An exciting series of science-fiction films is coming to Schenectady’s Proctors Theatre this February, offering a fun opportunity for students to learn how computer science is integrated throughout society via entertainment and pop culture. Three movies will be shown: War Games (February 3), Blade Runner (February 17), and Her (February 24), all starting at 7pm and with $7 tickets for ID-carrying students.
War Games (1983) features a high school student with a love for video games who unknowingly hacks into a military supercomputer linked to a nuclear arsenal, and has to work fast to prevent a third world war. Professor Kristina Striegnitz of Union College’s Computer Science department will introduce the screening and answer a Q&A afterwards.
Blade Runner (1982) brings us to a dystopian future where former police officer Rick Deckard has been tasked with hunting down escaped replicants, or artificial, bioengineered versions of humans. This cult classic explores the interaction between humans, the technology they create, and the complex ethics that come into play. Professor Nick Webb will introduce the film and answer questions, while Professor John Rieffel will moderate the Q&A.
Her (2013), a scifi/romantic drama and the third and final installation in this series, focuses on a man who slowly develops a relationship with an artificial intelligence operating system. The movie is especially relevant today with the rise of platforms like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, as people all over the world utilize and engage with artificial intelligence with increasing frequency. Professor David Friedell of the Philosophy department and Professor Rieffel will conduct the introduction and Q&A.
This series is hosted by Proctors Theatre in collaboration with Union College Computer Science, ICFS, and the Templeton Institute, an initiative that “promotes and strengthens transformative activities in engineering and computer science within a liberal arts educational environment.” The event fits with their current two-year theme, Artificial Intelligence, and aims to incorporate innovative teaching and learning opportunities within engineering and computer science to better engage with contemporary problems. The Templeton Institute is co-directed by Union College’s Dean of Engineering Ashok Ramasubramanian and English Professor Andrew Burkett.
