Wikipedia

World Science Festival

TheWorld Science Festivalis an annualscience festivalhosted by the World Science Foundation, a501(c)(3)nonprofit organization based inNew York City.[1]There is also an Asia-Pacific event held inBrisbane,Australia.

World Science Festival
The festival's logo
StatusActive
GenreScience festival
FrequencyAnnually
VenueVarious
Location(s)New York City,New York
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated2008(2008)
Patron(s)Founding benefactors:Simons Foundation,Alfred P. Sloan Foundation,and theJohn Templeton Foundation
SponsorWorld Science Foundation
Websiteworldsciencefestival.com

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

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The festival was founded and established byBrian Greene,professor of mathematics and physics atColumbia Universityand author of several science books (includingThe Elegant Universe,andThe Hidden Reality); andTracy Day,a four-time National NewsEmmy 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.[2]

The festival's events are rooted in science, but also meet the production standards of professional television and live theater events. Founding benefactors include theSimons Foundation,theAlfred P. Sloan Foundation,and theJohn Templeton Foundation.[3]

Board of directors

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The founding benefactors were the Simons Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the John Templeton Foundation.[4]

Inaugural festival

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Main article:World Science Festival, 2008

The inaugural festival took place May 28 - June 1, 2008, at 22 venues in New York City. The festival, described byThe New York Timesas a "new cultural institution," included 46 events, a street festival, and, on the first day, the day-long World Science Summit atColumbia University.Among the more than 150 participants, speakers and artists were 11 Nobel Prize laureates. Venues included theAmerican Museum of Natural History,Abyssinian Baptist Church,andNew York University'sSkirball Center for the Performing ArtsatGould Plaza.The total audience was more than 120,000.[5]

World Science Festival venues

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Audience preparing to watch"Deep Field: The Impossible Magnitude of our Universe"byEric WhitacreinBrooklyn Bridge Park

New York City

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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

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Since 2016, another event has been held each year inBrisbane,Australia. It is organized by Queensland Museum Network, which holds the exclusive license for in the Asia Pacific region from 2016 to 2021.[6]

Past participants

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Past participants have included:

Nobel Laureates

The followingNobel Laureateshave participated:

The full list ofparticipantscan be found on the festival's official website.

Education

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

World Science Scholars

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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 asparticle physics,computational thinking,astrobiology,andstring theory.The free two-year program is funded by theJohn Templeton Foundation.Previous World Science Scholars have includedBrian Greene,Mandë Holford,Miguel Nicolelis,Stephen Wolfram,Cumrun Vafa,andSuzana Herculano-Houzel.[7]

World Science U

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World Science U offers everyone from high school students to adults the opportunity to explore science topics with researchers and educators.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Non-profit status and chairman position from the foundation's 990-EZ form for 2006, accessible online via "GuideStar".GuideStar USA, Inc. 2008.RetrievedJune 8,2008..Current board of directors fromWorld Science Festival (April 2008)."Board of directors".Science Festival Foundation. Archived fromthe originalon June 7, 2008.RetrievedJune 8,2008.
  2. ^Cf.Musser, George (April 25, 2008)."A Science Fête Project: A Q&A with Brian Greene".Scientific American.RetrievedNovember 24,2008.
  3. ^"Sponsors".
  4. ^"Sponsors and Partners – World Science Festival – June 1–5, 2016 – New York City".World Science Festival – June 1–5, 2016 – New York City.RetrievedJune 20,2016.
  5. ^– Venues and event numbers:Overbye, Dennis (June 3, 2008)."An Overflowing Five-Day Banquet of Science and Its Meanings".The New York Times.RetrievedJune 5,2008.
    – Summit:Timmer, John (May 28, 2008)."First Kavli Prize Winners in New Fields of Science Announced".Ars Technica.RetrievedJune 5,2008.
    – Attendance:Souccar, Miriam (June 6, 2008)."City's Science Festival Attracts Record Numbers".Crain's New York Business.RetrievedJune 8,2008.
  6. ^"About the World Science Festival Brisbane".www.worldsciencefestival.com.au.RetrievedMarch 2,2018.
  7. ^"World Science Scholars".World Science Festival.RetrievedJune 13,2021.
  8. ^"World Science U".World Science U.RetrievedJune 13,2021.
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