UC San Diego Welcomes Comic-Con with Starpower—and Stellar Storytelling
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What do you get when you combine a world-class university, a premier popular arts convention and a renowned science fiction and fantasy writers’ workshop? The answer is “The Science of Story,” an exciting six-day journey into the realm of storytelling hosted by UC San Diego and headlined by Star Trek stars George Takei and John Cho. The event, which ushers in Comic-Con, also features access to the exclusive Clarion Science Fiction Writing Workshop.
“At the heart of ‘The Science of Story’ is the understanding that narratives have the power to create vibrant connections across disciplines through shared experiences,” said Colleen Kollar Smith, executive director of the Campus Performance and Events Office. “UC San Diego is uniquely positioned to present and explore the intersection of art and science, fostering conversations that resonate deeply within our society. This is especially evident during the week of Comic-Con, where the convergence of creativity, innovation and dialogue truly exemplifies the dynamic spirit of our community.”
The festivities kick off Tuesday, July 23, with A Tale of Two Sulus: An Evening with George Takei and John Cho. These icons of sci-fi will share their experiences playing the groundbreaking role of Lieutenant Sulu on Star Trek, along with their writing, graphic novels and inspiring advocacy work. The event is a must-attend for fans and writers alike, providing a rare opportunity to gain insight into the multifaceted talents and passions of these beloved actors.
Clarion instructor Alyssa Wong (Star Wars: The High Republic) writes award-winning fiction, comics, books and games.
On Wednesday, July 24, gear up for Comic-Con with the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s Masterclass, an experience that promises to ignite your imagination. Since 1968, the Clarion Science Fiction Writing Workshop has been the premier proving ground for writers of science fiction, fantasy and horror. Clarion is hosted by the Arthur C. Clarke Center and sponsored by the School of Arts and Humanities with support from the Department of Literature. For the first time, the public will gain access to insights and mastery in the craft from leading artists Alyssa Wong, Isabel Yap, 'Pemi Aguda, Emet North and Nalo Hopkinson in this exclusive full-day masterclass.
“We are so excited to share some of the Clarion experience with the larger community via these incredible writers,” said Jaclyn Jemc, professor of literature at UC San Diego and director of Clarion Science Fiction Writing Workshop. “The masterclass is sure to fire up attendees' inspirations for and insights into the unique possibilities of worldbuilding and the power of storytelling."
Later that evening, after the masterclass, the Epstein Family Amphitheater will host a screening of Star Trek (2009) as the San Diego Symphony performs the exhilarating score live. Friday night, July 26, the amphitheater will feature more classic movie thrills with a screening of JAWS in partnership with Birch Aquarium’s Shark Summer, where fans of the movie can explore fascinating shark exhibits and learn about the real-life counterparts of the iconic, but fictional, great white.
The “Science of Story” experience was made possible by transformative new additions to the campus that have helped UC San Diego become a premier destination for the greater community. Screenings and concerts will be held at Epstein Family Amphitheater and the UC San Diego Blue Line trolley will make it easy to travel to and from Comic-Con and all the places in-between—including to a full roster of engaging events at UC San Diego Park & Market.
“It’s an ideal and exciting time to be able to showcase Park & Market as an event center for Comic-Con-related opportunities,” said Todd Miller, Director of Asset Management for UC San Diego Extended Studies, which oversees programming and operations for the building. “We are thrilled to build upon rich campus and community collaborations that make UC San Diego more accessible to local residents, binational communities and San Diego visitors.”
On Thursday, July 25, head to Park & Market for a free celebration of tabletop roleplaying and the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons. UC San Diego's MAVERiC Studio will host an actual play event featuring game master and legend Matt Forbeck and his co-writer, Marty Forbeck, and an intergenerational cast of industry legends.
On Friday, July 26, Park & Market will host the XR Games Masterclass series, including two days of free game creation skill building. The Qualcomm Institute at UC San Diego, in partnership with Resilience Studios, Epic Games, Lenovo and Meta, has put together two unique opportunities to learn the building blocks for developing an XR game for the Meta Quest 3 and Snapdragon Spaces Lenovo headsets. As part of the event, students from UC San Diego’s course, Serious Games for Climate Change, will showcase games they created.
On Saturday, July 27, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. experience Jis y Trino’s Big Cartoon Jam, showcasing the creative vision, artistry and humor of iconic cartoonists, Jis and Trino. Watch their cartoons come to life in front of your eyes, as they draw live, in-person with their creations projected onto the big screen. During the event, Mauricio Alvarado from Fleisher Cartoons will share the art and magic of restoring vintage cartoons.
Additional events will be held through Sunday, July 28, including a workshop on "the Father of Manga," Osamu Tezuka, and a binational comedy night on July 26, and a Family Day Comic Fiesta including a puppet parade on July 28.
Check out the full schedule of events at “The Science of Story” website. Tickets are available online. Register or purchase tickets for Park & Market events.
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