Image - the speakers
Past Event

The Science of ‘Project Hail Mary’

Most every page of Andy Weir’s latest sci-fi novel, Project Hail Mary, glows with the promise of science and technology. In Weir’s first novel, 2011’s The Martian, the protagonist endures interplanetary travel, and struggles to survive on a harsh new world. However, in Project Hail Mary, the hero faces a far greater challenge: interstellar travel to collaborate with an E.T. in hope of saving an imperiled planet Earth! 

Are the science and technology of Project Hail Mary realistic, promising too much, or under promising? 

Hear more from Dr. Maggie Turnbull and Dr. Pascal Lee as they add some beautiful realism to your personal exploration of Project Hail Mary.

Notes

In partnership with The SETI Institute and Wonderfest.

Photos courtesy the speakers.

March 26, 2026

Commonwealth Club World Affairs of California
110 The Embarcadero
Taube Family Auditorium
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States

Speakers
Image - Bill Diamond

Introduction by: Bill Diamond

President & CEO, SETI Institute

Image - Maggie Turnbull

Dr. Maggie Turnbull

Astrobiologist, SETI Institute

Image - Pascal Lee

Dr. Pascal Lee

Planetary Scientist, SETI Institute

Image - Tucker Hiatt

Moderator: Tucker Hiatt

Founding Director of Wonderfest