EFTA02435937.pdf

To: John Brockman Cc: ; Elon Mus W. Daniel Hillis e ey pstem any Page ar Kamanga ; Nathan Myhrvold Charles Simonyi ;Jeff Skol ; Pierre Omidya -an Parke From: anny is Sent Wed 8/26/2009 9:53:58 PM Subject Re: Lisa Randall I have been part of the group trying to get her to come to Caltech, so I am too conflicted to offer objective advice. That said, Caltech is the clearly the right choice. -Danny On Aug 26, 2009, at 9:24 AM, John Brockman wrote: > Eastover Farm • > Nick, Elon, Danny, JE, Larry, Salar, Nathan, Charles, Jeff, Pierre, > Sean, > Lisa Randall needs advice re a possible move from the Harvard > Physics Department to either Caltech or NYU, both of which have > extended job offers. She's unhappy at Harvard, where the department > seems to be intent on pulling the rug out from under her at every > opportunity, and she wants a change. I am writing to all of you > because I am out of my depth in advising her on her choices between > universities and physics departments, compensation packages, etc. In > this regard, it occurred to me that any of you might have good > advice and/or connections and that Lisa might benefit by talking to > you directly. > Some background: > I believe NYU has already matched her Harvard salary and just this > week, a donor put up $5 million to build up the physics department > around her if she comes (i.e. adding two more senior faculty, > support services, etc.). > She prefers Caltech, both for the department and the ambience of LA. > Their offer involves much less teaching but also less money. I have > advised her not to take a penny less than she is making now. If > there are resources available to allow Caltech to match her deal > with NYU, that would require someone who knows the department to > check it out (and that's not me). > As Lisa's literary agent, as far as getting the attention of the > media and readers in general, Harvard is the gold standard, and > Caltech is high-value. But NYU is not even on the cultural map. (I > have exactly one client there and don't know of anyone to chase). > In any event, Lisa's next book is sold and this shouldn't be a > consideration in her decision. And in general, it hasn't hurt Steve > Weinberg and Shelly Glashow to have left Harvard. > I know: Lisa is not easy. Some people are that way. But I say she's > worth it. And, in terms of science, we all need to do what we can to EFTA_R1_01508200 EFTA02435937 > give women a place at the table. It's not easy being a woman - > perhaps the top woman - in theoretical physics, and nobody expects > her male counterparts to be regular guys (nor are they). As I have > said many times with regard to myself and the people I like to talk > to: "Nice isn't enough". (And that includes all of you!). > Contact info: > Lisa Randall mobile • > Best to all, • > JB mobile • > John Brockman > Edge Foundation, Inc. > 5 East 59th Street > New York, NY 10022 > tel• > Visit the EDGE Website: > http://www.edge.org EFTA_R1_01508201 EFTA02435938