Bill Nye the Science Guy is on CNN

[proud2BlibKansan]

I guess Professor Peabody from Bullwinkle was already booked on another network.

[Drale]

1. Hey now Bill Nye is an engineer

thats a type of scientist.:rofl: I did used to love his show when I was a kid.

[northoftheborder]

3. He had more to say, why did they cut him off?

[Maru Kitteh]

I think they're called "hard breaks'

meaning, whether they are ready or not - breaks already scheduled at pre-determined times WILL happen.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. When you were a kid

My point exactly.

[Tx4obama]

2. They cut him off very rudely at the end. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. They shouldn't have had him on at all

But yes, they were rather rude.

[jtuck004]

7. Why not?

I did like him bringing up the possibility of a steam explosion. That easily has the power to blow that building
apart, and I haven't heard anything except speculation as to a hydrogen release.

Especially given the reports that they are dumping seawater on it to cool - if the pumps aren't working correctly there
might be a lack of circulation, and given the heat of the reaction that seems as good a possibility as the hydrogen
explosion.

Just curious why you thought that...

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. I teach elementary school

Back in the late 80s, early 90s, Bill was on tour. He came to our school, all dressed up in funky science costumes.

That's my image of Bill Nye.

Sure he's a scientist. But his target audience is CHILDREN. I would think the worst nuclear disaster in decades would warrant an actual adult audience scientist.

[Very_Boring_Name]

13. "adult audience scientist"

Tell me Mrs.Teacher, where does one go to earn a degree in "adult audience" science. Sheesh sometimes I can't help but facepalm after reading some of the comments around this place.

[EFerrari]

14. You seriously don't understand that you don't speak in the same way

to children and to adults?

Well, that explains a lot.

[Very_Boring_Name]

17. Did he dress up in one of his funky science costumes for his appearance on CNN?

No? Then what the hell are you complaining about? He's done more to interest children in science than you ever will. That doesn't change the fact that he's also a PH.D

[EFerrari]

19. See above.

[Very_Boring_Name]

21. What am I looking for?

Nope, don't see anyone who watched the segment claim that he dressed up in a costume for it.

[Maru Kitteh]

35. Yeah, because he spoke to the audience like children! No actually, he didn't.

He provided commentary suitable to an undergraduate college level.

[etherealtruth]

108. Did you watch the clip?

His delivery was clear and concise ... intended for the "non-physicists" among us.

He clearly understands the difference between communicating information to adults and children.

[MH1]

111. who's watching tv on a sunday afternoon

and what do recent elections (since, say, 2000) tell you about the mentality of this country?

and the fact that creationism or 'intelligent design' gets 'taught' in schools.

Maybe a guy who's used to talking to children is exactly the person to have on.

[JVS]

66. Adults don't pay attention to scientists in our country.

[jtuck004]

18. OK, that makes sense. I thought he was pretty level-headed in his

approach though, even without the chicken suit.

On the other hand the people who purport to be the most serious and knowledgeable don't seem to be putting
out consistent or even believable reports.

Thanks.

[eShirl]

25. You're right; his normal material for children probably sails over the heads of CNN's average viewer

s.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. Good point.

LOL

[darkstar3]

71. Considering the number of people acting like small, panicky children over this,

perhaps a children's educator was the right person to choose.

[CreekDog]

85. don't you teach children? maybe we should have someone who has an adult audience posting instead.

see what i mean?

(and I *like* a lot of your posts on education issues...but this one, it blows)

Bill Nye has been doing a lot of talking to adults, simplifying and explaining scientific issues in recent years with very helpful and articulate explanations.

[Maine-ah]

89. heh, you said it before me

I was thinking the same.

[lumberjack_jeff]

90. Bill Nye got his start on Seattle evening TV. "Almost Live"

He's a Cornell-educated engineer who took classes from Carl Sagan.

I didn't see the cnn segment, but he does a lot to make science accessible, and not just for kids.

[CreekDog]

94. it was Don Lemon who was the embarassment in that segment

not Bill Nye.

[HuckleB]

107. Sometimes his target audience is children.

Interestingly, a lot of adults watch him, too, and considering the lack of understanding of basic science in American adults, that's a good thing.

