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February 4, 2009

Face of space Tyson laments Americans' scientific illiteracy



PJ Slinger:

Neil deGrasse Tyson is one in a million.

He said so himself.

"There are six-and-half billion people on this planet, and there are 6,500 astrophysicists, so that makes each of us (astrophysicists) one in a million," Tyson said Monday night at the Wisconsin Union Theater as part of the UW's Distinguished Lecture Series.

It's too bad there aren't a lot more like Tyson, who kept the packed house enthralled with his charisma, knowledge and off-the-cuff humor for more than two hours.

Tyson is the 21st century face of space, a mantle previously held by the late, great Carl Sagan. Tyson is director of the Hayden Planetarium and the host of PBS' "NOVA ScienceNOW" program, aimed at educating a new generation of Americans in science.

And that is no small task.

Tyson pointed out numerous examples of scientific illiteracy in the U.S., including a general lack of understanding and a belief in silly superstitions.

On the screen behind him he showed a photo of the inside of an elevator in a tall building, and how there was no button for the 13th floor.

"We are supposedly a technologically advanced country, and yet people are afraid of the number 13?" he said.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at February 4, 2009 12:36 PM
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