Sylvester James "Jim" Gates, Jr., is a theoretical physicist who is most known for his work on supersymmetry, supergravity and superstring theory. He is the John S. Toll Professor of Physics at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Director of the String and Particle Theory Center and Affiliate Professor of Mathematics. In 2013 he was awarded the National Medal of Science, the highest award in the U.S. given to scientists. He is former president of the National Society of Black Physicists, a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Institute of Physics in the U.K. Professor Gates lectures regularly and makes frequent appearances in documentaries about science.
Cathie Pelletier is the critically acclaimed author of twelve books, including The Funeral Makers, The Weight of Winter, and The One-Way Bridge. Several have been translated into numerous languages and two have been made into films. She lives in Allagash, Maine.