Physicist, String Theorist Brian Greene to Speak

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Brian Greene, physicist and groundbreaking string theorist, will speak at 8 p.m. Nov. 16 in Alumni Arena on the UB North (Amherst) Campus as the next speaker in UB's Distinguished Speakers Series.

He will present the President's Lecture for Science and Technology.

Greene is one of the world's foremost experts on string theory, which proposes that the particles that were thought to be the most simplified components of atoms -- electrons, neutrinos, quarks -- actually are composed of smaller units, filaments of energy called strings. If correct, string theory 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.

Known for his expertise and ability to present complex scientific concepts in layman's terms, Greene has been a guest on CNN, "The Century with Peter Jennings" and even "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

He received a bachelor's degree in physics from Harvard and attended Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Tickets to Greene's lecture may be purchased at the Alumni Arena box office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or through http://www.tickets.com and all Tops Friendly markets.

United University Professions (UUP) and TIAA-CREF are providing discount vouchers for tickets to UB faculty and staff. Visit http://www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/special/tickets.shtml for more information.