The pilot of Curiosity: The Making of a Scientist, a new documentary series that takes viewers into the lives and labs of scientists, follows former University of Chicago Department of Physics graduate student Nathan Earnest-Noble as he researches quantum computing in the lab of Associate Professor David Schuster.
Produced by the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering’s STAGE lab, Curiosity features intimate, documentary-style short films created by an interdisciplinary team of science and arts students and professional filmmakers at the University of Chicago. The docuseries intends to explore the nature of curiosity and its role in the world of science. The pilot episode, “Superposition,” will be available online on June 25 at noon and 8 p.m. and followed by interactive panel discussions, featuring the cast and contributors. Attendees can register through Eventbrite.
The series, based on an idea suggested by California NanoSystems Institute Education Director Dr. Fiona Goodchild, was conceptualized by Nancy Kawalek, the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) Professor and Distinguished Fellow in the Arts, Sciences and Technology. STAGE, which stands for Scientists, Technologists and Artists Generating Exploration, is a full-scale laboratory embedded within the PME. As the director of STAGE, Kawalek oversees a unique effort to create theatre and film inspired by science and technology. Postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and undergraduates from the sciences, arts, and humanities collaborate on each of STAGE’s projects, giving them an inherently broad perspective. Her lab has grappled with topics such as DNA folding, quantum entanglement, and the science of consciousness.
Read more at UChicago's Physical Science Division.