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Neil deGrasse Tyson

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Neil deGrasse Tyson
Tyson at the NASA Advisory Council in Washington, D.C., November 2005
Born (1958-10-05) October 5, 1958 (age 65)
Manhattan, New York City, United States[1]
Alma materHarvard University (AB)
University of Texas at Austin (MA)
Columbia University (MPhil, PhD)
AwardsNASA Distinguished Public Service Medal
Scientific career
FieldsAstrophysics, physical cosmology, science communication
InstitutionsHayden Planetarium, PBS, Planetary Society

Neil deGrasse Tyson (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˈniːəl dəˈɡræs ˈtaɪsən/ born October 5, 1958) is an American astrophysicist and science communicator. He is currently the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space and a research associate in the department of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. Since 2006 he has hosted the educational science television show NOVA scienceNOW on PBS and has been a frequent guest on The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Real Time with Bill Maher, and Jeopardy!. It was announced on August 5, 2011, that Tyson will be hosting a new sequel to Carl Sagan's Cosmos: A Personal Voyage television series.[2]

Early life

Tyson was born as the second of three children in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, but was raised in the Bronx.[1] His mother, Sunchita Feliciano Tyson, was a gerontologist, and his father, Cyril deGrasse Tyson, was a sociologist, human resource commissioner for the New York City mayor, John Lindsay, and was the first Director of HARYOU.[3][4] Tyson attended the Bronx High School of Science (1972–1976, astrophysics emphasis) where he was captain of the wrestling team and was editor-in-chief of the school's Physical Science Journal. Tyson had an abiding interest in astronomy from the age of eleven, following his visit to the Hayden Planetarium at age nine. Tyson recalls that "so strong was that imprint [of the night sky] that I'm certain that I had no choice in the matter, that in fact, the universe called me."[5] He obsessively studied astronomy in his teens, and eventually even gained some fame in the astronomy community by giving lectures on the subject at the age of fifteen.

Astronomer Carl Sagan, who was a faculty member at Cornell University, tried to recruit Tyson to Cornell for undergraduate studies.[6] During an interview with writer Daniel Simone,[7] Tyson said, "Interestingly, when I applied to Cornell, my application dripped of my passion for the study and research of the Universe. Somehow the admissions office brought my application to the attention of the late Dr. Sagan, and he actually took the initiative and care to contact me. He was very inspirational and a most powerful influence. Dr. Sagan was as great as the universe, an effective mentor." Tyson chose to attend Harvard University, however, where he majored in physics and lived in Currier House. He was a member of the crew team during his freshman year, but returned to wrestling, eventually lettering in his senior year. Tyson earned a bachelor of arts in physics from Harvard in 1980 and began his graduate work at the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a master of arts in astronomy in 1983. In addition to wrestling and rowing in college, he was also active in dancing in styles including jazz, ballet, Afro-Caribbean, and Latin Ballroom. In 1985, he won a gold medal with the University of Texas dance team at a national tournament in the International Latin Ballroom style. He started to work toward a doctorate at the University of Texas, but transferred to Columbia University in 1988 after his committee was dissolved.[8] At Columbia University, in 1989, he received a master of philosophy in astrophysics and, in 1991, he earned a doctor of philosophy in astrophysics.

Career

Tyson with students at the 2007 American Astronomical Society conference

Tyson's research has focused on observations in stellar formation and evolution as well as cosmology and galactic astronomy. He has held numerous positions at institutions including University of Maryland, Princeton University, the American Museum of Natural History, and Hayden Planetarium.

Tyson has written a number of popular books on astronomy. In 1995, he began to write the "Universe" column for Natural History magazine. In a column he authored for the magazine in 2002, Tyson coined the term "Manhattanhenge" to describe the two days annually on which the evening sun aligns with the cross streets of the street grid in Manhattan, making the sunset visible along unobstructed side streets. Tyson's column also influenced his work as a professor with The Great Courses.[9]

In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Tyson to serve on the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry and in 2004 to serve on the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy, the latter better known as the "Moon, Mars, and Beyond" commission. Soon afterward he was awarded the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by NASA.[10]

In 2004, he hosted the four-part "Origins" miniseries of PBS's Nova,[11] and, with Donald Goldsmith, co-authored the companion volume for this series, Origins: Fourteen Billion Years Of Cosmic Evolution.[12] He again collaborated with Goldsmith as the narrator on the documentary 400 Years of the Telescope which premiered on PBS in April 2009.

