Pop culture and technology collide in POPnology at the Ontario Science Centre

New travelling exhibition chronicles science fiction's influence on technology

TORONTO, May 23, 2018 /CNW/ - Celebrate the greatest technological innovations derived from science fiction at the Ontario Science Centre with POPnology, now open. This interactive, travelling exhibition explores how popular films, television, books and art influence our past, present and future. Through immersive games, hands-on robotics and futuristic technology, POPnology uncovers the magnitude of pop culture's impact on how we connect, move, play, live and work. POPnology runs to August 6 and is included with general admission.

"POPnology presents great examples of the convergence between popular culture and current technology," said Maurice Bitran, PhD, CEO and Chief Science Officer, Ontario Science Centre. "From Jules Verne to Back to the Future, popular culture has an uncanny power to foreshadow technological developments. POPnology displays these triumphs of the human imagination in a compelling, interactive and entertaining way."

POPnology reveals how light-bulb moments and breakthroughs often have surprising beginnings. Discover how science fiction elements from popular culture have become reality ? from stepping into a room representing a time capsule of 1983 to coming face-to-face with the world's first 3D-printed car. POPnology shows how far technology has come and how much farther it can go.

"Through science fiction books and films we are able to simulate what the future may be," said designer and visual futurist Edward Eyth, whose design concepts for major Hollywood films are displayed in the exhibition. "Fictionalized entertainment has often provided the platform for grand ideas to become reality, through the application of science and technology. There's something about creative imaginings and the immersive quality of filmmaking that can make even the most incredible concept seem achievable."

Eyth added: "POPnology shows how human imagination has the power to predict the future, and how the consequences of our actions can shape the future of human experience. The exhibition brings together science, creativity and innovation throughout history, and enables guests of every generation to participate in the experience."

POPnology promises to captivate visitors of all ages with its interactive, informative and engaging exhibits. Go head-to-head with a robot in a game of tic-tac-toe; snap a selfie with the DeLorean time machine; meet one of the galaxy's most beloved droids; speak with 2001: A Space Odyssey's HAL 9000; and pilot a mini Mars rover.

"Durham College is excited to be sponsoring POPnology," said Don Lovisa, President, Durham College. "Every day our students are working with, researching and learning about the latest innovations. From artificial intelligence to autonomous vehicles and digital healthcare, we are preparing them to become the thought leaders and visionaries of tomorrow, so they can continue facilitating transitions from science fiction to science fact. We are happy we can contribute that same knowledge to this unique exhibition."

To extend the POPnology experience, the Ontario Science Centre offers extended, hands-on programming throughout the exhibition's run in collaboration with Durham College, STEAMLabs, The Maker Bean Café and The Gorilla Store.

POPnology includes:

• Hands-on robotics
• Virtual projection games
• Futuristic musical instrument technology
• Immersive games, including virtual reality gaming
• A screen-accurate replica jetpack from Disneytm's The Rocketeer
• A screen-accurate DeLorean time machine
• Robotic arm interactives

POPnology is divided into four thematic areas:

1.   How We Play: Examines entertainment technologies and their impact on how people spend their leisure time.

2.   How We Connect: Presents the communications technologies that helped usher in a new era with the birth of social media ? the game changer of the 21^st century.

3.   How We Move: Explores the history and evolution of human transport and includes a detailed overview of the advances that have transformed the way we move around the planet. 

4.   How We Live & Work: Showcases fascinating innovations currently shaping our lives, many of which were predicted long ago in books and movies.

Ontario Science Centre's summer hours begin July 1 and run until September 3 when the Centre will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day and until 8 p.m. on Saturdays. For more information about the exhibition and to purchase tickets, please visit OntarioScienceCentre.ca.

About Ontario Science Centre

Guided by our mission to inspire passion for the human adventure of discovery, the Ontario Science Centre strives to be a global leader in lifelong learning; a vital link in Ontario's education and innovation ecosystems; and a convener of public dialogue about technology, science and society. The Centre has welcomed more than 52 million visitors since opening as a Centennial project in 1969, pioneering an interactive approach now adopted by science centres around the world. An agency of the Government of Ontario, the Centre relies on funding from the province, as well as donations from generous individuals, corporations and foundations who share the Centre's vision to contribute to a more curious, creative and resilient world. Learn more at OntarioScienceCentre.ca.

About Durham College

At Durham College (DC), the student experience comes first. With campuses in Oshawa and Whitby and a learning site in Pickering, the college offers more than 12,000 full-time post-secondary and apprenticeship students access to more than 140 full-time and eight apprenticeship programs in a number of different disciplines, enabling them to develop the skills required to meet the demands of today's job market. The college is also set to launch its first four-year degree program, the Honours Bachelor of Health Care Technology Management, in September 2018.

For images and video, please visit:
www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca/Media/ImagesVideo

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SOURCE Ontario Science Centre