(Y)Our Health in the Movies

This year Wicked Problems, Wolfpack Solutions: (Y)Our Health focused on One Health—the idea that the health of people is connected to the health of animals, plants, and biodiversity. A growing human population, changes in climate, and our closer relationships with animals impact the health of the environment, affect food and water supplies, and make it easier for diseases to spread between animals and people. A One Health approach tackles shared health threats by looking at all angles—plant, animal, biodiversity, environmental and human.

This series takes a look at how One Health themes are depicted in popular culture, through media such as film, television and video games. These events promise to be fun, lively, informative, and entertaining, and will feature experts in both science and film/television from the NC State community. The One Health themes that will be explored include:

Infectious Disease

Could a fungal pathogen really turn humans into zombies, as depicted in the popular video game and television series, The Last of Us? What is the likelihood of a fungal pandemic actually happening? Join infectious disease experts Skylar Hopkins and David Rasmussen and film studies professor Marsha Gordon in a discussion of the science behind depictions of infectious disease in popular culture.

Event: This event will take place in the Libraries Fishbowl Forum on November 2, 2023 from 4:30-5:45.

Climate Change

Earth’s climate is warming, storms are becoming more extreme, and the ocean is rising. While this reality has only recently begun to sink in to the popular imagination, films have been depicting potential dystopian outcomes of climate change for a long time. Join climate change experts and ecocinema professor Jorge Marí in a discussion of the science behind depictions of climate change in film. We’ll look at these films in light of recent knowledge and consider actions we can take to achieve a more hopeful future for humans, animals, and plants alike.

Event: This event will take place in the Libraries Fishbowl Forum on January 25, 2024 from 4:30-5:45.

Food and Water

How will we produce enough food for a growing population, and distribute it equitably? How will we deal sustainably with the wicked problems of human waste and securing access to safe water and sanitation? Join food, water, and film experts in a discussion of the science behind depictions of food and water problems in popular movies. We'll discuss these films alongside emerging technological solutions and innovations that work toward a secure future for our food and water.

Event: This event will take place in the Libraries Fishbowl Forum on March 19, 2024 from 4:30-5:45.