Your Place in the Universe
feeling important? Not anymore
How is a galaxy billions of light-years away connected to us? Is our home nothing more than a tiny speck of blue in an ocean of night? In this exciting tour of a universe far larger than we can imagine, astrophysicist Paul M. Sutter emphasizes how amazing it is that we are part of such a huge, complex, and mysterious place—and he explores how our experience here on Earth fits into that grand context.
Through metaphors and uncomplicated language, Sutter breathes life into the science of astrophysics, unveiling how particles, forces, and fields interplay to create the greatest of cosmic dramas.
Topics include our place in the Milky Way galaxy; the cosmic web, a vast weblike pattern in which galaxies are arranged; the origins of our universe in the big bang; the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy; how science has dramatically changed our relationship to the cosmos; conjectures about the future of reality as we know it; and more.
For anyone who has ever stared at the starry night sky and wondered how we humans on Earth fit into the big picture, this talk is an essential road map.
Approximately 40 minutes in length, plus plenty of time for Q&A. Appropriate for all ages.
How to Die in Space
A Choose-Your-own adventure that you probably won’t survive
So you’ve fallen in love with space and now you want to see it for yourself, huh? You want to witness the birth of a star, or visit the black hole at the center of our galaxy? You want to know if there are aliens out there, or how to travel through a wormhole? You want the wonders of the universe revealed before your very eyes?
Well stop, because all that will probably kill you.
From mundane comets in our solar backyard to exotic remnants of the Big Bang, from dying stars to young galaxies, the universe may be beautiful, but it’s treacherous. In this one-of-a-kind show, you get to choose your path through the universe...and hopefully make it back home!
Approximately 45 minutes in length, plus plenty of time for Q&A. Appropriate for all ages.
A Sickness in Science
THE PROBLEMS WITH MODERN SCIENCE AND HOW TO FIX THEM
Vaccine hesitancy. Rejection of critical thinking. Dismissal of scientific authority. Despite constant messaging promoting the value of science, trust in science is at an all-time low. And from what I’ve seen on the inside, scientists are to blame.
I’ve seen it all. In this talk we will explore the meteoric rise of fraud caused by the pressure to publish, the disdain most scientists have for public outreach, the lack of diversity and the inability for young scientists to advance their careers, the politicization of science to serve political gains while scientists remain clueless, and more.
As the world is mired in countless pressing social issues, science can be a light in the dark, but first it has to redeem itself. This talk is the brutally honest, essential guide to rebuilding trust.
Approximately 45 minutes in length, plus plenty of time for Q&A. Appropriate for all ages.
Dance Like a Scientist
See the world in a different way
We will explore how an astrophysicist (Paul M. Sutter) collaborated with the artistic directors of Syren Modern Dance (Kate St. Amand and Lynn Peterson) to create "Ticktock", a performance using narrative sections, Mozart, and movement to explore time. The performance explores several hard science concepts, like entropy, relativity, and the arrow of time, as well as humanistic and personal experiences of time like memory, loss, and anticipation for the future.
We will discuss how scientists and artists can work with each other and learn from each other, and tips on how to build collaborations across disciplines. We conclude with a science/dance movement exercise for the audience to participate in.
Approximately 45 minutes in length, plus plenty of time for Q&A. Appropriate for all ages.
Custom Talks
The universe at your fingertips
Engage with Paul on a variety of topics, including but certainly not limited to: astronomy and physics, the latest space and science news, the relationship between science and society, the intersection of art and science, and more!
“Our team at the Museum of Science, Boston remain such fans of Paul’s incredible brand of science communication!
We have had the privilege of hosting Paul for a number of different sold-out events over the past several years- both on-site and on our virtual platform. His work has elevated our programming in the Charles Hayden Planetarium and Mugar Omni Theater to incredible new levels, setting the bar high for accessible, immersive informal science engagement. His enthusiasm for collaboration and impeccable professionalism makes him a producing team’s dream to work with and our audiences continue to clamor for more.
Our relationship with Paul continues to be one of our favorites and we look forward to endless collaboration with him in the future! I wholeheartedly recommend any one who has the opportunity to host Paul at their institution do so - you won’t regret it!”
“We were thrilled to have Paul Sutter present his How to Die in Space interactive talk to our audiences. Paul is a compelling science communicator who engages audiences through his ability to both make complex ideas accessible, while also thinking on his feet to integrate humor and direct conversation with audience members into his talks. This is an incredible skill that makes lets his expertise as a scientist shine through presentations that are packed with fun.”