Bozeman Magazine

The Martian screens as part of the BFS Science on Screen (SoS) film series, funded by the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. BFS is one of only 23 independent non-profit cinemas from across the country awarded SoS grants to expand film and scientific literacy by creatively pairing screenings of popular culture and documentary films with lively presentations by local scientists. “We are excited to highlight local talent through this partnership with scientists and non-profits,” says Lisa McGrory, executive director of the Bozeman Film Society. The Martian features guest speaker Dr. Mac Burgess, MSU Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology. The film is set on Mars, where Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home. In his presentation “From Mars to Montana: The Dirty Secret Behind Soil,” Dr. Burgess will share the reality of growing food in poor “Martian” soil—and draw a few parallels with soil closer to home. The Martian is a collaboration with Gallatin Valley Farm to School. Rated PG-13, the film runs 134 minutes.