Interdisciplinary Discussion Questions for The Martian
Consider the following questions as you view the film. These questions cover a wide range of disciplines
including, Biology, Business, Communication, Computer Science, Math, and Psychology. Please
attempt to answer some of these questions after seeing the film. You will not be able to edit this
document directly. Please copy these questions and paste them into a new document to add your
responses. It’s ok if you cannot answer all of the questions. Just do your best!
On Friday, September 27, 2024 from 10:50 AM - 12:00 PM at Jenkins Field House, we will be having
an interdisciplinary discussion. You can use these questions during the discussion to share your
knowledge and learn from students in other majors.
1. Habitual learning is a key component in developing routines that reduce mental effort in
daily activities. Removal of such routines can lead to one’s thoughts and behaviors
becoming “off” from their usual ways. After viewing the precise routine that Mark Watney
acquired to survive each day on Mars, how would you have to change your habitual
routines for surviving in such a world? If I were in his shoes, my habitual routines
would need to adapt to prioritize survival tasks such as daily monitoring of life
support systems, intense resource management, and constantly maintaining a
majorly strict and specific schedule.
2. In The Martian, Mark Watney faces numerous life-threatening challenges, but he
approaches each problem with resilience and a problem-solving mindset. How can
educators foster a similar sense of resilience and problem-solving skills in students,
especially when they face academic challenges? What specific strategies can teachers
use to help students develop perseverance in difficult learning situations? Educators can
foster resilience and problem-solving skills by emphasizing and encouraging a
growth mindset, using project-based learning to provide real-world problems, and
providing constructive feedback as well as support to help students navigate
difficulties.
3. In The Martian, the team at NASA faces a moral and financial dilemma when deciding
whether to allocate vast resources to rescue astronaut Mark Watney. How does this
scenario reflect the ethical considerations businesses must navigate when making
decisions that impact both human lives and financial resources? On one side, there’s a
moral duty to save a life, reflecting corporate social responsibility. On the other,
the financial cost and impact on stakeholders must be considered. Businesses,
like NASA, need to be transparent and accountable, justifying their decisions to
ensure they balance ethical obligations with economic realities. This scenario
underscores the complex interplay between doing what’s right and maintaining
financial stability. It also speaks to the common conflict to arises from different
aspects of ethics, such as the conflict between pragmatic and deontological ethics
exemplified here.
4. The novel that the movie is based on was written by Andy Weir as a series of blogs,
chapter by chapter. The author didn’t self-publish the work until people asked that he put
it all together to make it easier to read on devices like the Kindle. Does the success of
“The Martian” – from blog posts to major movie production – reflect new opportunities for
aspiring writers? How has social media and online conversation changed the media
industry for writers, illustrators, musicians, etc.? The success of “The Martian”
highlights new opportunities for aspiring writers by increasing to profitability of
self-publishing as platforms, like blogs and e-books, allow writers to reach
audiences directly. Further more, social media platforms allow writers to build a
following and receive feedback in real-time. Finally, it exemplifies how
crowdsourcing and engaging with readers to refine and promote their work.
5. What are the key components of fertile soil and why are they necessary for plant growth?
How does Mark Watney create fertile soil on Mars? Compare these methods to soil
enrichment practices on Earth. The key components of fertile soil necessary for plant
growth include nitrogen, organic matter, water and air, and minerals. Mark Watney
creates fertile soil on Mars by utilizing fecal matter to provide nitrogen and organic
substance, parts of potatoes to grow bulbs, and vaporized water to keep the plants
hydrated. The methods used in the film and enrichment practices on Earth are
largely similar for both utilize water vapor and humid climates as well as fecal
matter to sustain agricultural substances (i.e. Greenhouses).
6. Mark Watney exhibits many entrepreneurial traits during his time stranded on Mars, such
as innovation, resourcefulness, and resilience. How do Watney’s actions on Mars
embody the mindset of a successful entrepreneur, and what lessons can modern
entrepreneurs learn from his problem-solving strategies? Watney’s actions on Mars
embody the mindset of a successful entrepreneur because entrepreneurs need to
be innovative, creative, adaptable, resourceful, and resilient to accomplish their
economical pursuits and start-up successful businesses. Lessons that can be
learned from Watney’s strategies, include: the fruit of persistence and never giving
up, the importance of patience, and the necessity of knowing how to utilize the
environment and materials around you when all else fails.
7. Communication fulfills many needs as described by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. In the
Martian, Mark Watney is stranded and has no interactions with other humans for an
extended time. How does this impact Watney’s ability to survive? Reference scenes that
support your claims. What is the longest time you’ve gone without communicating with
others? Did you experience FOMO? Further, explore the ways in which isolation can
impact an individual. Isolation impacted Watney by causing him to lose hope at
times and become depressed at the thought of dying alone and experience of
being alone on an entire planet. However, he was also driven and determined to
get back home to those he loved which made him constantly strive to find new
ways to survive. For example, when he patched the hatch with duct tape despite
almost dying. The longest time I’ve gone without talking to others is 1 week. I did
not experince FOMO.
.
8. Reflect on the sustainability of the agricultural practices depicted in "The Martian." What
lessons can be drawn for sustainable agriculture on Earth, particularly in arid and
nutrient-poor regions? The film showcases advanced technologies and innovative
problem-solving under pressure. Considering the advancements depicted in the movie,
what potential future applications could these innovations have for businesses on Earth?
The agricultural practices in “The Martian” offer lessons for sustainable
agriculture: resource Efficiency by maximizing the use of available resources,
innovation by developing new methods to grow food in harsh conditions, and
resilience by adapting to changing environments. These innovations could be
applied to improve agriculture in arid and nutrient-poor regions on Earth.
9. The psychoanalyst Karen Horney stated the “tyranny of the shoulds,” a fixation on what
should be (rather than what actually is), can lead to debilitating anxiety. Although Mark
Watney easily could have given into the resentment of being left on Mars, he remained
hopeful towards his safe return to Earth. What do you think enabled him to his tyranny of
the shoulds? Although Mars is a far cry from one’s first-year at Florida Southern, how do
you overcome the “tyranny of the shoulds” for your own mental protection? Mark Watney
overcame the “tyranny of the shoulds” by focusing on what he could control and
maintaining hope. To overcome this in our own lives, we can: Set Realistic Goals
by focusing on achievable objectives, Practice Mindfulness by Staying present and
avoid dwelling on what should be, and Seek Support by Reaching out to friends,
family, or professionals for help.
10. The survival of Mark Watney is made possible through collaborative efforts between him
and the NASA team back on Earth. In education, collaboration between teachers,
students, and external support is often critical for success. How can educators create a
classroom environment that encourages collaboration and innovation among students?
What are some examples of how collaboration could be applied to both in-person and
virtual learning environments to enhance student outcomes?
To foster collaboration and innovation in the classroom, educators can implement
group projects, peer learning, and problem-based learning, encouraging open
communication and teamwork. In-person strategies include collaborative
workspaces and interactive activities, while virtual learning can benefit from online
discussion forums, virtual breakout rooms, and collaborative tools like Google
Docs. To further explain, these approaches create a dynamic learning environment
that enhances student outcomes by promoting teamwork and critical thinking,
similar to the collaborative efforts seen in "The Martian."
