PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: BILL NYE SAVES THE WORLD: SPECIAL SCREENING AND DISCUSSION {PUBLIC SHORT VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented at The Paley Center for Media in New York. This evening celebrates "Bill Nye Saves the World," the new educational talk series featuring scientist Bill Nye and a variety of guests.
Actor and former Associate Director in the White House Office of Public Engagement Kal Penn moderates the following panelists: special correspondents Derek Muller and Joanna Hausmann; and Nye.
The panelists touch on such topics as: Nye's decision to return to television after his children's series "Bill Nye the Science Guy" concluded in 1998; the advantages of working with Netflix; the show's wide-ranging target audience; the show's message about the importance of "thinking critically"; their interest in keeping up with current events and popular "pseudo-science" myths, like unfounded predictions about overpopulation; their use of panels of experts who do not necessarily agree with one another; Nye's view that the Founding Fathers were likely "nerds"; how Hausmann uses her comedy background on the show; her uncomfortable eight-hour visit with David Gibson, a "sound-healing" expert, as depicted in one of the episodes; Muller's unusual Doctor of Philosophy Degree; why some people prefer mysticism to the "downer" of science; depictions of science in popular culture, including "The Big Bang Theory" and "The X-Files"; the problem of "The CSI Effect," in which jurors expect perfect, conclusive forensic evidence in court cases because of the popular TV franchise; Nye's infamous on-air debate with conservative TV host Tucker Carlson about the dangers of climate change; the strong public pushback to many conservative politicians' "anti-science" views; and how Nye's mother influenced his interest in promoting women's and girls' participation in science.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: Nye's involvement with the "Ellen's Energy Adventure" display at Epcot Center in Walt Disney World; the pointlessness of arguing with "flat-earthers" and other conspiracy theorists; Nye's upcoming book "Everything All At Once: How Nerds Solve Problems"; his serious concern about climate change and belief that life will soon be discovered on Mars or Europa, one of Jupiter's moons; Muller's role as emcee at the upcoming Earth Day March for Science in Washington D.C.; and how depleted funding for scientific research will eventually harm the economy.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: November 30, 1999 7:40 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:30:34
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 129208
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Kal Penn … Moderator
- Derek Muller … Panelist
- Joanna Hausmann … Panelist
- Bill Nye … Panelist
- Tucker Carlson
- David Gibson