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Orbital\u202f <\/em>by Samantha Harvey, Boston University\u2019s inaugural\u202fCommon Read\u202fselection, envisions a single day on the International Space Station,\u202fwhere six astronauts grapple with\u202fissues ranging from the\u202fpersonal to the planetary. Though set in space,\u202fOrbital\u202fis decidedly realistic, pondering our planet viewed from the\u202fperspective of astronauts working in low Earth orbit. As the Boston University\u202fcommunity engages with the\u202fCommon Read\u202fprogram,\u202fthe\u202fBU Libraries invites readers to consider life beyond\u202fthe\u202fterrestrial\u202fthrough the lenses of reporters,\u202fartists,\u202fresearchers, actors, directors, writers, and thinkers reflected in this diverse selection of materials held in our Special Collections\u2019 archives.<\/p>\n The stars, outer space, extraterrestrials: through fiction,\u202fpoetry,\u202ffilm\u202fand journalism created by authors\u00a0such as,\u00a0Isaac Asimov and\u00a0Arthur C. Clarke,\u202fjournalists Dan Rather and Oriana Fallaci,\u00a0actors\u00a0Leonard Nimoy and Robin Williams,\u00a0and poet Nikki Giovanni,\u202fwe conceptualize existence beyond our planet as a confluence of the scientific and the speculative.\u00a0Through the papers in Boston University\u2019s Special\u00a0Collections, we encounter representations of space that,\u00a0inspired largely by\u202fadvancements in human understanding of space in the mid-20th century,\u00a0reflect the convergence of scientific discovery, political and social transformation, art, and popular culture, as well as humanity\u2019s fears and hopes for the future.<\/p>\n The exhibition is on display on the first floor of\u00a0Mugar\u00a0Memorial Library.<\/p>\n This exhibition was prepared in\u00a0support of\u00a0the\u00a0Boston University\u00a0Common Read Program.\u00a0Learn more about the Common Read<\/a>.<\/p>\n Exhibition Curators<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Christopher Gately –\u00a0Exhibits Manager<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Michelle Niebur – Head of Access Services and Library Experience<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Exhibition\u00a0Co-curators<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kristina Bush –<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Library Experience Manager<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Barbara Maratos – Literature & Languages Librarian<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Exhibition Support\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n BU Book & Ink Club<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dominik Johnson \u2013 User Services Manager<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Peter Littlefield – User Services Coordinator<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sami Wright \u2013 Digital Imaging Specialist<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nAcknowledgments<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n