[pokerfan]

11. They cut him off twice

Once to switch to breaking news, which really wasn't. Then it was as if they'd forgot about him until about twenty minutes later where they picked the interview up with no reintroduction... "So, what was that you were saying about Cesium, Bill?"

:puke:

[EFerrari]

22. That's disgusting. I don't know how any of you watch those people.

[JonLP24]

64. Huh?

Rachel Maddow had him on at one time and he explained climate change really well and how the right was using storms as proof that there is no global warming.

[HuckleB]

106. He's more knowledgeable than their average guest.

So why not?

[PCIntern]

6. Lemon sucks...

they were incredibly rude to him, they don't want to hear the science, they only want to hear human-interest stories and sad faces...between commercials...

[Bozita]

56. +1

[SoCalDem]

65. and to show the "neat-o graphics" they made & the "CNN-Cares-music"

Lemon is a lugubrious, unctuous moron.

[Maru Kitteh]

29. They were up against a hard break. Do you think there's some conspiracy to silence Bill Nye?

or treat him poorly? Why?

[Tx4obama]

39. BUT ....

they cut him off rudely, then took a bunch of time to yack about a human interest story that would be coming up next, 'then' they went to a break.
They could have let him finish his sentence and then THANK him for being on the show, then gone to the commercial.

[proud2BlibKansan]

51. On that we can agree.

Don Lemon was downright rude.

[spanone]

8. bwahahahahahaaa...nothing says gravitas like bill nye the science guy

actually, he was doing a good job describing how serious this really is.

[somone]

9. Beakman's World guy is busy?

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Probably out drinking beer with Professor Peabody

[EFerrari]

15. Hey! I LIKED Mr. Peabody. He was a geek before it was cool!

:rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. I liked him too

But for the worst nuclear meltdown in a couple decades, I'd prefer someone else on my TV. :)

[Very_Boring_Name]

28. Bill Nye has a PH.D from Cornell. Where'd you go again?

Let me guess... Kansas state? :rofl::rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

32. Curse you.

I am a Jayhawk. #1 in the nation in my field. :patriot:

[AZCat]

60. What is wrong with Kansas State?

I thought it was a pretty solid engineering school.


On Edit: When I was there, K-State still had a Nuke-E department.

[gkhouston]

63. It's in Kansas?

:hide:

[bananas]

75. Anti-science pro-nukes hate scientists. nt

[Marr]

16. What's wrong with Bill Nye?

If your problem is that he's built a career telling children about science, I have to say I don't see why that's relevant. He either knows about the subject being discussed or he does not.

[Very_Boring_Name]

24. They've got it all figured out, you see. He's not an "adult audience scientist"

:rofl::rofl:

[Whisp]

27. well, if the OP taught children... maybe she shouldn't be talking to us then?

same difference, no?

:rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

31. Actually not much difference at all.

[Whisp]

33. yes, you are soooo above us all. we get it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. Good.

At least we can agree on something.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Very_Boring_Name]

38. Hey! She got her degree from KANSAS UNIVERSITY!

This lady knows what she's talking about! :rofl::rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

42. I know I want an actual nuclear scientist on my TV when there's a fucking meltdown

But hey, if a kid's science guy works for you, at least you're learning something! :eyes:

[Whisp]

47. yes, we know that real science is different for adults than for kids.

:crazy:

[gkhouston]

57. Have you ever met any nuclear scientists? I have.

Communicating about this situation in terms the general public could understand would not be a bullet point on their resumes.

[girl gone mad]

73. You probably don't want most of the nuclear scientists I know on your TV.

Like it or not, nuclear physics is beyond the intellectual grasp of most of our population.

Very few experts in the field are good at communicating their knowledge and understanding to the masses. Unless you think CNN viewers are prepared to sit through a discussion of Boltzmann distributions and void coefficient calculations, the person who can make science accessible to non-scientists is probably better qualified to be addressing a popular audience.

[etherealtruth]

104. I'm trying to figure out the OPs beef with Bill Nye?

He presented information in a clear and understandable way ...????

[TheManInTheMac]

80. IIRC, Mr. Rogers frequently spoke to adult audiences...

on matters of child rearing, education, u.s.w. Was he not qualified to do so?

