Alan Paige Lightman is an American physicist, writer, and social entrepreneur, renowned for his dual faculty positions in the sciences and the humanities. Educated at Princeton and the California Institute of Technology, where he acquired a PhD in theoretical physics, Lightman has significantly contributed to astrophysics through his work on black holes, relativity theory, radiative processes, and the dynamics of systems of stars. His essays and articles have graced the pages of notable publications like The Atlantic, Granta, Harper's, and more.

Lightman's tenure at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is notable for his pioneering role as one of the first persons at MIT to hold a joint faculty position in both the sciences and the humanities. There, he is currently a professor of the practice of the humanities. His exploration of the intersections among science, philosophy, religion, and spirituality has made a profound impact, particularly through his international bestseller Einstein's Dreams and his novel The Diagnosis, which was a finalist for the National Book Award.

As the founder of Harpswell, a nonprofit organization aimed at advancing a new generation of women leaders in Southeast Asia, Lightman's influence extends beyond academia and literature into social entrepreneurship. He has been honored with six honorary doctoral degrees in recognition of his contributions. Additionally, Lightman hosts the public-television series Searching: Our Quest for Meaning in the Age of Science, further bridging the gap between science and the humanities.