Comic-Con Events & Presentations

Convention Panel Presentations

A valid Comic-Con badge is required for access to these events. Some may be recorded and posted on YouTube or other platforms after Comic-Con weekend.

Friday, July 26

• The Science of the Three Body Problem, 11 a.m. to noon
  The Three-Body Problem book and television series make mind-bending technologies seem like they might be just around the corner, but could we be seeing these technologies sometime soon? Will there be immersive video games where you can feel like you're truly entering a new world? And would it really be that hard to live in a world with more suns? Explore these questions with experts that include Dr. Beata Mierzwa (molecular biologist and science artist).

• Trained for Battle, 11 a.m. to noon
  From lady knights to fierce assassins to vigilante superheroes, these characters know their way around deadly weaponry. Alexandra Bracken (The Mirror of Beasts), Mai Corland (Five Broken Blades), Lev Grossman (The Bright Sword), and K.X. Song (The Night Ends with Fire) discuss characters of action who are primed and ready for battle. Moderated by Haydee Smith (UC San Diego Ph.D candidate, Literature).

• Asimov's Foundation: Math, Morality, and Making Humans, 4–5 p.m.
  Asimov’s science fiction classic Foundation, brought to the screen by Apple TV, is set in a world where cloning is possible and humanity has spread throughout the universe. While we are not yet living in such a world, gene editing and research in longevity are making major strides. Local scientists will explore the role math plays in the understanding of our world and the advances in science that could lead to a longer life. They’ll answer questions like "Have there been similar revelations in mathematics?" "Where do biologists and medical professionals see the most advancements in the next decades?" and "What is the cautionary tale in Asimov’s story?" The panel of scientific experts includes John Evans (Ph. D., professor and associate dean of Social Sciences) and Caroline Kumsta (Ph. D., assistant professor Development, Aging and Regeneration Program at the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute).

Saturday, July 27

• For All Mankind: Historic Fiction, Real Science, 6–7 p.m.
  With stations on the moon and missions to Mars, humanity is entering another era of the space race. Local scientists take a look at the imagined history in Apple TV's For All Mankind as well as explore the science behind the upcoming space missions. What does it take to live on the moon? Is medicine ready to keep astronauts healthy and fit on long-range missions to Mars? When can we expect to use cryo-sleep technology to explore even more of our galaxy? And what does another space race mean for humanity? Members of this scientific panel include Juan Pablo Pardo-Guerra (associate professor in Sociology) and Adam Burgasser (Ph. D., professor Astronomy & Astrophysics).

The Science of Story Experience

Additional program & housing info

July 23

A Tale of Two Sulus: An Evening with George Takei and John Cho

July 24

Star Trek (2009) screening with live film score by the SD Symphony Orchestra

July 26

JAWS Film Screening and Shark Week Exhibition

Park & Market

Whether you’re a gamer, comics or anime fan, or just want to get into the spirit of Comic-Con, downtown's Park & Market has a variety of opportunities to entice you.

Event Schedule: July 25-28

Transportation

MTS offers expanded service to the Convention Center with a special event Trolley line. The Blue Line is your direct line to and from campus.

Transit Info & Schedules