By DANIEL K. EISENBUDUpdated: SEPTEMBER 17, 2017 11:57Designed by renowned artist Ron Arad, the laser-cut pages in the likeness of Einstein are intended to serve as a vision of our time(photo credit: COURTESY AGNIESZKA STALKOPER)
More than 100 years after Albert Einstein created the General Theory of Relativity, the theoretical astrophysicist continues to break ground in the mysterious final frontier on which he shed unprecedented light.The world’s first 3-D printed book prototype, bearing Einstein’s visage on the cover, was recently printed in zero gravity 400 kilometers above Earth to celebrate his life and enduring legacy.Titled Genius: 100 Visions of the Future, the space book printed on the International Space Station features the world’s preeminent experts in fields spanning science, technology, literature, art, business and education.The tome – officially unveiled at the “Genius 100: Innovation Summit” in Montreal on Monday – includes essays from US songstress Barbra Streisand, American alternative medicine advocate Deepak Chopra, Canadian children’s rights activists Craig and Marc Kielburger, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, American oceanographer Sylvia Earle, Canadian-born American architect Frank Gehry, Canadian Internet entrepreneur and philanthropist Jeff Skoll, US filmmaker and Internet pioneer Tiffany Shlain and Nigerian Transparency International co-founder Obiageli Ezekwesili.“Each of its pages is dedicated to a single contributor’s vision,” explained Elan Divon, vice president of Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which helped launch the mission to celebrate one of the university’s founders.“Designed by renowned artist Ron Arad, the specially designed, laser-cut pages in the likeness of Einstein serve as a collective vision of our time,” Divon added.Conceived by Rami Kleinmann, president and CEO of Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University, the mission to create the book in space was coordinated with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency aeronautical engineer and astronaut Soichi Noguchi and 3-D space book project manager Yifat Sharon.Speakers at the summit included luminaries in a breadth of fields. One of them, Sandra Witelson, is a Canadian neuroscientist best known for her analysis of Einstein’s brain and the ability to measure a person’s creative potential based on brain structure.Other attendees included Guy Laliberté, philanthropist and founder of Cirque du Soleil and the Lune Rouge project; US actor James Caan; Canadian philanthropists Judy and Larry Tanenbaum, Air Canada president and CEO Calin Rovinescu, Canadian 2017 Global Teacher Prize honoree Maggie Macdonnell, Hebrew University President Asher Cohen, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, and Takeshi Uchiyamada, chairman of the board of Toyota Motor Corporation.“We are truly humbled and honored to be surrounded by so many of the world’s visionaries who were able to join us in celebrating the life and legacy of Albert Einstein,” said Monette Malewski, co-chairwoman of Celebrating a Century of Genius.“It truly speaks to the relevance of Einstein and the importance of fostering the next generation of brilliant minds,” she said.
