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b'Contact takes the sometimes opposing forces of science and religion and puts them in conversation. The movie is based on a 1985 novel by Carl Sagan about Ellie Arroway, a SETI scientist who discovers a radio signal that could suggest extraterrestrial life. During her search she encounters Palmer Joss, a Christian philosopher who challenges her convictions as a scientist. Ellie\\u2019s pursuit of meaning outside of religion \\u2014 an oftentimes lonely endeavor \\u2014 was an experience Drew Hammond had never seen portrayed in a movie before. A high school teacher, Hammond says the movie granted him permission to stay curious and pursue the questions he has about the world \\u2014 and it continues to shape how he interacts with his students.\\n\\nDrew Hammond is an English teacher at Eagan High School in Eagan, Minn. He\\u2019s also an award-winning public speaking coach, a published playwright, and a former stand-up comedian. He is featured in the documentary \\u201cFigures of Speech,\\u201d which is out on Netflix.\\n\\nFind the transcript at https://onbeing.org/series/this-movie-changed-me/\\nSubscribe to our weekly newsletter at https://onbeing.org/tmcmletter/'