Pursuit of Discovery: An Afternoon with Marie Curie and Lise Meitner
Digital Theater & 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 stories behind the history of science, and how these achievements continue to shape our world today.
Free with RSVP (required): Register for both showings or choose a single program to attend.
PROGRAM 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
SCHEDULE
2:00-3:30 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 digital theater screening is a one-woman living history show, 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 presentation 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.
RSVP here. Recommended for adults and students ages 10+.
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, [email protected]
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 stories behind the history of science, and how these achievements continue to shape our world today.
Free with RSVP (required): Register for both showings or choose a single program to attend.
PROGRAM 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
SCHEDULE
2:00-3:30 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 digital theater screening is a one-woman living history show, 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 presentation 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.
RSVP here. Recommended for adults and students ages 10+.
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, [email protected]
Location
MIT Building 54
Room 54-100
Auditorium
21 Ames St.
Cambridge, MA
Room 54-100
Auditorium
21 Ames St.
Cambridge, MA
Date & Time
November 7, 2026, 2PM - Marie Curie 4PM - Lise Meitner