Tyson in December 2011 at a conference marking 1,000 days after the launch of the spacecraft Kepler

As director of the Hayden Planetarium, Tyson bucked traditional thinking in order to keep Pluto from being referred to as the ninth planet in exhibits at the center. Tyson has explained that he wanted to look at commonalities between objects, grouping the terrestrial planets together, the gas giants together, and Pluto with like objects and to get away from simply counting the planets. He has stated on The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, and BBC Horizon that this decision has resulted in large amounts of hate mail, much of it from children.[13] In 2006, the I.A.U. confirmed this assessment by changing Pluto to the "dwarf planet" classification. Daniel Simone wrote of the interview with Tyson describing his frustration. "For a while, we were not very popular here at the Hayden Planetarium."

Tyson has been vice-president, president, and chairman of the board of the Planetary Society. He is also the host of the PBS program Nova ScienceNow.[14] He attended and was a speaker at the Beyond Belief: Science, Religion, Reason and Survival symposium on November 2006. In 2007, Tyson, who is known for his vibrant character, cheerful demeanor, and awe of the vastness of the universe itself, was chosen to be a regular on The History Channel's popular series The Universe.

In May 2009, he launched a one-hour radio talk show called StarTalk, which he co-hosted with comedienne Lynne Koplitz. The show was syndicated on Sunday afternoons on KTLK AM in Los Angeles and WHFS in Washington D.C. The show lasted for thirteen weeks, but was resurrected in December 2010 and then, co-hosted with comedians Chuck Nice and Leighann Lord instead of Koplitz. The show is also available via the internet through a live stream or in the form of a podcast.[15]

In April 2011, Tyson was the keynote speaker at the 93rd International Convention of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society of the Two-year School. He and James Randi delivered a lecture entitled Skepticism, which related directly with the convention's theme of The Democratization of Information: Power, Peril, and Promise.

In 2012, Tyson announced that he would appear in a YouTube series based on his popular StarTalk radio show. A premiere date for the show has not been announced, but it will be distributed on the Nerdist YouTube Channel.[16]

Views

Tyson has argued that the concept of intelligent design thwarts the advance of scientific knowledge.[17][18][19] When asked if he believed in a higher power, Tyson responded: "Every account of a higher power that I've seen described, of all religions that I've seen, include many statements with regard to the benevolence of that power. When I look at the universe and all the ways the universe wants to kill us, I find it hard to reconcile that with statements of beneficence."[20] In an interview on podcast Point of Inquiry, Tyson defined himself as an agnostic.[21][22]

He has written and broadcast extensively about his views of religion, spirituality, and the spirituality of science including the essays, "The Perimeter of Ignorance"[23] and "Holy Wars,"[19] both appearing in Natural History magazine and the 2006 Beyond Belief workshop.[24][25] Tyson has collaborated with evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and presented talks with him on religion and science.[26]

Tyson lived near the World Trade Center and was an eyewitness to the September 11, 2001 attacks. He wrote a widely circulated letter on what he saw.[27] On June 6, 2008, after the conclusion of the Democratic presidential primaries, Tyson wrote an op-ed in The New York Times in which he presented a statistical analysis of then recent polling data. From this analysis, Tyson concluded that in a hypothetical election held on the day of the publication of his article, Barack Obama would lose to John McCain, whereas Hillary Clinton would beat McCain.[28]

Tyson collaborated with PETA on a PSA that stated, "You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that kindness is a virtue."[29] He also granted PETA an interview, in which he discussed the concept of intelligence (both of human and other animals), the failure of humans to heretofore communicate meaningfully with other animals, and the need of humans to be empathetic.[30]

Media appearances

"…[a] most important feature is the
analysis of the information that
comes your way. And that’s what I
don’t see enough of in this world.
There’s a level of gullibility that
leaves people susceptible to being
taken advantage of. I see science
literacy as kind of a vaccine against
charlatans who would try to exploit
your ignorance..."

