Lisa Randall

Lisa Randall’s studies involve the most fundamental questions about the nature of matter, space and the universe. Her research into extra dimensions of space, particle physics and cosmology has made her one of the most important and cited theoretical physicists today. In her books aimed at a wide audience, she explains both the inner workings of matter at the smallest scales and the content and structure of the universe on the largest. Professor Randall is well known for her innovative and creative thinking, finding new ideas and connections in even well-studied domains. Her work on a warped extra dimension of space, described in her book Warped Passages, revolutionized research into black holes, string theory, and particle physics. Professor Randall’s recent research on dark matter, the foundation of her book Dark Matter and the Dinosaurs, demonstrates possible connections between dark matter and life on Earth and traces the history of our world from the Big Bang through the formation of the Earth and of life. Her insights into current physics research and the nature of science more generally can be found in her book Knocking on Heaven’s Door.

Professor Randall was one of TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People of 2007” and was one of 40 people featured in Rolling Stone’s 40th anniversary issue. She has appeared on The Colbert Report, The Daily Show and on Charlie Rose, and has had numerous radio interviews on NPR and elsewhere. Her research has been covered by The Economist, Forbes, The New York Times, Scientific American and Discover magazine, among others. Professor Randall has spoken and written about science and creativity, as well as how to address the challenges faced by innovative thinkers. Her strength in these talks is connecting abstract scientific ideas to the more familiar contexts and applications of her audiences, and translating some of the critical ingredients to broader domains