[Whisp]

44. isn't that were they all dress up in 'funky teacher costumes'?

:D

[Very_Boring_Name]

46. That's the one!

It's where you want to go if you plan to become a "Children's audience" educator.

[Whisp]

55. where science is different for kids than adults...

see the planetary system only has 4 planets when you are under the age of 12, but when you become an adult, you get the full number!

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. Nice personal attack.

Really contributes to the discussion. :eyes:

[demmiblue]

36. Well, at least the OP doesn't make a practice of putting down other DUers. n/t

[JVS]

112. "He either knows about the subject being discussed or he does not."

Actually, if you listen to the language he's using, you can notice that he has some uncertainty over some of the issues.

Nye's comments display his knowledge of the fission process and the use of moderating elements to slow the reaction.

But when he says "that would indicate to me that the thing melted and exploded at some level or splattered". What he's doing here is deducing. Deduction is a good and logical thing to do, but it is done to fill in gaps in knowledge. After this deduction he reaches the conclusion that this is very serious. He reiterates it by saying "this thing sounds way more serious" after describing the contrast between TMI's controlled release of gas to the explosions in Japan's reactor. He's going on limited observation to make a conclusion. It's a good conclusion. But the impression I get is that although he understands the theory of the fission reaction, he doesn't have much to say about how the reactors operate. I think we might be better served by interviewing someone who is an expert on the application. But then again, my dad designed cooling systems and nuclear reactor simulators for a living, so I was used to getting much more detailed answers whenever I would ask him about the workings of a reactor. Perhaps I was spoiled.

[Lisa0825]

23. Bill Nye is awesome. Leave Bill Nye alone!!!

:mad:

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. Next time there's a wildfire, let's hope they have Smoky the Bear as an expert commentator

[Angry Dragon]

40. Usually your posts are more level headed than what

you have been posting here.

I would say it takes more knowledge to teach science to children than to adults.
The children you taught, did you talk to them the same way you talk to your spouse??
The talking heads really just want someone to tell them that the reactors are going to explode and
there will be radiation spilling onto California within minutes so they can get all excited and tell their viewers to run and hide if they can and if they can't then too bad.

[proud2BlibKansan]

48. On a serious note

This is damned scary. And since I don't have a PhD in nuclear physics, I'd prefer an actual nuclear expert telling me if this plant in Japan is going to blow. Sorry, I know Bill Nye has a PhD but he's a CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINER.

[Very_Boring_Name]

53. He's a scientist

He was a mechanical engineer (rocket scientist). He lectures at universities. The fact that he's made it his life's work to interest kids in science isn't something that should be scorned, it should be admired.

[Angry Dragon]

61. .........

I do not know what subjects you taught, you taught children, does that mean you do not know the subjects as well as someone that taught adults??

I do not think anyone really knows what is happening. All kinds of things could happen or not.
I would rather have someone that does not have an agenda try to explain this subject.
I would not trust our or their government.
Bill Nye does honest science and that is what is needed here.

[Whisp]

69. Bill Nye is probably the best expert shithole CNN will ever have on

that hasn't got a money tube running from his mouth to the nuclear industry.

really, CNN is all above board and real news all of a sudden?

[tblue37]

72. Now I am getting a bit disturbed by these slams directed against

someone just because he entertains children while teaching them about science.

When I was in grad school, I was considered something of a departmental superstar. But after my divorce, when my kids were 21 months and 3 ½ years old, I started a home daycare so that I could be the one with them during most of their waking hours. I still taught my college English classes, but I taught only 3 days a week, during the earliest morning hours. That way I could be home well before noon, so neither the daycare kids nor my own were with another person more than 12 hours a week. I held office hours and student conferences evenings and alternating weekends, during the times my kids were at their father’s house.

I heard from some friends in the department that a lot of people were going around whispering, “Have you heard about what tblue37 is doing? She's babysitting!” Their attitude was that I had really lowered myself, that I was wasting my education, my talent, and my skills. It was obvious that there was more than a little contempt in their attitude, as though what I was doing were somehow both shameful and ridiculous.

