Scientists are among the most interesting people you’ll ever meet, and they do some of the most exciting and creative work imaginable. But for most of us, that work can often seem abstract and hard to grasp.
Joe Palca, NPR science correspondent, is ready to come to the rescue. He’s gathered a group of notable scientists working in six hot-topic disciplines and planned a series that offers insights into what they do—and why it’s important to you. Informal conversations will reveal dynamic fields filled with innovation, passion, and promise that are worlds away from coolly clinical, lab-coated stereotypes. You’ll come away from these entertaining and accessible sessions with plenty of new information, as well as a deeper confidence in your ability to make the connection between science and your life.
Featured Topic: Physics
Featured Scientist: S. James Gates, University of Maryland College Park
In the fourth program of this six-part series, Palca is joined by S. James Gates, John S. Toll Professor and director of the Center for String and Particle Theory at the University of Maryland College Park. Gates is known for his research in fields like supersymmetry, string theory, and supergravity. But perhaps most important, he has a knack for making the complexities of theoretical physics comprehensible to those of us who don’t have a Ph.D. from MIT.
Click here to view the full lecture series.
