Creativity and ingenuity aren't spread evenly. Throughout history, certain locations have become hubs for artistic, business, and technological innovation, for reasons that aren't always readily apparent. Why Silicon Valley right now? Why Florence during the Renaissance?

In search of answers, acclaimed travel writer and former NPR correspondent Eric Weiner traveled the world to investigate the relationship between society's innovative ideas and their surroundings. The result is his new book, The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World's Most Creative Places, From Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley.

Join Future Tense at Civic Hall in New York on Thursday, Feb. 11, for a conversation between Eric Weiner and Dayo Olopade, media partners strategist for Facebook, on why certain places at certain times become the capitals of human progress. For more information and to RSVP, visit the New America website.

Participants:

Eric Weiner
Author, The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World's Most Creative Places, From Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley

Dayo Olopade
Media partners strategist, Facebook
Author, The Bright Continent: Breaking Rules and Making Change in Modern Africa