Image by Suzie Horgan for World Science Festival

Physicist Brian Greene at the 2008 World Science Festival

“When kids look up to great scientists the way they do to great musicians and actors, civilization will jump to the next level.”

So said Brian Greene, a physicist at Columbia University, in an interview with the New York Times.

Greene is also one of the founders of the World Science Festival, an annual celebration of science (this year’s festival runs June 10 until June 14 in New York).

I’ve discussed raising the profile of scientists to that of rock stars - will civilization really jump to the next level if this happens?  What does that mean? In life sciences we already have a glut of scientists - there are far more postdoctoral researchers than there are professorships at universities. Demand far exceeds supply. A career in scientific research does not pay well, relative to the amount of education and training involved. It’s likely that most scientists - certainly myself included - chose science because they love the work, and not for the financial perks. I didn’t become a scientist because I wanted to be rich and famous.

Perhaps Greene isn’t suggesting changing the economics of science, but rather how people view science. Perhaps if scientists were admired like musicians and actors, society would have a better appreciation of science. How would this help civilization?

What better way to learn about science and meet great scientists than by attending the World Science Festival 2009?

This year’s event will be in New York City from June 10-14 and features actors, artists, musicians and Nobel laureates.

The festival’s mission is “to cultivate and sustain a general public informed by the content of science, inspired by its wonder, convinced of its value, and prepared to engage with its implications for the future.”

“Making the esoteric understandable and the familiar fascinating”

Some highlights:

Carbon Conundrum - Beyond what atmospheric level of CO₂ will the earth fail to support life as we know it? Preeminent climate scientist James Hansen joins a panel of distinguished experts probing the science and policy behind one of the most urgent debates of our times.

Notes & Neurons - is our response to music hard-wired or culturally determined? Is the reaction to rhythm and melody universal or influenced by environment? Scientist Daniel Levitin and musician Bobby McFerrin take to the stage with live musical performances and cross cultural demonstrations to illustrate music’s note-worthy interaction with the brain and our emotions.

Infinite Worlds - the multiverse hypothesis, suggesting that our universe is but one of perhaps infinitely many, speaks to the very nature of reality. Join physicist Brian Greene, Nobel Laureate David Gross, cosmologist Andrei Linde, and philosopher Nick Bostrom as they discuss and debate this controversial implication of forefront research and explore its potential for redefining the cosmic order. Featuring an original musical interlude, inspired by parallel worlds, by DJ Spooky.

Cool Jobs - Discover the multifaceted world of science careers beyond test tubes and white coats. This multi-media event invites our audience to meet scientists with some of the coolest jobs out there. They’ll take you on a journey from remote caves to the site of hidden artistic treasures, and open your eyes to a whole world of science outside the lab.

Matter:  Stories of Atoms and Eves - Nobel prize-winning scientists, renowned writers and esteemed artists tell on-stage stories about their personal relationship with science. Each story must be true and told without notes in ten minutes. The result is a poignant, hilarious, and always unpredictable evening of storytelling and science.

What’s not to love?