Neil deGrasse Tyson!

[nygreenguy]

Im going to see him on tuesday! neener neener!

[Worldtraveller]

I never did like you. :p

Got something you can get autographed?

[BigEvil]

I feel stupid (which is a common occurance). I didn't recognize the name and didn't know who he was.

So I went to Wikipedia and looked up Neil deGrasse Tyson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_degrasse_tyson), saw his picture and immediately realized, "That's the dude from NOVA." I love NOVA, best thing on PBS.

[nygreenguy]

I never did like you. :p

Got something you can get autographed?

Hell yeah! His "Origins" book

[nygreenguy]

Oh....my....goodness!

Dr. Tyson was amazing! HE was totally hilarious! He talked about science literacy and the consequences of having it and not having it. He gave examples on how the middle east was the scientific hub of the world from 800-1100 until they codified islam and made manipulating numbers a "sin". He then compared that with americas current activities on science.

He showed a graph of "total scientific output" (number of articles in peer reviewed papers) and America just dominated. THEN he showed a graph on change in scientific output between 1998-2008. Not so great. China and Japan were by far the leaders.

He then gave a bunch of examples of scientific illiteracy, one being when bush was talking after 9/11 and said "It was our god who named the stars". He pointed out how first, it was the same god, and how 2/3 of all stars have arabic names!

It was pretty entertaining.

[LoneWolf]

You suck.

[Puck]

*am jealous*

[Worldtraveller]

He does suck.

But did you get your book signed? :)

[TheBear]

double post

[TheBear]

I think Sagan did a better job as a science liaison to the public. His entire approach was different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p86BPM1GV8M

[nygreenguy]

Cross post: I find it ironic that the weekend that Dr. Tyson does his lecture on science literacy, SU also hosts a global warming contrarian....

[LoneWolf]

I think Sagan did a better job as a science liaison to the public. His entire approach was different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p86BPM1GV8M

Yeah, but dude. That is Sagan. You can't really fairly compare anyone to him.

[TheBear]

I think Sagan did a better job as a science liaison to the public. His entire approach was different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p86BPM1GV8M

Yeah, but dude. That is Sagan. You can't really fairly compare anyone to him.
You're right. Sagan was in a league of his own. For me, he set the standard. Tyson pales in comparison.

[SteveF]

Cross post: I find it ironic that the weekend that Dr. Tyson does his lecture on science literacy, SU also hosts a global warming contrarian....

Who?

[kazzaqld]

Very jealous! :cool:

[nygreenguy]

Cross post: I find it ironic that the weekend that Dr. Tyson does his lecture on science literacy, SU also hosts a global warming contrarian....

Who?

Lord Christopher Monckton

[SteveF]

Lord Christopher Monckton

Hahahahahahahahaha!

[nygreenguy]

Lord Christopher Monckton

Hahahahahahahahaha!

Yeah, exactly what I said. And correct me if Im wrong, but he isnt even elected to office is he? Doesnt he automatically sit because of his status? I say this because the group talked about how he:
We are not claiming he is a scientist and he doesn't claim a scientist. He is a public policy expert. If you come hear Lord Monckton tomorrow, you will see that he is questioning the viability of making public policy decisions based on shakey science.


How can he be a public policy expect if their is no qualifications other than a title?

[dug_down_deep]

Oh yeah, well...I saw him on 'Millionaire'! So there!

Seriously, living in New York has gotta be pretty cool. Everyone shows up there.

[SteveF]

Yeah, exactly what I said. And correct me if Im wrong, but he isnt even elected to office is he? Doesnt he automatically sit because of his status? I say this because the group talked about how he:

He's an hereditary peer - he inherited the peerage. No one is elected to the Lords, but some do (in principle at least) get in because of some degree of expertise or public service.

How can he be a public policy expect if their is no qualifications other than a title?

Well, he did work in policy in the Thatcher government.

[nygreenguy]

Well, he did work in policy in the Thatcher government.

Like I said, no qualifications other than a title. :)

[SteveF]

Monckton is a liar (http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/05/moncktons-deliberate-manipulation/)

[nygreenguy]

Monckton is a liar (http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/05/moncktons-deliberate-manipulation/)

This is the group (http://www.cfact.org/site/default.asp) who hosted him, and the local student chapter (http://www.cfactcampus.org/index.php) wants to do a panel/debate next semester with my club. (Atheists group)

Epic lulz.

[SteveF]

Monckton is a liar (http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2009/05/moncktons-deliberate-manipulation/)

This is the group (http://www.cfact.org/site/default.asp) who hosted him, and the local student chapter (http://www.cfactcampus.org/index.php) wants to do a panel/debate next semester with my club. (Atheists group)

Epic lulz.

Are they automatically assuming that atheists will accept global warming? Sounds a bit odd. Anyway, I wouldn't bother with the debate if I were you - that's a few hours worth of work in which you could be doing something much better.

[nygreenguy]

Are they automatically assuming that atheists will accept global warming? Sounds a bit odd. Anyway, I wouldn't bother with the debate if I were you - that's a few hours worth of work in which you could be doing something much better.

Is it better to let them spew their lies unchallenged?

[SteveF]

Are they automatically assuming that atheists will accept global warming? Sounds a bit odd. Anyway, I wouldn't bother with the debate if I were you - that's a few hours worth of work in which you could be doing something much better.

Is it better to let them spew their lies unchallenged?

Quite often I'd say yes. I don't think it's possible to deal with every "challenge" that comes up. If you don't turn up, will the event even go ahead? I'd be reluctant to provide them with the exposure, plus these "debates" are often unsatisfactory things - preaching to the converted and not really changing minds. Plus you have to be sure that you'd actually win, not solely on the science but on the effectiveness in debate. Gavin Schmidt of Real Climate, a bloke who can communicate and who really knows the science, debated with some people (Roy Spencer being one IIRC) and he talked about it being a rather unhelpful thing overall.

Overall, I can think of better ways to use your time. I do a bit of public engagement when it comes to global warming; little talks and what not - that strikes me as more productive. Plus general conservation work (which I'm sure you do anyway). Overall this "debates" strike me as having more minuses than pluses.

[nygreenguy]

Quite often I'd say yes. I don't think it's possible to deal with every "challenge" that comes up. If you don't turn up, will the event even go ahead? I'd be reluctant to provide them with the exposure, plus these "debates" are often unsatisfactory things - preaching to the converted and not really changing minds. Plus you have to be sure that you'd actually win, not solely on the science but on the effectiveness in debate. Gavin Schmidt of Real Climate, a bloke who can communicate and who really knows the science, debated with some people (Roy Spencer being one IIRC) and he talked about it being a rather unhelpful thing overall.

Overall, I can think of better ways to use your time. I do a bit of public engagement when it comes to global warming; little talks and what not - that strikes me as more productive. Plus general conservation work (which I'm sure you do anyway). Overall this "debates" strike me as having more minuses than pluses.

Its not so much a debate as a panel discussion. Yes, there will be people whose minds are made up, but my group STILL gets attention.

As for atheists assuming, it started when I was challenging their group and I mentioned I had a group, then we talked about doing an event and this came up. Also, my atheist group is also a "science activism" type of group as well.