Physicist brings time travel conversation to Cary, North Carolina

Cary, N.C. — The Cary Theater will host internationally known physicist Ronald Mallett for a special screening and conversation on Aug. 15, bringing one of science’s most intriguing topics to downtown Cary. The event will feature the documentary How to Build a Time Machine, followed by a live discussion with Mallett about his research and life story.

Physicist Ronald Mallett Comes To Cary

Mallett is a Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of Connecticut. He has spent decades studying whether circulating laser light could bend time under Einstein’s theory of general relativity. His work has drawn global attention and inspired many to imagine what future science may achieve.

A Quest Rooted in Childhood Loss

The documentary explores Mallett’s lifelong pursuit of time travel. After losing his father at a young age, he devoted his life to physics, hoping one day time travel might allow him to see his father again. The film highlights the determination and humanity behind his research, showing how grief shaped one of the world’s most ambitious scientific missions.

Conversation and Community Engagement with Ronald Mallett

After the screening, Mallett will join moderator Alonzo Alexander of The Science House at NC State University for a discussion on the science of time travel and the future of physics. The conversation will also explore how Mallett turned personal tragedy into a lifelong scientific journey.

Attendees will meet Mallett during a post‑event book signing for his memoir, Time Traveler: A Scientist’s Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality. As a keepsake, guests will receive a limited‑edition Time Traveler art print created by Washington, D.C. illustrator Maurice James Jr.

Event Details

The event takes place Saturday, Aug. 15, at The Cary Theater, 122 E. Chatham St. Doors open at 1:30 p.m., and the film begins at 2 p.m.

A post‑film discussion and book signing will follow. Tickets and details are available at The Cary Theater’s website.