18-02-2025
Documentary on life in Green Bank to screen in Morgantown
MORGANTOWN, (WBOY) — Emotional stories from the residents and scientists living in Green Bank, West Virginia will be coming to the big screen in Morgantown in an award-winning documentary this March.
'Small Town Universe,' directed by Emmy-nominated Director Katie Dellamaggiore, is about 'stories of love, loss, resilience, hope, scientific discovery, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence in Green Bank, WV, a small town with a big telescope.'
The exclusive screening of the documentary will take place on March 7 in Ming Hsieh Hall, room G20 on West Virginia University's downtown campus. The event is free for anyone to attend but is limited by the amount of space available.
A reception starts at 6:30 p.m. with the documentary screening scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. A panel discussion will be held after the documentary where Dellamaggiore will join local scientists, humanity scholars, and other experts to discuss the film and take questions.
Green Bank, West Virginia is a truly unique place in America due to its location inside the National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ), which strictly regulates electromagnetic waves in the area. Everyday electronics like computers, Wi-Fi and even microwaves are limited or outright banned, resulting in a community abnormally detached from technology in a world that becomes more and more digital with each passing year.
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In the trailer for the documentary, interview subjects discuss how the unique environment of Green Bank shapes the lives of the residents and scientists that live there. Although the NRQZ can pose many challenges, like reduced access to emergency services, residents in the trailer say they prefer a life that is more separated from technology.
In 2014, Dellamaggiore was nominated for 'Outstanding Coverage of a Current News Story – Long Form' at the 2014 Emmys for her documentary, 'Brooklyn Castle,' which dives into the story of a junior high school's champion chess team.
You can find directions to the screening here, or you can visit the WVU Department of Physics and Astronomy website for more details on the documentary screening.
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