Pursuit of Discovery

Pursuit of Discovery: An Afternoon with Marie Curie and Lise Meitner – Digital Theater and Science Talks

What if you could hear the origin story of radioactivity and nuclear fission from the scientists who discovered them?

On Saturday, November 7th, STEM on Stage presents Pursuit of Discovery: An Afternoon with Marie Curie and Lise Meitner, two digital theater showings, each paired with a modern science talk, about pioneering women in nuclear physics — Marie Skłodowska Curie and Lise Meitner — on their shared birthday.

Through filmed living history portrayals, audiences experience the life events, challenges, and breakthroughs behind two of the most defining scientific advances of the 20th century. Special element-themed birthday cupcakes will be served in between showings.

Take part in an entertaining afternoon exploring the human stories behind the history of science, and how these achievements continue to shape our world today.

Free with RSVP (required) – https://www.eventcreate.com/e/nov7mit

Register for both showings or choose a single program to attend. 

SCHEDULE OVERVIEW:

• 2:00–3:30 PM — Humanity Needs Dreamers: A Visit With Marie Curie (45 min, digital theater), followed by a science talk by Dr. Nikita Dutta
• 3:30–4:00 PM — Element-themed cupcakes & shared birthday celebration
• 4:00–5:30 PM — Lise Meitner and the Universe of Atoms (45 min, digital theater), followed by a 30 min astrophysics talk by MIT Prof. Anna Frebel

2:00 PM — Humanity Needs Dreamers: A Visit With Marie Curie
Hear from Marie Skłodowska Curie in her 1915 Paris laboratory as she recollects her quest to isolate two elements and pioneer the field of radioactivity. This filmed living history show is performed by scholar and performer Susan Marie Frontczak. The showing is followed by “The Power of Being Interdisciplinary,” a companion science talk by materials scientist Dr. Nikita Dutta.  

3:30–4:00 PM — Element-Themed Cupcakes & Shared Birthday Celebration
Between showings, celebrate Curie and Meitner’s shared November 7th birthday with us, periodic-table inspired cupcakes included.

4:00–5:30 PM — Lise Meitner and the Universe of Atoms
Set in a Stockholm apartment in January 1939, audiences meet Lise Meitner, in exile, recollecting her story and how she calculated the physics of nuclear fission. This filmed living history show is performed by MIT Professor of Physics Anna Frebel. The showing is followed by a live 30-min astrophysics talk by Frebel about tracing the chemical elements back to their birthplaces in ancient stars, and the cosmic forges that made silver and gold.

Pursuit of Discovery is produced by STEM on Stage and hosted by the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research and the MIT Department of Physics.
Contact: Jen Myronuk, jen@stemonstage.org

Saturday, November 7th | 2:00pm & 4:00pm 
MIT Green Building (Building 54), Room 54-100
21 Ames Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Free; RSVP required: https://www.eventcreate.com/e/nov7mit

Recommended for adults and students ages 10+.