'Science On Screen' pairs menacing microbes lecture with the film 'Contagion'

Who: The second in the Science on Screen series features Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) biomedical scientist Beth Vitalis, who will present "Menacing Microbes: Protein Models Reveal Secrets." Vitalis has provided guidance of bioinformatics efforts supporting pathogen detection and characterization for numerous sponsors, including the Centers for Disease Control. Vitalis’ lecture is appropriately paired with the feature-length film "Contagion" (PG-13), which follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself.

What: The Science on Screen series, geared for middle- to high-school students, creatively pairs cutting-edge science presented by leading Lab researchers with a popular feature film on similar subject matter, providing the perfect combination of enlightenment and entertainment.

When: Saturday, March 21, 2015.  Doors open: 8:30 a.m. Lecture: 9 a.m. Film: 10 a.m.

Where: The State Theatre, 1307 J. St., Modesto.

Note: This is a free science education program. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis; there is no pre-registration. Science on Screen is presented through a partnership of The State Theatre and the LLNL Science Education Program.