—Neil deGrasse Tyson
from a transcript of an
interview by Roger Bingham
on The Science Network [31][32]

As a science communicator, Tyson regularly appears on television, radio, and various other media outlets. He has been a regular guest on The Colbert Report, and host Stephen Colbert refers to him in his comedic book I Am America (And So Can You!), noting in his chapter on scientists that most scientists are "decent, well-intentioned people," but, presumably tongue-in-cheek, that "Neil DeGrasse Tyson is an absolute monster."[33] He has appeared numerous times on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He also has made appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, and The Rachel Maddow Show.[34] He served as one of the central interviewees on the various episodes of the History Channel science program, The Universe. Tyson participated on the NPR radio quiz program Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! in 2007.[35]. He has appeared several times on Real Time with Bill Maher, and he was also featured on an episode of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? as the ask the expert lifeline.[36] Tyson has also spoken many times on Philadelphia's popular morning show, Preston and Steve, on 93.3 WMMR.

Tyson has been featured as a guest interviewee on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe and Skepticality podcasts and has been in several of the Symphony of Science videos.[37][38]

In 2007 Tyson was the keynote speaker during the dedication ceremony of Deerfield Academy's new science center, the Koch Center. He emphasized the impact science will have on the twenty-first century, as well as explaining that investments into science may be costly, but their returns in the form of knowledge gained, and piquing interest is invaluable. Tyson has also appeared as the keynote speaker at The Amazing Meeting, a science and skepticism conference hosted by the James Randi Educational Foundation.

Tyson made a guest appearance as himself in the episode "Brain Storm" of Stargate Atlantis.[39] alongside Bill Nye and in the episode "The Apology Insufficiency" of The Big Bang Theory.[40]

Tyson is also a frequent participant in the website Reddit’s AMAs (Ask Me Anythings) where he is responsible for 3 of the top 10 most popular AMAs of all-time. [41]

Personal life

Signing a copy of his book Origins, portrait taken at JREF's The Amazing Meeting 6

Tyson lives in Lower Manhattan with his wife and two children.[42][43]

Tyson is a fine wine enthusiast whose collection was featured in the May 2000 issue of the Wine Spectator and the Spring 2005 issue The World of Fine Wine.

Selected awards and honors

Awards

Selected honorary doctorates

Honors

  • 2000 Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive, People Magazine[45]
  • 2001 asteroid named: 13123 Tyson, renamed from Asteroid 1994KA by the International Astronomical Union
  • 2001 The Tech 100, voted by editors of Crain's Magazine to be among the 100 most influential technology leaders in New York
  • 2004 Fifty Most Important African-Americans in Research Science[46]
  • 2007 Harvard 100: Most Influential Harvard Alumni Magazine, Cambridge. Massachusetts
  • 2007 The Time 100, voted by the editors of Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world[47]
  • 2008 Discover Magazine selected him one of the "50 Best Brains in Science".[48]

Selected books by Tyson

List of books by Tyson:[49]

  • Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier (2012) ISBN 0-393-08210-5
  • The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet (2009) ISBN 0-393-06520-0
  • Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries (2007) ISBN 0-393-33016-8
  • The Sky Is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist (1st ed. 2000 / 2nd ed. 2004) ISBN 978-1-59102-188-9
  • Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution (co-authored with Donald Goldsmith) (2004) ISBN 0-393-32758-2
  • My Favorite Universe (A twelve part lecture series) (2003) ISBN 1-56585-663-5
  • City of Stars: A New Yorker's Guide to the Cosmos (2002)
  • Cosmic Horizons: Astronomy at the Cutting Edge (2000) ISBN 1-56584-602-8
  • One Universe: At Home in the Cosmos (2000) ISBN 0-309-06488-0
  • Just Visiting This Planet (1998) ISBN 0-385-48837-8
  • Universe Down to Earth (1994) ISBN 0-231-07560-X
  • Merlin's Tour of the Universe (1989) ISBN 0-385-48835-1

