INESC TEC and FCUP organise “Science Fiction Week”

This week was organised following the importance of the theme for the scientific community, and of how true science contributed to science fiction. “Science fiction authors are inspired by the work developed in these scientific areas, and scientific data oftentimes support a fictional scientific imagination”, states Orlando Frazão, researcher at INESC TEC and one of the event’s organisers. “Moreover, various scientists and researchers acknowledge that science fiction plays a significant role in triggering imagination”, he adds.

The films Forbidden Planet (1956), Blade Runner (1982) and Interstellar (2014) will be screened on the first day of the event, called “Movie Day”. The second day will feature lectures and discussions on the scientific themes addressed in the films. Scientists, professors and researchers in exact sciences and engineering, and science fiction writers, will be participating in this event.

One of the guest speakers is the illustrator Victor Mesquita, who stresses the importance of science in science fiction writing. “True Fiction must use Science as an inspiration and support. Together with Science, Fiction can be more mature, fruitful and responsible in future societies, because it has the potential to subvert through imagination”, he adds.

The Science Fiction Week will also include a Short Film, Photography and Illustration Competition (SPIC). The competition, under the theme “2015 International Year of Light”, is open between 1 August and 13 September.

The event is supported by the Portuguese Optics and Photonics Society, Hands on Science network, SPIE Student Chapter and University of Porto.

The INESC TEC researcher mentioned in this article is associated with the following partner institution: UP-FCUP.