‘Interstellar’ Executive Producer to Give Lecture on Galactic Travel via Wormholes

Theoretical physicist and Einstein Medal winner, Kip Thorne, served as an executive producer for Interstellar. The 2014 film explores the idea of traveling across different galaxies via wormholes in space.

Thorne will discuss the topic at this year’s Grand Valley State University Fall Arts Celebration on Monday, November 16.

Thorne also co-authored The Science of Interstellar, which explores the physics behind the movie. Thorne was chosen to collaborate on the film because of his research on Einstein’s theory of relativity, as well as astrophysics with an emphasis on wormholes, time travel, relativistic stars, black holes and gravitational waves.

Thorne’s lecture at Grand Valley will discuss the relationship of visual arts and scientific discovery.

The lecture is titled “Discovery and Collaboration” and will take place Monday, November 16, at 7PM on the 2nd floor of the L.V. Eberhard Center, Pew Grand Rapids Campus at GVSU. The lecture will be followed by book signing and reception.

“Bringing together the visual arts with cutting-edge science will raise all sorts of topics and the kinds of questions that Grand Valley’s integrative approach to liberal education is wonderfully situated to answer,” said Fred J. Antczak, dean of Grand Valley’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Before collaborating on Interstellar, Thorne consulted on the 1997 film Contact, where he proposed using wormholes to connect two points in time.

Thorne has written numerous articles and books, including the award-winning book Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein’s Outrageous Legacy, which introduces non-scientists to general relativity.

GVSU's Physics Department will sponsor a screening of Interstellar on Saturday, November 14, at 6PM at Wealthy Theatre at 1130 Wealthy St. SE. The screening is free and open to the public.