Academia, Congress, Politics, Religion, Science

Neil deGrasse Tyson on The Importance of Science Literacy

NeildeGrasseTyson - CopySubmitted by Elaine Magliaro, Weekend Contributor

Last week, I wrote a post titled “Cosmos” Host Neil deGrasse Tyson Speaks Out about the News Media, Flat Earthers, Science Deniers, Climate Change Skeptics, Religion, and Dogma. Tyson—an astrophysicist, director of the Natural History Museum’s Hayden Planetarium in New York City, and the host of Fox Networks’ new science series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey—appeared on a multi-part series on Moyers and Company in January. Tyson and Bill Moyers explored a variety of topics—including the nature of an expanding, accelerating universe (and how it might end), the difference between “dark energy” and “dark matter,” the concept of God in cosmology and why science matters.

In the final episode of the series—which I’ve posted below the fold—the two men discuss science literacy and why it’s so critical to the future of our democracy, our economy, and our country’s standing in the world. Their discussion lasts about twenty minutes.

 

“Science is an enterprise that should be cherished as an activity of the free human mind. Because it transforms who we are, how we live, and it gives us an understanding of our place in the universe.”

~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

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~ Submitted by Elaine Magliaro

The views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not those of the blog, the host, or other weekend bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays or art are solely their decision and responsibility.

215 thoughts on “Neil deGrasse Tyson on The Importance of Science Literacy”

  1. Ever play a game of marbles?
    God did, billions of years ago.
    One flick gave us the big bang…
    … sending marbles scattering.
    The evolution of that flick is still unfolding before our eyes.

  2. I am an Eighth Day Dog Adventist. We believe in science not some religion. It sounds like a contraction in terms but if you have a dog for a pal you will understand.

  3. David: I retrieved those for you.

    Folks: David’s comments can be read above.

  4. I tried to reply to you Dredd. I tried twice, but the WordPress Vortex swallowed them up. If someone retrieves one, we only need one. They both say the same thing.

  6. davidm2575

    Chuck, I think you have created a stereotype of creationists the same way that some Southern Democrats in that past created a negative stereotype of blacks. Not all creationists discard science and the scientific method. Claiming that they do is like claiming all scientists are atheists. It simply is not true.
    ===================
    “All” is how Texans pronounce “oil.”

    Other than that it is a canard.

    The majority of churchianity believes that the universe or cosmos was created less than 10,000 years ago and that evolution did not, does not, and will not happen.

    Get real.

    1. Dredd wrote: “The majority of churchianity believes that the universe or cosmos was created less than 10,000 years ago and that evolution did not, does not, and will not happen.”

      I doubt most of “churchianity” believes the cosmos was created less than 10,000 years ago. The seminaries are stronger advocates for evolution than the scientists are. I constantly hear from “churched” people on this list express objections to creationist interpretations.

      In any case, the subject was not “churchianity” but creationists. I am a creationist, but I am not one of your “churched” people. Where does that place me in your analysis? Nevertheless, I am not a young earth creationist, and even though I am a creationist, I also believe that evolutionary processes are part of the history of biological organisms of the planet. One only needs to look at the existence of human races to understand the truth of that. I don’t think there is a “churched” person who could argue with the fact that if the Creator did make Adam and Eve, humans have evolved since that time because the races have distinct differences between them caused by geographic isolation.

    2. Dredd wrote: “The majority of churchianity believes that the universe or cosmos was created less than 10,000 years ago and that evolution did not, does not, and will not happen.”

      I doubt most of “churchianity” believes the cosmos was created less than 10,000 years ago. The seminaries are stronger advocates for evolution than the scientists are. I constantly hear from churched people on this list express objections to creationist interpretations.

      In any case, the subject was not “churchianity” but creationists. I am a creationist, but I am not one of your churched people. Where does that place me in your analysis? Nevertheless, I am not a young earth creationist, and even though I am a creationist, I also believe that evolutionary processes are part of the history of biological organisms of the planet. One only needs to look at the existence of human races to understand the truth of that. If the Creator did make Adam and Eve, humans have evolved since that time because the races have distinct differences between them caused by geographic isolation. I don’t think there is a churched person who would argue against that line of evolutionary thinking.

  8. David,
    I wouldn’t accept either. There is no point in trying to debate science with people who don’t believe in science or the scientific method. Creationists remind me of Chester A. Riley in the old comedy series Life of Riley: “Don’t confuse me with facts, my head is made up.”

    1. Chuck, I think you have created a stereotype of creationists the same way that some Southern Democrats in that past created a negative stereotype of blacks. Not all creationists discard science and the scientific method. Claiming that they do is like claiming all scientists are atheists. It simply is not true.

  13. Annie, if some creationists do their own program on another network, I am pretty sure they would invite Tyson to participate. Unfortunately, I doubt Tyson would accept. His method of indoctrination is dependent upon censorship of critics.

  14. Do we seem to have a protagonist agenda against Elaine, Nick?

    I think Elaine does fine work, If you don’t like her topics, view points or writing style then as the professor has pointed out and suggested to several others …. You are free to go to another site that comports with your view points….

    Other than that… Please leave people you disagree with alone…. You can be a bully…

  16. Well… the creationists have over 400, 000 churches in america, and hundreds of TV evangelists.. Doctor Tyson has one Planetarium: how much more equal time does the Almighty require ?

  17. Annie, actually, with the way the MSM goes out of its way to provide “balance” never mind the facts with regard to so much else today (the economy, global warming come to mind), I wouldn’t be surprised if the creationists were given a platform on some non-christian network.
    Anyway, probably will get a gig on CBN. Wonder what they’ll call it? Could be fun…

  20. Paul Schulte, You asked Ms. Magliaro if she would have another interesting topic this weekend. This is a, “You’re not the boss of me” answer. Welcome to Weekend @ Turley’s!!

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