Free Tickets Offered for Brian Greene Lecture

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo and the Buffalo Alliance for Education have teamed up to invite Western New York primary and secondary schools to access free tickets for their students to attend a lecture by internationally renowned physicist Brian Greene at 8 p.m. on Nov. 16 in Alumni Arena on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

Known for his expertise and ability to present complex scientific concepts in layman's terms, Greene is one of the world's foremost string theorists. String theory proposes that the particles that were thought to be the most simplified components of atoms -- electrons, neutrinos, quarks -- are actually comprised of smaller units: filaments of energy called strings. If correct, string theory actually bridges the gap between quantum mechanics and general relativity, providing a unified theory of the universe.

Greene's 1999 book, "The Elegant Universe: Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory," was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in non-fiction and winner of the 2000 Aventis Prize for Science Books. It also was the basis of a PBS "Nova" special narrated by Greene. His second book, "Fabric of the Cosmos," which focused on space, time and the nature of the universe, was a long-time feature on The New York Times bestseller list.

Greene will deliver the second annual UB President's Science and Technology Lecture as part of the university's Distinguished Speakers Series.

To encourage area students to get involved with science education and research, UB and the Buffalo Alliance for Education are offering every school in Western New York up to 75 complimentary tickets each on a first-come basis while the ticket supply lasts.

Requests for tickets should be made by faculty, staff and administrators who will act as the liaison for receiving and distributing the students' tickets. Request forms can be downloaded at http://www.specialevents.buffalo.edu or http://www.buffaloalliance.org and may be obtained by calling the UB Office of Special Events at 645-6147, ext. 227. Forms should be postmarked no later than Nov. 1 to assure timely delivery of tickets.

Faculty, staff and parents who will provide transportation for students also are eligible for free tickets through their students' school. All participating schools will be given the opportunity to have their name displayed in a pre-lecture slide show.

For more information on Greene and the other distinguished speakers appearing at UB, visit http://www.specialevents.buffalo.edu.