World Science Festival

The foundation's goal is to create a broad public that is "informed about science, inspired by its wonder, convinced of its value, and willing to consider its impact on the future."

History

The festival was founded and established by Brian Greene, professor of mathematics and physics at Columbia University and author of several science books (including The Elegant Universe, and The Hidden Reality); and Tracy Day, a four-time National News Emmy Award-winning journalist, who has produced live and documentary programs for the nation's most prominent television news departments. Greene is now chairman of the World Science Foundation and Day is executive of the World Science Festival.

The festival's events are rooted in science, but also meet the production standards of professional television and live theater events. Founding benefactors include the Simons Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the John Templeton Foundation.

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Board of directors

Alan Alda
Judith Cox
Tracy Day
Brian Greene
Gillian Small
Tamsen Ann Ziff

The founding benefactors were the Simons Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the John Templeton Foundation.

Inaugural festival

The inaugural festival took place May 28 - June 1, 2008, at 22 venues in New York City. The festival, described by The New York Times as a "new cultural institution," included 46 events, a street festival, and, on the first day, the day-long World Science Summit at Columbia University. Among the more than 150 participants, speakers and artists were 11 Nobel Prize laureates. Venues included the American Museum of Natural History, Abyssinian Baptist Church, and New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at Gould Plaza. The total audience was more than 120,000.

World Science Festival venues

New York City

Over the past 10 years, the festival has attracted more than two million visitors, with millions more viewing the programs online. Programming includes discussions, debates, plays, interactive explorations, musical performances, intimate salons and large outdoor events in parks, museums, galleries and performing arts venues throughout New York City. For a complete list of program, visit the festival's official website, launched in 2004.

Brisbane

Since 2016, another event has been held each year in Brisbane, Australia. It is organized by Queensland Museum Network, which holds the exclusive license for in the Asia Pacific region from 2016 to 2021.

Past participants

Past participants have included:

Alan Alda
Joshua Bell
Chuck Close
Glenn Close
Sylvia Earle
Philip Glass
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Stephen Hawking
John Hockenberry
Bill T. Jones
Charlie Kaufman
Mary-Claire King
Eric Lander
Richard Leakey
John Lithgow
Yo-Yo Ma
Bobby McFerrin
Oliver Sacks
Liev Schreiber
Anna Deavere Smith
Julie Taymor
E.O. Wilson

Nobel Laureates

The following Nobel Laureates have participated:

The full list of participants can be found on the festival's official website.

Education

The World Science Festival maintains educational programs for students and adults around the world in many scientific disciplines.

World Science Scholars

The prestigious World Science Scholars program allows "high school students with exceptional mathematical talent to be mentored by world-renowned scientists and connect both online and in person with an elite group of peers." Scholars work together on projects, internships, exercises and discussions on topics such as particle physics, computational thinking, astrobiology, and string theory. The free two-year program is funded by the John Templeton Foundation. Previous World Science Scholars have included Brian Greene, Mandë Holford, Miguel Nicolelis, Stephen Wolfram, Cumrun Vafa, and Suzana Herculano-Houzel.

World Science U

World Science U offers everyone from high school students to adults the opportunity to explore science topics with researchers and educators.