Because of my physics and cosmology research—along with the recent Italian translation of my book, Warped Passages, about the physics of extra dimensions of space—I had the good fortune last fall to visit Italy twice: September in Venice for the Second World Conference on the Future of Science and November for the Genoa Science Festival.
The first conference focused on evolution—in physics, biology, and the mind—whereas the second was a remarkable festival involving the city of Genoa, with science presentations for thousands of people throughout the city. In addition to the fun of meeting other scientists and the interested public and learning more about recent research, these conferences provided me with an intriguing opportunity to reflect on cultural attitudes. I often shy away from discussing such subjects since it’s difficult to convey the complexity of the relevant issues or to find simple solutions. But occasionally a new environment helps create ...