The wife of one professor in my department said that she preferred to put her own talents and education to real use. I told her that raising all those kids properly was taking every bit of learning and skill I had, more so than any other activity I had ever engaged in, and I was just glad that I had such knowledge and skills to bring to bear on what I considered to be one of the most important jobs I would ever do.

I continued teaching, writing, editing, and tutoring during the 18 years I ran my daycare, but I also raised 36 children (my own 2 and 34 others), many from 2 weeks or 2 months of age all the way to the point where they aged out of the need for daycare.

Despite the fact that I spent 55 hours or more every week for 18 years as a “children’s caretaker” (which, I might add, often involved a certain amount of entertaining of children), I never stopped being an intelligent, educated person who could also teach adults on an adult level.

I no longer babysit. I closed my daycare when my baby left for college back in 1999. But I can easily imagine someone who is aware of my 18 years as a babysitter sneering at the idea that I might be competent to teach complex ideas and skills to college students.

Yet I also tutor kids of all ages and adults in a wide variety of subjects, and I edit books for people. Graduate students and professors in various fields, including biology, business, architecture, and other subjects that I am not trained in, turn to me for help in polishing their prose when they must write dissertations or books and articles.

Just because someone is able to connect well with children—and yes, even (gasp!) entertain them when it is appropriate to do so—that does not mean the person is incapable of operating in any other mode, or that he or she cannot function at a very high intellectual level. If CNN wanted someone who could make a complex subject comprehensible to an audience with little understanding of foundational knowledge in the subject, I think someone like Bill Nye would probably be an excellent choice. He wasn’t on there to talk way over everyone’s head, but to help people with no background understand a difficult subject at a fairly basic level.

I remember something funny that happened when I was hemming a pair of pants for the father of one of my daycare kids. (Yes, I did alterations on the side, too. As adjunct faculty, I didn't make much money, and babysitting doesn’t pay well, so I did all those other jobs because I could fit them around the times my kids were at their dad's.) We got to chatting while I worked, and he was astonished at the things I was able to discuss with him--and explain to him when he didn't understand them.

Then there was the unpublished novelist who was the father of another daycare kid. I asked if he'd like me to look over his most recent manuscript before he submitted it. I was a bit rushed that day, so I didn't immediately remember that he wasn't one of the many people who knew I was actually a writer and freelance editor as well as a babysitter. He was so appalled, so taken aback at my offer that I had to laugh at him.

He said, "Well, I've never had a babysitter offer to check my work before!" (Translation: "You're the first babysitter whose had the audacity to offer to "correct" my work!") I went back to my desk and collected a few of my own pieces for him to take home to read that night and told him he could decide after he had read them. The next morning he was totally chastened, and from that point on he asked me to check everything he wrote.

People can be more than one thing. A babysitter or a waitress (which I have also been) might be smart, educated, and talented. A "children's entertainer" might be capable of many things other than entertaining children.

Oh, and by the way, I teach at KU. In fact, I even met you and a few other DUers at a restaurant here in Lawrence one afternoon.

[etherealtruth]

88. + 100000

[PeaceNikki]

91. This ^

Nice post. I am also really disturbed by the tone of this OP and the continued defending of its premise.

[lumberjack_jeff]

96. Epic. n/t

[dionysus]

100. excellent post!

[RayOfHope]

102. +1 Its really disturbing the OP is a teacher, and this is coming from a fellow teacher n/t

[tblue37]

Typo in my post. One clause should read:

"You're the first babysitter who's had the audacity. . . ." My bad. It was very late when I posted that, and I was rushing to get to bed, so I didn't proofread it carefully enough. Sorry.

[tblue37]

105. Typo in my post. One clause should read:

"You're the first babysitter who's had the audacity. . . ." My bad. It was very late when I posted that, and I was rushing to get to bed, so I didn't proofread it carefully enough. Sorry.

[PeaceNikki]

83. He also has a PhD.

So... the fact he has worked a great deal trying to get kids interested in science cheapens that? That's a disgusting way to frame it.

[Maru Kitteh]

41. So a person who reaches children well is incapable of speaking credibly to adults? Where do YOU fit

in?

[proud2BlibKansan]

50. Well I'm not going on CNN to talk about the meltdown

But they may be calling. You never know.

