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Cc: Nick Pritzker
Elon Musk
"W. Daniel Hillis"
<dann
liedminds.net>, Jeffrey Epstein
Larry Page
, Salar Kamangar
, Nathan Myhrvold
, Charles Simonyi
, Jeff Skoll
, Pierre Omidyar pierre@omidyar.org>, Sean Parker
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
> give women a place at the table. It's not easy being a woman -
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> 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: 212.935.8900 x110
>
• Visit the EDGE Website:
> http://www.edge.org
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