The 2010 World Science Festival gave some of the world’s leading physicists, biochemists, astronauts, geneticists & astronomers opportunities to discuss their work on celebrity moderated panels.

While it’s my ordinary inclination to suppress and to deny any tendency towards the star struck swooner response; the exhilaration of meeting and interacting with luminaries Painter, Chuck Close and Playwright, David Henry Hwang and Astronaut, Leland Melvin in a forum established to bring science and art together would have been impossible –not to mention, petty– to try and suppress.  And all things considered, I didn’t mind.  In fact, I realized that when the celebrity is in the context of meritocracy, I’m kinda into it.

From World Science Festival

David Henry Hwang told me the science stories that had the greatest influence on him were the sci-fi stories he read as a kid.  Asimov’s Foundation Trilogy and books by Robert Heimlin.

From World Science Festival

Chuck Close talked to me about how he and Rob Rauchenberg’s creative processes were based in the techniques they developed due to their learning disabilities.

Leyland Melvin talked about how difficult it was to get accustomed to gravity again after being in space. Walking on the beach and looking at the horizon line helped, he explained.

From World Science Festival

And…I got to play the Therumond.