Project Type
Poster
Semester (Required)
Spring 2026
Course Title
HU142
Course Instructor
Jenna Hejnar
Project Overview/Abstract
This research poster examines how Olive Llewellyn’s experience during the 2203 pandemic in Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel parallels and diverges from the global experience of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. By analyzing Olive’s isolation on Moon Base Two alongside real-world accounts of social distancing, travel restrictions, and technological reliance, this project explores how differing environments shape human responses to crisis. While both pandemics reveal themes of uncertainty, disconnection, and adaptation, Olive’s experience highlights the amplified psychological effects of isolation in an already detached, off-world setting. In contrast, Earth’s 2020 pandemic underscores the role of community resilience and digital interconnectedness in maintaining social bonds. Ultimately, this comparison suggests that Mandel uses speculative fiction not only to reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic but also to deepen our understanding of human vulnerability, resilience, and the importance of connection across time and space.
Olive's Pandemic Experience vs The Real World
This research poster examines how Olive Llewellyn’s experience during the 2203 pandemic in Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel parallels and diverges from the global experience of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. By analyzing Olive’s isolation on Moon Base Two alongside real-world accounts of social distancing, travel restrictions, and technological reliance, this project explores how differing environments shape human responses to crisis. While both pandemics reveal themes of uncertainty, disconnection, and adaptation, Olive’s experience highlights the amplified psychological effects of isolation in an already detached, off-world setting. In contrast, Earth’s 2020 pandemic underscores the role of community resilience and digital interconnectedness in maintaining social bonds. Ultimately, this comparison suggests that Mandel uses speculative fiction not only to reflect on the COVID-19 pandemic but also to deepen our understanding of human vulnerability, resilience, and the importance of connection across time and space.