SVCC 2018 Programming Schedule

ACTORS, ASTRONAUTS & ASTROPHYSICISTS, OH MY:

SILICON VALLEY COMIC CON 2018 PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE NOW LIVE

Speakers Include Trailblazing Astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison,

World-Renowned Physicist and Futurist Dr. Michio Kaku,

and Groundbreaking Black Hole and Relativity Mathematical Physicist Sir Roger Penrose

Celebrity Guests Include Stan Lee, David Tennant, Krysten Ritter, the Cast of FXX’s ARCHER, and More

SAN JOSE, Calif. - March 30, 2018 - Steve Wozniak’s pop culture, tech and science expo, Silicon Valley Comic Con is set to blow fans’ minds the weekend of April 6-8 in San Jose. Its programming schedule is now available, featuring sessions across several tracks: What does it mean to be human?, space exploration, future of science & technology, keynotes, fan celebrations, celebrity spotlights and more.

Celebrity, artist and author guests will also grace the stages of SVCC, including Stan Lee, David Tennant (Dr. Who, Jessica Jones, Broadchurch), Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones), Freema Agyeman (Doctor Who), Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal, ROGUE ONE), Sean Astin (Stranger Things, Lord of the Rings trilogy), Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, RIDDICK), Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter), Christina Ricci (Addams Family, Casper), Jewel Staite (Firefly, Stargate Atlantis), Judy Greer (FXX’s ARCHER, 13 Going on 30), Martha Higareda (Altered Carbon), Chris Kattan (SNL), Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek), Ian McDiarmid (Star Wars Eps 1-3), Ray Park (Star Wars: Episode 1, X-Men), the casts of Emmy® Award-nominated series, ARCHER, Leave to Beaver and Ghost Finders and more. Top authors and artists appearing on stage at SVCC include Michael Moorecock, Melinda Snodgrass, Jim Shooter, Andy Weir, Evan Narcisse, Gary Whitta, David Gerrold, Lary Dixon and Mercedes Lackey.

Featured keynote speakers include astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, renowned physicist and futurist Dr. Michio Kaku, world-changing mathematical physicist Sir Richard Penrose (who shares the Wolf Prize for Physics with Stephen Hawking for their work on black holes), prolific author and creator of TED and TEDMed Richard Wurman, and musician and television personality Kevin Eubanks. Plus representatives from NASA, Anki, ICON, TreeHouse, Google, 343 Industries, BioWare, Typhoon Studios, Legion M, Boosted and San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo will join panels over the course of the weekend.

To view the full schedule including times, locations, panelists and descriptions), visit: http://www.svcomiccon.com/index.php/schedule-2018/

KEYNOTES

• Pursuing the Extraordinary: A Keynote Conversation with Astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, Introduced by Nichelle Nichols
  Dr. Mae Jemison, the first woman of color to go into space, has shifted her trailblazing focus to paving the way for human interstellar travel. Her talk "Pursuing the Extraordinary" will share her personal experience as a space voyager, and her plans for her new Endeavour, the 100 Year Starship, a global initiative seed funded by DARPA to ensure the capabilities for human travel to another star within the next 100 years.
  
• The Future of Humanity: A Keynote Conversation with Dr. Michio Kaku, World-Renowned Physicist, Futurist and Author
  The #1 bestselling author of THE FUTURE OF THE MIND, futurist, world-renowned physicist and author Dr. Michio Kaku traverses the frontiers of astrophysics, artificial intelligence, and technology in his new book THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY to offer a stunning vision of man's future in space, from settling Mars to traveling to distant galaxies. With irrepressible enthusiasm and wonder, Dr. Kaku will take us on a fascinating journey to a future in which humanity may finally fulfill its long-awaited destiny among the stars.
  
• What Does It Mean to be Human?
  A Keynote Conversation with Richard Wurman, Prolific Author & Creator of TED, and Kevin Eubanks, Musician & Entertainer

MARQUEE FAN EVENTS

• Everybody’s Wookie’n for the Weekend: A STAR WARS Special Event
  A Star Wars panel event featuring Mads Mikkelsen (Galen Erso), Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine), Ray Park (Darth Maul), Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett), Daniel Logan (young Boba Fett) and moderated by Gary Whitta (co-author, ROGUE ONE: A Star Wars Story). Immediately following the panel, there will be nonstop surprise Star Wars fan celebrations: cosplay, trivia, music, prizes, special performances and more!

• SVCC’S Third Annual Cosplay Contest
  Silicon Valley Comic Con will proudly host its third annual Cosplay Contest! The contest is a craftsmanship award show and a catwalk exhibition. Come cheer your favorites!

• Geek Fashion Show
  The Geek Fashion Show will feature beautiful models from the comic and sci-fi community of fans, cosplayers and celebrities showing off the collections of the most talented young designers from around the country.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE HUMAN?

• Being Human in Space: The Science of Earth Life Off the Planet
  
• SUPER Human: What If I Told You We Might Soon Edit Your Genes to Have Superpowers?
  

SPACE EXPLORATION

• NASA’s Journey to Mars: One Small Step and One Giant Leap
  
• The Truth is Out There: NASA’s Search for Life Beyond Earth
  
• Black Holes: the Science and Science Fiction
  * featuring Sir Richard Penrose
  
• Pack Your Bags: We’re Moving to Mars! (Eventually)

FUTURE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

• The Age of the Jetsons is Here! Drones, Flying Cars and How NASA’s Research is Making It Happen
  
• Robots: Helpful, Automated Friends or Future Overlords?
  
• Future of the Home
  
• Cities of Tomorrow
  

POP CULTURE

• ARCHER: Cast and Producers of FXX’s Hot Original Animated Comedy Series
  
• Worlds Re/Defined: Wakanda, Halo, Star Wars… How Do You Create a Universe or Character that People Love?
  
• Leveling Up: Upgrading from AAA to Indie Game Development

• Rise of the Black Panther: Author Evan Narcisse Talks About Writing the King of Wakanda

The third annual Silicon Valley Comic Con will take place in downtown San Jose the weekend of April 6-8, 2018. To be the first to hear more details as they are released, follow SVCC on Twitter (@SVComicCon), Instagram (@SVComicCon) or Facebook (@SVComicCon). Tickets to Silicon Valley Comic Con can be purchased from www.svcomiccon.com.

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ABOUT SILICON VALLEY COMIC CON

With Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak at the helm, Silicon Valley Comic Con celebrates the Age of the Geek by bringing together America’s two greatest superheroes: pop culture and technology. Featuring top celebrities, comics, independent artists, cosplayers, video game creators, technologists and more, Silicon Valley Comic Con is where the entertainment and electronic worlds intersect.