UMS & Michigan Engineering Celebrate 2001: A Space Odyssey

In conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of Stanley Kubrick's influential 1968 masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey, the University Musical Society (UMS) and the University of Michigan's College of Engineering (Michigan Engineering) co-present a free campus-wide multimedia celebration of the film's socio-technical themes. The celebration, taking place September 21-27, 2018, will feature a free screening of the film with live orchestral and choral accompaniment, technology demonstrations, speakers, and panel discussions. All events are free and open to the public. A complete schedule is included at the bottom of this release.

The centerpiece of the celebration is a Tech Takeover of Ingalls Mall and Hill Auditorium on Friday, September 21. Researchers from Michigan Engineering will examine the ways in which science fiction is becoming science fact with interactive demonstrations and a panel discussion on Ingalls Mall from 5-7 pm. A pre-performance talk featuring faculty members from Michigan Engineering begins at 6:30 pm in the tent on Ingalls Mall. The takeover will culminate in a free screening of the film with the live score performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Musica Sacra in Hill Auditorium at 8 pm. The performance is free and open to the public. While priority access passes for the event have already been distributed, additional seating may be available the night of the performance; for details, call the UMS Ticket Office at 734.764.2538 or email umstix@umich.edu and ask to be put on the 2001 interest list. Full details about all related events are available at ums.org/2001.

Other community events include a Saturday Morning Physics talk with John Foster (U-M Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences) at Weiser Hall on Saturday, September 22 at 10:30 am and a Penny Stamps Speaker Series lecture with Ariel Waldman (council member for NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts program and founder of Spacehack.org) on Thursday, September 27 at 5:10 pm at the Michigan Theater.

Long recognized as one of the greatest science fiction works of all time, 2001: A Space Odyssey is celebrated for its technological realism. As one of the world's preeminent research institutions, Michigan Engineering has leading experts in the provocative socio-technical themes explored in the film - deep space propulsion, robotics and autonomy, Artificial Intelligence, and human-computer interaction.

"2001: A Space Odyssey had a profound impact on many of us in the space business," said Alec D. Gallimore, the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, the Richard F. and Eleanor A. Towner Professor, an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, and a professor of aerospace engineering. "The passion and curiosity it fostered led many - myself included - to dedicate their careers to enabling the technology that will allow us to go beyond the confines of Earth's orbit. We are delighted to showcase some of this technology throughout the celebration."

The film's bold use of music is also widely recognized. It brought worldwide fame to both Richard Strauss's Also Sprach Zarathustra and the music of György Ligeti. It also created one of cinema's most memorable images, of a spaceship floating serenely through space to the strains of Johann Strauss's waltz The Blue Danube.

"The music of 2001: A Space Odyssey is as iconic as it gets," UMS president Matthew VanBesien notes. "Kubrick's decision to use classical music in lieu of an original score brought a new level of familiarity to the music of Strauss and Ligeti, but audience members will experience it like never before when they hear the sound of live timpani beating over the instantly recognizable imagery of the film."

For tickets and more information about the screening and related events, visit ums.org/2001 or call 734.764.2538.

The full schedule of events includes:

MICHIGAN ENGINEERING TECH TAKEOVER
Before the live screening, the community is invited to Ingalls Mall, where the U-M Robotics Institute will showcase some of its latest technologies, including the two-legged walking robot named Cassie Blue, a student-built model Mars rover, drones and more.
Friday, September 21 // 5-7 pm Ingalls Mall (881 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)

PRE-PERFORMANCE DISCUSSION
From Science Fiction to Science Fact: Three Michigan Engineering faculty members who are leaders in their fields will discuss connections between the film and current research in Artificial Intelligence, deep space exploration and robotics. With Alec D. Gallimore, professor of aerospace engineering and the Robert J. Vlasic Dean of Engineering, and professors of computer science and engineering Rada Mihalcea and Ben Kuipers.
Friday, September 21 // 6:30 pm
Ingalls Mall (881 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)

FILM SCREENING WITH LIVE ORCHESTRAL AND CHORAL ACCOMPANIMENT
50th Anniversary Live Presentation of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Musica Sacra (Kent Tritle, music director) Robert Ziegler, conductor
Friday, September 21 // 8 pm
Hill Auditorium (825 North University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)
Register for free at ums.org/2001 or 734.764.2538 Those with priority access passes will have priority until 7:40 pm, at which time remaining seats will be opened to the general public. All seating is general admission.

SATURDAY MORNING PHYSICS
Opening Up the Solar System and Beyond: The Promise of Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion The U-M Saturday Morning Physics Program features lectures designed for general audiences, providing an opportunity to hear physicists discuss their work in easy-to-understand, non-technical terms. In this talk, John Foster, U-M Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences, surveys propulsion technologies that can enable reduced trip times for robotic and human missions alike beyond Mars, opening up the full solar system to in-depth exploration and eventual colonization. Saturday, September 22 // 10:30 am ­- 12 noon
Weiser Hall, Rooms 170 & 182 (500 Church St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)

PENNY STAMPS SPEAKER SERIES
Ariel Waldman: Unexpected Space Exploration Ariel Waldman serves on the council for NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts, a program that nurtures radical, science-fiction-inspired ideas that could transform future space missions. She is also the founder of Spacehack.org, a directory for citizen scientist participation in space exploration, and the global director of Science Hack Day, a grassroots science prototyping initiative in over 25 countries. Waldman is the 2013 recipient of the Champion of Change in Citizen Science, an honor from the Obama White House, author of the book What's It Like in Space?: Stories from Astronauts Who've Been There, and co-author of a National Academy of Sciences report on the future of human spaceflight.
Thursday, September 27 // 5:10 pm
Michigan Theater (603 East Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104)

The University of Michigan College of Engineering is one of the top engineering schools in the country. Ten of its academic departments are ranked in the nation's top 10 - some twice for different programs. Through its research and education, Michigan Engineering seeks to improve quality of life on a global scale by developing intellectually curious and socially conscious minds, creating collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promoting an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.

A recipient of the 2014 National Medal of Arts, UMS (also known as the University Musical Society) contributes to a vibrant cultural community by connecting audiences with performing artists from around the world in uncommon and engaging experiences. One of the oldest performing arts presenters in the country, UMS is an independent non-profit organization affiliated with U-M, presenting over 70 music, theater, and dance performances by professional touring artists each season, along with over 100 free educational activities. UMS is committed to bold artistic leadership, engaged learning through the arts, and access and inclusiveness. Since 1990, the organization has co-commissioned and supported the production of nearly 80 new or reimagined works. Matthew VanBesien became the organization's seventh president in July 2017.

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