Space Scientist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein’s Travel Goals? Stay Here on Earth

Revenge travel is out of style (it never really resonated with us anyway). This year, our focus is on reconnecting through travel, which has emerged as the primary motivation for exploring the world in the post-pandemic era. After a challenging few years, people are venturing out with renewed excitement and purpose. To understand what “reconnection” means to them, we spoke with 11 well-traveled celebrities. Their journeys range from solo adventures and culinary explorations in Italy to reunions with long-lost friends, honoring those who have passed, and making important visits to family.

Theoretical physicist and Substack sensation Chanda Prescod-Weinstein—author of The Disordered Cosmos, which is revolutionizing our understanding of the universe and its scholars—offers her insights on traveling the globe. We have plenty more interviews lined up for further inspiration.

Which destination is beckoning you back?

I’ve had the chance to explore Detroit a few times lately, and I’m completely enchanted by it. One standout location I visited was the African Bead Museum. It’s truly one-of-a-kind. The artist Dabls has transformed the building into a breathtaking mosaic and sculpture masterpiece. His passion for the beads and the community his museum serves radiates throughout the space. I cherished our conversation and hearing his captivating stories about Detroit—he even shared a few tales about my hometown, Los Angeles.

Which place evokes a sense of home, even if it's not your birthplace?

I spent a couple of years in Toronto with my ex-wife while pursuing my graduate studies. Although it’s not my hometown, it felt immediately familiar. Coming from a Caribbean family and growing up in a rich multicultural setting, Toronto had all the elements I was accustomed to and then some. Each time I return, I feel a deep sense of belonging, even as gentrification poses challenges to many communities that have contributed to its vibrant character.

Are you considering trips to reconnect? If so, in what ways?

As a Bajan, it has been far too long since my last trip to Barbados. Although I didn't grow up there, I feel a longing to understand it better. I hope to plan a visit with my mom soon. The pandemic has made it difficult, and I want to prioritize her health. However, when we do go back, I want her to take me to the village of her upbringing. Now that I’m older, I can appreciate the island’s history over the past 500 years, particularly my family’s connection to the land.

—Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, PhD, theoretical cosmologist, particle physicist, and author of The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred (Bold Type Books, 2021).

Discover more in our Reconnection Travel series.