New project aims to unite science and Hollywood

Former 3QD columnist to head Science and Entertainment Exchange, a project of the U.S. Academy of Sciences. David Shiga in New Scientist:

ScreenHunter_12 Nov. 22 11.34 Scientists may have less to cringe about when they go to the movies, if a new initiative designed to foster cooperation between scientists and the entertainment industry is successful.

The new effort, called the Science and Entertainment Exchange, is a project of the US National Academy of Sciences, and will be run by science writer Jennifer Ouellette, author of The Physics of the Buffyverse.

By bringing scientists together with Hollywood-types, the project aims to improve the scientific accuracy of what the entertainment industry produces and also help scientists communicate more effectively with the general public.

The project is “vitally important”, said Seth MacFarlane, creator of the television show Family Guy, at a press conference in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Other entertainment industry figures were also at the event, including Lawrence Kasdan, who wrote the screenplays for The Empire Strikes back and Return of the Jedi.

More here.