Dr. Trefil holds a PH.D in theoretical physics and has held appointments at some of the world's most prestigious research institutes. He also has written extensively about science for the general audience and is an outspoken supporter of scientific literacy.

James Trefil was born in Chicago and educated in the public schools. After receiving a BS in physics from the University of Illinois, he won a Marshall scholarship to Oxford University, where he studied physics and the philosophy of science and received the BA and MA degrees. He finished his studies as a National Science Foundation Fellow at Stanford University, where he received an MS and Ph.D. in theoretical physics.

He held postdoctoral, visiting, and junior faculty appointments at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN), Laboratory for Nuclear Sciences at MIT, German Electron Synchrotron Laboratory in Hamburg, University of Illinois, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, and Argonne National Laboratory before joining the faculty of the University of Virginia, where he eventually became University Professor and Professor of Physics.

He has held several appointments as Visiting Scholar in the Department of Geophysical Sciences at the University of Chicago, and in 1987 he joined the faculty of George Mason University as the Clarence J. Robinson Professor of Physics.

He has written extensively about science for the general audience, including more than 25 books. He serves as a regular contributor and science consultant for Smithsonian and Astronomy magazines and is the contributing editor for science for USA WEEKEND magazine.

As “Mr. Science” in USA WEEKEND's new column, “Ask Mr. Science,” Dr. Trefil answers questions from all areas of science sent in by readers. (To ask "Mr. Science" a question of 200 words or less, write to USA WEEKEND, 1000 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22229-0012, or send e-mail to science@usaweekend.com. Be sure to include your name, address, and daytime telephone number.)

James Trefil has served as a science commentator and a member of the Science Advisory Board for National Public Radio and numerous PBS productions.

A Fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Association of the Advancement of Science, and the World Economic Forum, he is a member of the Davos Global Issues Group and a General Councilor of the American Physical Society. He is a recipient of the American Association for the Advancement of Science-Westinghouse Science Journalism Award and the John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship.

His recent books include:

• Science Matters: Achieving Science Literacy (with Robert Hazen)
  
• A Scientist in the City
  
• The Facts of Life: Science and the Abortion Controversy (with Harold Morowitz)
  
• The Edge of the Unknown
  
• Are We Unique? A Scientist Explores the Complexity of the Human Brain

In addition to his books, Dr. Trefil has published more than 100 papers in professional journals and has made contributions to research in elementary particle physics, fluid mechanics, medical physics (including cancer research), and the earth sciences.

• Building With Stone, or How Do You Keep the Roof From Falling In?
  How do the properties of stone and brick shape the buildings you will visit? Why is the Parthenon (built in limestone) different from Egyptian temples (built in sandstone)? What should you look for in the ancient stone buildings you'll be seeing on your tours and in the newer buildings you see everyday at home? Join prize-winning author James Trefil as he takes you through the fascinating world of stone.

• Cities: How They Are Born, How They Grow, and How They Die?
  The kinds of cities we live in are shaped by our technology and science. Come along as prize-winning author and scientist, Dr. James Trefil takes us on a lecture tour of how the cities we're visiting (and the ones we live in) will look in the future. Learn about small cities, large cities, edge cities, old and new cities. Learn about their life cycle of birth, growth and ultimate passing away.

• How the Forces of Nature Built the Mediterranean
  The Mediterranean, like everything else on our planet, is temporary. It hasn't always been here, and it will disappear sometime in the future. In this illustrated lecture Dr. Trefil takes us through the fascinating history of the body of water we are sailing upon, a history that includes the lost continent of Atlantis and what modern geologists think may have been Noah's Flood. Come along on this discovery of the forces of nature, both geologic and geographic, that allowed the roots of Western civilization to take hold in this enchanting and picturesque region.

• The History and Future of the Olympic Games: Are There Limits?
  With the Olympics coming home to Athens in 2004, it's not too early to start thinking about the games--surely the greatest and longest-lived spectacle ever conceived. Join noted author and scholar James Trefil as he takes you on a tour of the colorful history (and mystery) of the ancient games and their modern incarnation. Look into the future and ask what athletes will be able to achieve--is there a 9-foot (3 meter) high jump in our future? A three-minute mile (1500 meter) run? You'll never know unless you come to the lecture!

• HOW TO LOOK AT A STONE BUILDING
  How do the properties of stone and brick shape the buildings you will visit? How do the Maya pyramids differ from their older counterparts in Egypt? What should you be looking for in the ancient stone buildings you will be seeing on your tours as well as the newer buildings you see everyday at home? Join prize-winning author James Trefil as he takes you through the fascinating world of stone

• THE NATURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS
  The more we learn about animals, the smarter they seem and the more we learn about computers, the more they seem to be able to do. Between smart animals and artificial intelligence, is there anything left that is uniquely human? Can a machine be intelligent and conscious, or are there fundamental differences between the human brain and the machines it creates?

• THE EXTINCTION OF THE DINOSAURS
  The dinosaurs were among the most successful species to inhabit the earth, but after millions of years of dominance they suddenly disappeared. How scientists unraveled the mystery of their disappearance is one of the great detective stories of all time. A crucial piece of the story was discovered a few years ago off the coast of Yucatan where the Olympic Voyager will be sailing. Find out what we know and what we have yet to learn about this fascinating subject.

• HOW THE FORCES OF NATURE FORMED THE CARIBBEAN
  The Caribbean, like everything else on our planet, is temporary. It hasn't always been here and it will disappear sometime in the future. In this illustrated lecture, Dr. Trefil takes us through the fascinating history of the body of water we are sailing upon. Come along on this discovery of the forces of nature, both geologic and geographic, that allowed the expanding of Western civilization to take hold in this enchanting and picturesque region of the New World.

• THE MAYA EXPERIENCE - PART I AND PART II
  Roundtable discussions

• 'ONE-ON-ONE' WITH PASSENGERS

• THE SEARCH FOR THE GREEN FLASH-(sunset at sea)