THOUSAND OAKS, CA. - California Lutheran University will show a 2010 documentary that charts one year in the life and work of a cancer survivor and biologist.

“Living Downstream”” will be screened at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, in the Roth Nelson Room as part of CLU’s Reel Justice Film Series, which examines the themes of equality and social justice. After the film, faculty members will participate in a panel discussion and question-and-answer session.

Raised in a small town in Illinois, Sandra Steingraber was diagnosed with bladder cancer when she was just 20 years old. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Steingraber was in high school. Many of her aunts and uncles have struggled with the disease. One aunt died from the same form of bladder cancer that she had. One might think that there is a genetic link, but Steingraber was adopted. This led her to consider something else families can have in common ‑ environment.

Based on Steingraber’s acclaimed book, “Living Downstream” is an eloquent and cinematic feature-length documentary. The poetic 85-minute film follows the ecologist and cancer survivor during one pivotal year as she travels across North America, working to break the silence about cancer and its environmental links. Part scientific exploration and part personal, the film documents the growing body of scientific evidence that links human health with the health of our environment.

The Roth Nelson Room is located on Mountclef Boulevard between Memorial Parkway and Olsen Road on the Thousand Oaks campus.

CLU’s Center for Equality and Justice is sponsoring the free screening. For more information, contact Sam Thomas at sthomas@callutheran.edu or (805) 493-3693.