Neil Degrasse Tyson Keynote Speech at Space Symposium - General

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLzKjxglNyE[/media] Another great speech by Dr. Tyson. This one focuses on the cultural effects of space exploration and NASA, touching briefly on economic and political effects as well. [editline]22nd April 2012[/editline] Why does it make me get rid of player_embedded part of the URL? So inconvenient.

I wish there were scientists like him in Congress, I mean there's like 2 doctors and a meteorologist in the HR and no one else. This country needs stronger scientific influence like the Black Carl Sagan.

[QUOTE=DesolateGrun;35679302]I wish there were scientists like him in Congress, I mean there's like 2 doctors and a meteorologist in the HR and no one else. This country needs stronger scientific influence like the Black Carl Sagan.[/QUOTE] I think it's better to have scientists doing science stuff and politicians doing political stuff. I just wish more congressmen were scientifically [I]literate[/I], and gave scientists more credence when they suggest certain actions regarding the scientific future of the country.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;35679597]I think it's better to have scientists doing science stuff and politicians doing political stuff. I just wish more congressmen were scientifically [I]literate[/I], and gave scientists more credence when they suggest certain actions regarding the scientific future of the country.[/QUOTE] but we have laywers and buisnessmen running the country, those people are usually in it for the money, scientists are usually scientists for the sake of science. Scientists should be the ones choosing the fate of the science in the classrooms and the future of the space program.

[QUOTE=DesolateGrun;35679613]but we have laywers and buisnessmen running the country, those people are usually in it for the money, scientists are usually scientists for the sake of science. Scientists should be the ones choosing the fate of the science in the classrooms and the future of the space program.[/QUOTE] I agree, but politics is not science. Just from an outsider's perspective, I am incredibly frustrated with politics. Think of the way it works on the inside. It's a complex machine that runs on subtlety and manipulation. This isn't something scientists tend to be good at. They go for facts and truths versus the artifice of politics. Politicians need to listen to scientists in the subjects of education, and NASA, and the NHI, and other scientific pursuits. However, a scientist might not be qualified to speak on the subtle moralities regarding the political end of issues like healthcare, welfare, regulatory practices, and law. Lawyers tend to have those issues down because it's their world, they are comfortable there and know how to navigate through that spectrum. It certainly isn't perfect, and lawyers tend to not be the most trustworthy people out there(considering their entire career is based around manipulation of facts for the purpose of argument), but they are the people necessary to make the changes happen.

well they aren't going to because if they did we would have a literate country, but we don't. We need doctors, we need teachers, we need the voice of the people IN POLITICS, we can't let the country's future be decided with the same group of people who can't even decide on simple issues without problems. there should be Representative of the education district, of the medical district, of the Science district, in the government. You are frustrated because you understand that it isn't working right

This guy is the best.

is it true that he's making a new Cosmos series?

I think I went to middle school with his daughter. Yep, I know her, didn't even realize he was her dad then

I love this guys, truely the Carl Sagan of this generation.

[QUOTE=Axelius;35684997]I love this guys, truely the Carl Sagan of this generation.[/QUOTE] He's awesome, sure, but to use Facepunch user LaparNar's words - he's just not as down-to-Earth. It's hard to beat Sagan, and though this fine gentleman makes an honorable attempt he's not quite there.

[QUOTE=Sharker;35683187]I think I went to middle school with his daughter. Yep, I know her, didn't even realize he was her dad then[/QUOTE] Could of banged her and made a Tyson baby [editline]23rd April 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=mac338;35685895]He's awesome, sure, but to use Facepunch user LaparNar's words - he's just not as down-to-Earth. It's hard to beat Sagan, and though this fine gentleman makes an honorable attempt he's not quite there.[/QUOTE] I'm glad that he does what Carl did but he's different. You can't replace Carl and making him copy him wouldn't be as influential. Also Tyson is funny as fuck

[QUOTE=mac338;35685895]He's awesome, sure, but to use Facepunch user LaparNar's words - he's just not as down-to-Earth. It's hard to beat Sagan, and though this fine gentleman makes an honorable attempt he's not quite there.[/QUOTE] I don't know. Carl Sagan seems less down to Earth to me than Tyson. What was awesome about Sagan was that he had this level of intellect and calm eloquence. Tyson seems more raw, energetic, and ordinary. Both of them inspire passion in very different ways. [editline]23rd April 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=DesolateGrun;35686965]Also Tyson is funny as fuck[/QUOTE] Have you seen the hourlong interview of Tyson done by Colbert? If not, you should because that interview is incredibly hilarious.

Carl nailed it around 45:00, if the value of science and space exploration wants to be recognized by everyone, and not just the science community, we need to send a message so strong and so deep that it transcends the winds of political discourse, much like the fact that veteran's benefits are not even on the table for debate.

Fantastic. Also the guy at the start has the fakest hair in the world.

Neil deGrasse Tyson came to my University last night and gave a speech about all the ways the universe tries to kill us. Not only is he hilarious and informative, but he pretty much offered an 8 year old a summer job after he graduates from high school. There was also a contest where the winners got to have dinner with him before the speech. One of my friends entered in a picture of Neil deGrasse Tyson that he drew on an Etch A Sketch and he was one of the winners.

[QUOTE=yawmwen;35679597]I think it's better to have scientists doing science stuff and politicians doing political stuff. I just wish more congressmen were scientifically [I]literate[/I], and gave scientists more credence when they suggest certain actions regarding the scientific future of the country.[/QUOTE] Say we need a guy who runs all the energy stuff in a country (strongly simplified). I'd prefer a physicist/engineer with political literacy than vice versa. The same for nearly any subject that you can major in. Politics shouldn't the basic component of running things like energy management, medicine and education, it should be a framework for them. I'm not saying that all law/political sciences people should be thrown out, but they are overrepresented. It's like someone running a huge farm without ever having planted a seed, it's absurd. Here in Belgium there's a nice example: we have a minister of culture (and nature and environment, how those fit together with culture so they can be managed by one person is a mystery to me). What has she done? Law, also a bit of environmental law. And it's that person who should manage nature, environment and fucking culture. How the fuck can you be minister of culture if you haven't ever practised a form of art professionally or not even touched the professional arts sector? How can you make laws that protect the environment if you have no clue how "the environment" fundamentally works (ecosystems, climate, natural resources, ...)? Valve is a great example of a company that looks at it this way: they urge every new employee (not necessarily software engineers) to know some form of programming. Why? Because Valve makes [U]games[/U], that should be the primary focus of everyone working there. They shouldn't focus on executing their task as it is described in their college books, they should focus on the end product and use their education as a tool.

I like how Neil and Carl sagan have the same view on education in most countries, you can see here: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKQQAv5svkk[/media] skip to 4:20