The fourth annual World Science Festival kicks off on Wednesday in New York City. Legendary actor and science ‘geek’ Alan Alda visited the set of Good Day New York to talk about the festival. He was joined by Professor Brian Greene of Columbia University.

In 20 venues all over New York City, 150 scientists and top thinkers will converge on the Big Apple to immerse people in the wonder and excitement of science. It all starts at Lincoln Center, where Alda’s new science play will be read by Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Liev Schreiber, David Morse and of course Alda himself. Radiance chronicles the life and passions of Marie Curie to mark the 100th Anniversary of her second Nobel Prize, this one in Chemistry.

A controversial event about longevity will have people talking for years to come. Biomedical gerontologist Aubrey de Grey says that the first person to live for 1,000 years has already been born. He works full-time to find a way to slow down and eventually halt the aging process.

Pat Metheny performs while neuroscientists watch how he improvises in an effort to find that spark of spontaneity. And a special event to get kids excited about science careers will showcase some of the coolest jobs in science.

For those outside of the New York City area, you can still tune in to pieces of the science festival. Select programs will be broadcast live on the Internet. The World Science Festival live webcast schedule lists those events where you need not be present to get the science.

“It’s a place where you can immerse yourself in the drama and wonders of science and feel that you get it.” — Dr. Brian Greene, physicist, mathematician and co-founder of the World Science Festival