Brian Greene is widely recognized for his groundbreaking discoveries in the field of superstring theory. Most notable is the co-discovery of mirror symmetry, which launched a vibrant field of research in physics and mathematics, and topology change, which showed that the fabric of space can tear apart, counter to Einstein’s theory of General Relativity. Professor Greene is the co-founder and director of Columbia’s Institute for Strings, Cosmology, and Astroparticle Physics, a research center seeking string theory’s implications for theories of cosmology. His many books include The Elegant Universe, The Fabric of the Cosmos, and his most recent, The Hidden Reality. With Emmy award winning journalist Tracy Day, Greene co-founded the The World Science Festival, a week-long celebration of science and discovery that has drawn over one and a half million people since its 2008 debut.
Alexis Madrigal is the Editor-at-large of Fusion.net, a multi-platform media company delivering a mix of news and pop culture, as well as the author of Powering the Dream: The History and Promise of Green Technology. Formerly, he was a senior editor at The Atlantic and a staff writer at Wired. He is currently working on a podcast about the machinery of global capitalism and the Port of Oakland. Madrigal’s past interviews for City Arts & Lectures include Ta-Nehisi Coates and Richard Misrach with Guillermo Galindo.