References

  1. ^ a b Neil deGrasse Tyson - Called by the Universe. The Science Network. Retrieved February 9, 2012.
  2. ^ Blum, Matt (August 5, 2011). "Cosmos Will Get a Sequel Hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson". Wired. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  3. ^ Whitaker, Charles (August 2000). "Super Stargazer". Ebony 55 (10): 60. ISSN 0012-9011.
  4. ^ Advance Reading for Keynote address. Cornerstone. Accessed September 4, 2009.
  5. ^ Stephen Colbert Interviews Neil deGrasse Tyson. interview. January 29th, 2010. {{cite AV media}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ Whitaker, Charles (2000). "Super Stargazer – astrophysicist Neil De Grasse Tyson – brief article". Ebony. Johnson Publishing. Retrieved June 24, 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  7. ^ "A Conversation With Neil deGrasse Tyson". PBS.org. July 2004. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  8. ^ Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist. December 12, 2008. Event occurs at 45:43. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  9. ^ "Neil deGrasse Tyson". The Great Courses. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Symposium Awards". National Space Symposium. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
  11. ^ WGBH Educational Foundation (2004). "NOVA – Origins – PBS". Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Retrieved June 7, 2009.
  12. ^ Tyson, Neil deGrasse; Goldsmith, Donald (2004). Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. ISBN 978-0-393-05992-2.
  13. ^ The Colbert Report, August 17, 2006
  14. ^ "NOVA – scienceNOW – PBS". Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). Retrieved June 7, 2009.
  15. ^ "StarTalk Radio Show". Retrieved May 30, 2011.
  16. ^ Nerdist Channel Sneak Peek (March 27, 2012) from YouTube
  17. ^ "YouTube – Neil deGrasse Tyson on "Intelligent Design" at "Beyond Belief", Youtube". Youtube.com. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  18. ^ "Neil deGrasse Tyson : "The Perimeter of Ignorance"". Haydenplanetarium.org. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  19. ^ a b Holy Wars from PBS
  20. ^ "YouTube video". Youtube.com. April 9, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  21. ^ Chris Mooney (February 28, 2011). "Neil deGrasse Tyson – Communicating Science". Point of Inquiry (Podcast). Center for Inquiry. Retrieved March 3, 2011. Widely claimed by atheists, Tyson is actually an agnostic.
  22. ^ Tyson, Neil deGrasse. "Neil explains his views on youtube". Big Think on YouTube. Retrieved June 15, 2012. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  23. ^ The Perimeter of Ignorance from Tyson's website
  24. ^ Beyond Belief 2006: Science, Religion, Reason and Survival from The Science Network
  25. ^ Beyond Belief '06 – Neil deGrasse Tyson (Monday, November 5) from YouTube
  26. ^ "Richard Dawkins website". Richarddawkins.net. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  27. ^ "The Horror, The Horror" from Tyson's website
  28. ^ Neil deGrasse Tyson (June 6, 2008). "Vote by Numbers". The New York Times. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
  29. ^ "Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson's Interview With PETA". Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  30. ^ "Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson's Exclusive PETA Interview". Retrieved August 6, 2011.
  31. ^ http://thesciencenetwork.org/programs/the-science-studio/neil-degrasse-tyson
  32. ^ http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/read/2009/07/23/called-by-the-universe
  33. ^ Colbert, Stephen (2007). I Am America (And So Can You!). New York: Grand Central Publishing Hachette Book Group USA. ISBN 0-446-58050-3.
  34. ^ "Watch | Neil deGrasse Tyson". Haydenplanetarium.org. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  35. ^ Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! from NPR
  36. ^ "Episode 201 guest stars". HBO. Retrieved February 9, 2011 & August 5, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  37. ^ "Episode: A Theory of Everything? Podcast". PodcastDirectory. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  38. ^ "Episode: Proving String Theory Podcast". PodcastDirectory. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  39. ^ ""Stargate: Atlantis" Brain Storm (2008)" at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  40. ^ ""The Big Bang Theory" The Apology Insufficiency (2010)" at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  41. ^ "Inside the Reddit AMA: The Interview Revolution That Has Everyone Talking". Forbes. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  42. ^ "Profile on Official Tyson website". Haydenplanetarium.org. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  43. ^ "Dr Neil DeGrasse Tyson – TAM6", 2008, Vimeo, 38:33 mark, accessed March 4, 2011.
  44. ^ Tyson's website. Honors listing.
  45. ^ People Magazine. November 13, 2000 http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20132902,00.html. Retrieved December 16, 2011. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  46. ^ "50 Of the Most Inspiring African Americans", Edited by Patricia Hinds, 2002, Essence Books (New York), p. 145.
  47. ^ Michael D. Lemonick (May 3, 2007). "Neil deGrasse Tyson". Time – The Time 100. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
  48. ^ Powell, Corey (November 19, 2008). "The 50 Most Important, Influential, and Promising People in Science". Discover Magazine. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  49. ^ "Books by Neil deGrasse Tyson". haydenplanetarium.org. Retrieved October 25, 2009.

External links

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