Neil deGrasse Tyson

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Neil deGrasse Tyson : biography

October 5, 1958 –

Media appearances

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." 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. 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. from NPR 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. Tyson has also spoken many times on Philadelphia’s popular morning show, Preston and Steve, on 93.3 WMMR, as well as on SiriusXM’s Ron and Fez.

Tyson has been featured as a guest interviewee on The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe, Radiolab, and Skepticality podcasts and has been in several of the Symphony of Science videos.

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 alongside Bill Nye and in the episode "The Apology Insufficiency" of The Big Bang Theory.

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.

Neil deGrasse Tyson also made an appearance in an episode of Martha Speaks as himself.

In Action Comics #14 (January 2013), which was published November 7, 2012, Tyson appears in the story, in which he determines that Superman’s home planet, Krypton, orbited the red dwarf LHS 2520 in the constellation Corvus 27.1 lightyears from Earth. Tyson assisted DC Comics in selecting a real-life star that would be an appropriate parent star to Krypton, and picked Corvus, which is Latin for "Crow",Wall, Mike (November 7, 2012). . Scientific AmericanPotter, Ned (November 5, 2012). . ABC News. and which is the mascot of Superman’s high school, the Smallville Crows.Gregorian, Dareh (November 5, 2012). . New York Post.Henderson, David (November 5, 2012). . Multiversity Comics.

Selected awards and honors

Awards

  • 2001 Medal of Excellence, Columbia University, New York City
  • 2004 NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal
  • 2007 Klopsteg Memorial Award winner
  • 2009 Douglas S. Morrow Public Outreach Award from the Space Foundation for significant contributions to public awareness of space programs.
  • 2009 Isaac Asimov Award from the American Humanist Association .

Selected honorary doctorates

  • 1997 York College, City University of New York
  • 2000 Ramapo College, Mahwah, New Jersey
  • 2000 Dominican College, Orangeburg, New York
  • 2001 University of Richmond, Richmond, Virginia
  • 2002 Bloomfield College, Bloomfield, New Jersey
  • 2003 Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts
  • 2004 College of Staten Island, City University of New York
  • 2006 Pace University, New York City
  • 2007 Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts
  • 2007 Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts
  • 2008 University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • 2010 University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama
  • 2010 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York
  • 2010 Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, Connecticut
  • 2011 Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
  • 2012 Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts
  • 2012 Western New England University, Springfield, Massachusetts

Honors

  • 2000 Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive, People Magazine
  • 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

"50 Of the Most Inspiring African Americans", Edited by Patricia Hinds, 2002, Essence Books (New York), p. 145.

  • 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
  • 2008 Discover Magazine selected him one of the "50 Best Brains in Science".