Name: Science on Screen®: The Social Network + Post-Screening Discussion with Dr. Elliot Panek
Start: 2026-01-25T18:00:00-06:00
End: 2026-01-25T21:00:00-06:00
Location: 1821 2nd Ave. N. , Birmingham, AL, United States, Alabama 35203

$Science on Screen\u00ae: The Social Network + Post-Screening Discussion with Dr. Elliot Panek$

Dr. Elliot Panek, Associate Professor of Journalism & Creative Media at The University of Alabama, will present “The science of socials: What two decades of research can tell us about Facebook” with a post-screening discussion following the film. Film Synopsis: As Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg creates the social networking site that would become known as Facebook, he is sued by the twins who claimed he stole their idea and by the co-founder who was later squeezed out of the business.
Dr. Elliot Panek studies the uses and effects of social media from sociological and psychological perspectives. He is the author of Understanding Reddit and has published research in top-tier academic journals on the social dynamics of online communities, social media and narcissism, texting while driving, media addiction, and media use and political polarization. He is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Alabama where he directs the master’s program in Journalism & Creative Media, mentors Ph.D. and undergraduate students, and teaches courses on social media, communication research methods, and film history.
The Science on Screen® grant initiative brings science to cinemas nationwide by pairing current and classic films with expertise from the world of science, technology, and medicine. An initiative of the COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE, with major support from the ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION.