First, a quick “Hello”! I am the most recent addition to the ranks of New York Hub community leaders / bloggers.

Fall is here, sadly; but on the positive side, the change in weather brings with it many science related activities around the city. Last night was the Imagine Science Films screening benefit at the Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO – a well organized and tantalizing teaser of what can be expected at the Imagine Science Film Festival which kicks off on October 15.

Last year, I attended one night of the Film Festival and was entertained, though at times perplexed about where the “science” was in some of the films. The five shorts that debuted in last night’s screening didn’t fully assuage this concern, but they did pique my curiosity. Two of the shorts, A Micrometer from Here and Ginger, can only be described as scientifically cute and quirky. A couple others were more serious, lending a more personal voice to the science of schizophrenia and bipolar.

I’m excited to see more! Not fully sold on all the movies being related to or about science (one of the shorts last night falls into this category …). But as Alexis Gambis, the founder of Imagine Science Films, said to the audience last night, the films include “experimentals” along side the shorts, documentaries, mockumentaries, and animations. Can’t have science without some experiments right?

The week long event (October 15 – 24) will feature about 45 films chosen from over 250 submissions from around the world (seriously – from Japan, Australia, and Israel – complete with subtitles!). What to look forward to? In Search of Memory, a documentary on neuroscientist Eric Kandel; Animated Minds, a ten-minute short chronicling real testimonies from those coping with mental illness; and one I’m curious about, Quantum Quest, a photon joining the battle between Good and Evil!