Lisa Randall

Known for her innovative theoretical physics advances and her best-selling books on scientific ideas and ways of thinking, Harvard professor Lisa Randall is adept at explaining forefront physics advances as well as connecting her research to broader domains.

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.