The Endless Frontier: Sparking a National Conversation About Science and Discovery
The world premiere of The Endless Frontier drew renewed attention to questions about how scientific discovery happens and why public investment in research matters.
Premiering at the DC/DOX Film Festival in Washington, D.C., before continuing to a sold-out screening in New York City, the film brought scientists, journalists, filmmakers, and audiences together during a period of unprecedented uncertainty for the American research enterprise.
The Endless Frontier follows Andrea Graham (Princeton), Paul Barber (UCLA), and Jacob George (University of Utah) as they pursue research addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges, from infectious disease and climate change to advanced prosthetics. Through their stories, the film illustrates the value of supporting unconventional ideas, training future scientists, and sustaining long-term research whose greatest returns often take years to materialize. Set against a period of profound disruption in the U.S. research ecosystem, The Endless Frontier confronts how shifting funding priorities are placing long-term scientific discovery at risk and redefining what research is possible.
The documentary was executive produced by Aspen Institute Science & Society Executive Director Aaron Mertz and Mount Sinai immunologist Shruti Naik, directed by two-time Emmy Award winner Marilyn Ness, and produced by impact-driven production company Consequential. The film represents the first major public expression of the Aspen Institute Science & Society Program’s broader mission to strengthen how science is understood, discussed, and engaged with in public life.
Following its June 12 world premiere at the DC/DOX, The Endless Frontier was screened again on June 15 at the New York Academy of Medicine. Both screenings concluded with panel discussions that expanded on the film’s themes and engaged audiences in conversation about the future of scientific research.
Aneri Pattani of KFF Health News moderated the panel discussion following the June 12 world premiere of The Endless Frontier. The panel brought together director Ness, Graham, George, and former NIH Director Francis Collins to reflect on the themes raised in the documentary. Taking place during a period of exceptional uncertainty for American science, the discussion underscored both the promise of scientific research and the growing challenges facing the institutions that sustain it.
Ness reflected on how the film evolved as the research landscape transformed during production. Originally conceived as a portrait of scientific discovery, the documentary increasingly became a record of a research ecosystem under strain. As Ness explained, “We felt urgency to get a film out that happened to be filming the last year science was normal in America.”
Drawing on his own experience, Collins described being given just 36 hours to leave the NIH following budget reductions, using the episode to illustrate the broader instability confronting the research community. He also reflected on the increasing politicization of scientific decision-making, observing, “When you mix science and politics, you just get politics. That’s where we are.”
Throughout the conversation and audience Q&A, several themes emerged:
Following the June 15 screening at the New York Academy of Medicine, Mertz moderated a panel discussion with Ness, Naik, and Science Friday host Ira Flatow. The conversation also featured opening remarks from Graham and George.
Although the film remained the same, the conversations evolved. In Washington, panelists focused on immediate threats facing the U.S. research enterprise. In New York, the discussion shifted toward a broader question: how can scientists, journalists, and storytellers help the public understand how science works and why sustained support for discovery matters?
Throughout the conversation and audience Q&A, five themes emerged:
The Washington, D.C., and New York City premieres are only the beginning of The Endless Frontier’s engagement with audiences across the country. Together, the two premieres demonstrated that audiences are eager not only to learn about scientific breakthroughs, but also to understand how discovery happens. The film will continue screening at festivals, universities, museums, and community venues, creating new opportunities for public conversations about the future of scientific discovery. At its heart, The Endless Frontier aims to spark thoughtful dialogue about science and the role it plays in society. By inviting audiences to ask questions and reflect on how scientific knowledge is created, the film encourages the very curiosity and critical thinking at the core of the scientific process, fostering greater public understanding of the long-term investments that make scientific discovery possible.
The Endless Frontier has attracted coverage from two of the world’s leading scientific publications. Ahead of the world premiere, Science profiled the documentary and interviewed executive producer Aaron Mertz about the inspiration behind the film, the decision to follow three researchers across different fields and career stages, and the importance of helping audiences understand how scientific discovery actually happens.
Following the premiere, Nature published a featured review by senior reporter Max Kozlov, calling The Endless Frontier “a timely reminder that science isn’t an invincible machine.” The review praises the film’s portrayal of research as a deeply human endeavor driven by curiosity, mentorship, and persistence, and concludes that scientific breakthroughs ultimately depend on sustained public trust and reliable long-term investment in research.
New to The Endless Frontier? Watch the official trailer to learn more about the documentary and the scientists whose stories it follows.
Next screening: Woods Hole Film Festival
Join us on July 28, 2026, at the Woods Hole Film Festival in Massachusetts.
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