A yearlong program will explore the crossover between real-world science and the science fiction franchise.

The next frontier in the celebrations of Star Trek's half-century anniversary isn't visiting a new galaxy, facing off against an alien race that would make the Borg nervous or even someone finally getting around to inventing transporter technology. Instead, CBS Consumer Products has announced Trek Talks, a series of lectures designed to examine the ways in which Star Trek has interacted with the real world throughout its history.

In a series of talks taking place from July 2016 through July 2017 in colleges, universities, museums and elsewhere — CBS' official release references "academic and entertainment institutions" — topics discussed will include Star Trek's impact on (and prediction of) the information age, the show's utopian idea of a multi-cultural society and the way the show addresses the idea of scientific exploration.

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