From diseases and disasters to the miracles wrought by evolution, the environmental forces that shape our lives are the inspiration for countless science writers. This event featured five award-winning authors whose best-selling books explore the complicated interplay of science, ethics, history and social responsibility. Fiction and non-fiction—whether set in the past, present or future— both offer fascinating perspectives on our struggle with nature, and the power of science to see us through.
World Science Festival’s “Science and Story” series gathers the world’s foremost writers and thinkers to discuss how they craft stories that bring the vitality and wonder of science to life.
Photograph: Jon Smith