Museum of the Moving Image announces final three “Open Worlds: Science” events

Since its launch in June this year, the Open Worlds: Science program at Museum of the Moving Image has attracted hundreds of visitors of all ages to gather and explore the world through science and cinema. The final three events this September and October are organized around the themes of field reporting, animal sounds, and the chemistry of flavor and fermentation, and will feature screenings, experiences, discussions, and interactive activities with special guests including scientists, filmmakers, artists, and chefs. Open Worlds: Science offers hands-on fun, big ideas, and lively gatherings—free for all! 

Open Worlds: Science is supported by the Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division. 

Highlights of the upcoming programs include renowned American primatologist Dr. Patricia Wright in person with the film Ivohiboro: The Last Forest, accompanied by a traveling rainforest experience that invites attendees to come face-to-face with live animals; the first public U.S. preview experience of Sonic Sunset, produced by MAXlive, a collaborative work between award-winning artists and scientists that invites audiences into the worlds of whales, orangutans, and birds, presented in Dolby Atmos, and followed by discussion; and a deep-dive into the microorganisms that make life delicious with special guest Arielle Johnson, cofounder of the fermentation lab at Noma in Copenhagen and author of Flavorama: A Guide to Unlocking the Art and Science of Flavor, and a presentation by Brooklyn Kura.

This series is part of the second edition of Open Worlds at Museum of the Moving image, an initiative that invites the public to use MoMI’s first-floor space and courtyard for free during regular hours. This accessible, 15,500-square-foot, climate-controlled, WiFi-enabled area serves as a community resource for visitors of all ages looking to convene, find creative inspiration, learn about and experience new media technologies, or participate in many diverse programming selections.  

See below for the confirmed schedule of programs and check back for updates at movingimage.org/series/open-worlds-science.

Writer and biologist David Haskell will introduce the Sonic Sunset program; his latest book, Sounds Wild and Broken is a New York Times Editor’s Choice.
Marine acoustic ecologist Dr. Michelle Fournet, of the Marine Bioacoustics and Behavior Lab (“Sea BABEL”) at the University of New Hampshire, investigates the calling behavior in Alaskan humpback whales.
Dr. Vijay Ramesh, a postdoctoral research fellow at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, studies how the environment shapes the ecology and behavior of birds in India’s Western Ghats.
Biological anthropologist and behavioral ecologist Dr. Wendy Urb, Postdoctoral Associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, studies the behavioral and reproductive strategies of wild primates.

Schedule

All programs are free to attend and take place at Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35 Ave, Astoria, NY. Reservations are not required but encouraged.

Field Report: The Filmmaker & the Scientist
Sunday, September 7, 12:30–4:30 p.m.
Presented in partnership with Pioneer Works and Centre ValBio, a Stony Brook University research campus in Madagascar
What is the role of the filmmaker in scientific research and conservation? Expedition films show us the work of scientists in the field and document important behavior. But does adding more humans to the scene disrupt animal activity, or damage the environment? This Open Worlds: Science afternoon features a screening of Ivohiboro, The Lost Forest (2024, 52 mins.), about renowned American primatologist Dr. Patricia Wright, as she leads a 30-day expedition into a pristine tropical forest in the rugged plains of Southeast Madagascar, one of the last primary forests on the planet. Followed by a discussion with Dr. Wright; environmental DNA scientist Dr. Mai Fahmy, also featured in the film; and Ivohiboro director Laurent Portes.

The afternoon also includes a hands-on experience that will delight families. The Center for Environmental Education and Discovery (CEED) will bring their Traveling Rainforest Exhibition to the Museum, showcasing a variety of live animals from the rainforest canopy, understory and forest floor including birds, reptiles, and insects.

Centre ValBio is an international research station located at the edge of Madagascar’s lush and biodiverse Ranomafana National Park. Dedicated to the protection of the island’s unique ecosystems, CVB advances conservation through cutting-edge science and community-driven projects that benefit local populations. Led by world-renowned primatologist Dr. Patricia C. Wright, Centre ValBio supports hands-on research that promotes the sustainable use of natural resources while fostering the well-being of nearby communities. In close partnership with local people, CVB is pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge while preserving Madagascar’s extraordinary biodiversity for generations to come.