[Very_Boring_Name]

59. You realize this is his field right?

When a generator or pump fails, they send in mechanical engineers to fix it. He knows what he's talking about, and I would ask that you please point out a single factual inaccuracy that he has made, since you're such an expert on the subject.

[AllenVanAllen]

113. His idea to use space based "assets' to monitor radiation levels

at the site sounded like an excellent idea as well.

[msanthrope]

76. Don't let the cognitive dissonance hit you on the head---

Can't wait for the next education OP.....

[Tx4obama]

43. Smokey the Bear is NOT real. Bill Nye IS an engineer with a Ph.D. n/t

[Liquorice]

52. I love Bill Nye, but his PhD is honorary. nt

[somone]

68. Good to point that out

Also, mechanical engineering is very different from nuclear physics/nuclear engineering. Mechanical engineers don't deal with things at an atomic level.

[etherealtruth]

110. What did he say that was inaccurate?

[Puregonzo1188]

81. Smokey the Bear isn't a real person, or even a person.

And neither is Beakman from Beakman's world (though I'd like to thank whoever reminded me of that show I've had vague memories of it from childhood for years and could never remember what it was called).

Bill Nye with a degree. Though reading his wikipedia article just now, it appears he made some sort of mistake when talking on CNN yesterday so maybe he's not the best commentator.

[proud patriot]

49. +1

:mad:

[gkhouston]

54. What exactly did he say that was scientifically inaccurate?

I've met PhD's who have difficulty communicating about their research even with undergraduates majoring in their discipline. As long as Nye wasn't doing his goofy schtick and his explanations were correct (if dumbed down for non-science types), I've got no beef.

[Union Scribe]

67. I'm looking for the same info

It would seem like the important part of the story, yet...

[center rising]

58. Don't be hatin' on Bill

I like him. Explains everything so well.

[JI7]

62. when it comes to Science, many Adults do need to be talked to like they are children

and Don Lemon and his friend looked like teenage boys snickering at the nerdy kid.

[SidDithers]

70. Bill Nye has been a science educator for decades...

you'd think an alleged teacher would appreciate that. :shrug:

Sid

[upi402]

74. He started as a comedian but he's like our Carl Sagan

He's no corporate whore. He's a smart guy really.

[eShirl]

77. speaking of Bill Nye and Carl Sagan...

this surprisingly good autotune song has been running through my head

Symphony of Science - 'We Are All Connected' (ft. Sagan, Feynman, deGrasse Tyson & Bill Nye)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGK84Poeynk

[SidDithers]

87. Sagan was one of Nye's professors at Cornell...

at least according to his wiki page :)

Sid

[msanthrope]

78. People who talk to children for a living shouldn't lecture to adults!!!!!!

Oh, wait....

[eShirl]

79. lol

[PeaceNikki]

82. HA!!! So... his work with children disqualifies him as a "real" scientist.

Ridiculous.

[VoteProgressive]

84. Do you know anything about him? Because he is the real deal. Were you insulting him?

[ReggieVeggie]

86. is there a full video of this anywhere?

:shrug:

[Junkdrawer]

92. Video Here:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/03/13/nr.nye.nuclear.reactors.cnn?iref=allsearch

[PeaceNikki]

93. Oh, I see. He's wearing a bow-tie. People who wear bow-ties shouldn't be taken seriously.

NOW it makes sense. :eyes:

[Junkdrawer]

95. No, he's not doing the "All is Well" talk they expected...

so they dissed him and cut him off...

[PeaceNikki]

97. I was referring to the OP's dismissal of his credentials.

Which is ridiculous.

[ReggieVeggie]

98. Whatever Lemon said to him is not included in that video

[Junkdrawer]

99. I found this on YouTube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDeTEw0nHho

[ReggieVeggie]

103. well, he got cut off because they were going to some breaking thing

again, not like the anchor was being an asshole

[etherealtruth]

109. Thanks

[RayOfHope]

101. Bill Nye is a legitimate scientist. YOU, of all people, should be above this.

Discounting him because his audience is school kids? Your respect of students should lead to a bigger respect of him.

[Very_Boring_Name]

114. The "Children's audience" OP appears to have evacuated the building. Nothing to see here

:rofl::rofl::rofl: