National Geographic, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, Newsweek, and Reuters.
Program Schedule
6:00 pm: Arrive and check in. We will gather inside the west, main entrance of Morehead.
6:00 – 6:30 pm: Pizza social. The pizza social will take place in our classrooms, located on the 2nd floor.
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Discussion & activities. Trivia will take place in the Science Stage.
Please Note: Depending on scheduled activities, the program may end between 7:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.