Sonic Sunset, produced by MAXlive
Saturday, September 27, 3:00–5:15 p.m.
Sonic Sunset immerses audiences in an audio odyssey that transports them to rare ecosystems around the globe. Guided by renowned scientists’ engagement with endangered species and rigorous interpretation from award-winning artists, Sonic Sunset blends vocal performance with bio-acoustic field recordings of whales in sub-Arctic waters, orangutans in the rainforests of Borneo, and birds over the lush valleys of India’s Western Ghats. Enter into each ecosystem through the species’ perspective to connect deeply with their homes and consider the human impact that endangers them all.

With cutting edge spatialized sound, taking full advantage of the Redstone Theater’s new Dolby Atmos system, these three ecosystems tell their story through sound and light, revealing new possibilities for a better future for all species.

Don’t miss this sneak peek of a new work from the award-winning creative team including sound designer and composer Nick Ryan, widely recognized as a leading thinker on the future of sound; director Kay Matschullat, Founder and Artistic Director of Media Art Xploration; and projection designer David Bengali, whose work has been featured in the Tony-nominated Water for Elephants. With vocals by Eliza Bagg, of the Grammy-winning experimental vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth.

The experience will be followed by a conversation about the art and science of sound with Sonic Sunset creators and the bioacoustic scientists whose work is featured in the experience:

Writer and biologist David Haskell will introduce the Sonic Sunset program; his latest book, Sounds Wild and Broken is a New York Times Editor’s Choice.
Marine acoustic ecologist Dr. Michelle Fournet, of the Marine Bioacoustics and Behavior Lab (“Sea BABEL”) at the University of New Hampshire, investigates the calling behavior in Alaskan humpback whales.
Dr. Vijay Ramesh, a postdoctoral research fellow at the K. Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, studies how the environment shapes the ecology and behavior of birds in India’s Western Ghats.
Biological anthropologist and behavioral ecologist Dr. Wendy Urb, Postdoctoral Associate at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics, studies the behavioral and reproductive strategies of wild primates.

Sonic Sunset is produced by Media Art Xploration (MAXlive), Kay Matschullat, Artistic Director, with support from Simons Foundation’s Science, Society & Culture division. Additional Funding provided by the Ettinger Foundation, public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and the generous support of individual donors.

Media Art Xploration (MAXlive) combines the power of artistic expression with the rigor of scientific study to unite creatives, thought leaders, and curious minds at the shared intersection of discovery, inquiry, and creation. They bring together artists, scientists, creative technologists, and audiences to produce immersive live arts experiences that harness, celebrate, and interrogate the next generation of innovation. Through a multidisciplinary approach, MAXlive nurtures, devises, and presents nuanced work that thrives from uniting different perspectives by drawing on the power of dynamic collaboration, amplifying informed, constructive dialogue, and celebrating the universality of our humanness.

Live Cultures
Saturday, October 11, 1:00 p.m.
Join us for a deep-dive into the microorganisms that make life delicious—in our drinks, bread, cheese, pickles, and more. Flavor scientist Arielle Johnson, author of Flavorama: A Guide to Unlocking the Art and Science of Flavor, shares some of her current explorations of the molecular and physical experience of flavor as it intersects with the aesthetic and cultural. An advisor to some of the world’s top chefs, restaurants, and bars, Johnson received her Ph.D. from UC Davis; co-founded and is Senior Advisor for the fermentation lab at the restaurant Noma in Copenhagen; and has served as the science officer for Alton Brown’s beloved television show Good Eats.

Johnson will be joined by Brandon Doughan, chemist and co-founder and master brewer of Brooklyn Kura, a New York City–based sake brewer that distributes their award-winning traditional style sake across the United States and Asia, the first American sake to be distributed in Japan. They were recently named to Food & Wine’s list of “Game Changers Who Are Shaping the Future of Food.”

Tastings and conversations with other food artisans will be paired with food-themed films.

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