A new science fiction saga on TV is taking some cues from a Northwestern University robotics expert.
Engineering professor Malcolm MacIver is a technical script consultant for "Caprica."
Set 58 years before Battlestar Galactica, Caprica follows two rival families -- the Graystones and the Adamas -- as they grow, compete, and thrive in the vibrant world of the peaceful 12 Colonies, living in a society close to our own, an online description explains.
MacIver has consulted with the shows' writers on things like artificial intelligence, robotics and neuroscience. He checks scripts for accuracy and tweaks dialogue.
MacIver says the gig will help improve the public's understanding of scientific concepts, maybe even more than if they were sitting through a scientific lecture.
This isn't his first Hollywood experience. Last year MacIver was a consultant for the upcoming science fiction film "Tron Legacy."
Northwestern Professor Consults for SyFy Show
Engineering professor Malcolm MacIver is a technical script consultant for "Caprica"
Copyright AP - Associated Press
