Small Town Universe

Green Bank, West Virginia is home to the world's most sensitive radio telescope, and the only U.S. town where Wi-Fi and cell phones are banned by federal law. In this radio-quiet community, scientists at the Green Bank Observatory listen for signals from the cosmos, while residents navigate the everyday rhythms of small-town life shaped by that mission. Small Town Universe follows four Green Bank residents whose lives are bound to the telescope: Ellie, a young woman pursuing a career in astrophysics; George, a retired engineer reflecting on his legacy; Donnie, a lifelong local rooted in the town's history; and Sue, a newcomer who moved off-grid to escape electromagnetic sensitivity. As federal funding for the observatory falls into jeopardy, the film moves beyond familiar narratives of Appalachia to examine what a community stands to lose — economically, scientifically, and personally — when a locally anchored scientific institution disappears.

“Small Town Universe does a terrific job of showing that the backbone of science is people.” - Talia Sepersky, Museum of Science

“Small Town Universe offers a nuanced perspective on the interconnectedness of people and technology.”  - Dr. Erin Brock Carlson, West Virginia University

Katie Dellamaggiore is an award-winning documentary filmmaker drawn to intimate stories that reveal something bigger about how we connect. Her work has been supported by the Sundance Institute and the National Endowment for the Arts. Her debut, Brooklyn Castle, was a New York Times Critic’s Pick and Emmy-nominated. Her latest film, Small Town Universe, has screened on PBS’s Reel South and at festivals nationwide. She is currently directing Queen’s Castle, following young women competing at the highest levels of chess, as they navigate ambition, identity, and belonging.