Tyson looks to future

Astrophysicist tells chamber we need more scientists

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

By PATRICIA C. McCARTER

Times Staff Writer patricia.mccarter@htimes.com

The renowned astrophysicist did an odd thing Tuesday at the luncheon where Huntsville kicked off its celebrations of the 50th anniversary of man's journey into space.

He suggested the citizenry no longer revere the city's icon - the Saturn V rocket - but see it, instead, as something of a disappointment because it hasn't been surpassed since it first took man to the moon.

Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City and the host of PBS's "NOVA scienceNow" series, said people don't put the first cell phone or radio or internal combustion engine on a pedestal to be glorified because all of those technological marvels have been improved upon.

Tyson said he looks forward to the day that the science world wants to pinch the cheek of the Saturn V, call it cute and put it on a museum shelf.

"That we're still in awe of it shows that we haven't moved forward in the past 40 years," he said at the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County's annual membership meeting at the Von Braun Center.

And Tyson is all about moving forward. He was the astrophysicist who, in 2006, got Pluto downgraded from a solar system planet and grouped it instead with its "other icy brethren" of dwarf planets.

"That got me a lot of hate mail from angry third-graders who said Pluto was their favorite planet," said Tyson, who was named one of Time magazine's most influential people of 2007. "Pluto's demotion wasn't our intent ... but I don't invoke my philosophy on the universe, regardless if what I discover doesn't always make you feel good."

The author of eight best-selling books on the universe, Tyson said he's writing "The Pluto Files," which will include his data on what got Pluto demoted as well some of those angry letters.

Tyson, who works to make the field of science more appealing to students, said seeking life on other planets is the "hot" topic in astrophysics and he believes that future study will prove it's out there, even if not exactly in the form of humans.

"We're made up of the most common ingredients," he said. "It would be inexcusably egocentric to think there's not (any other life forms) out there."

It concerns him that America isn't producing more young people who can help illuminate that question. He said China graduated 500,000 students last year with degrees in science and engineering; America graduated 60,000.

The same year, the United States had 500,000 graduating from law school.

But the country has a more practical need for scientists instead of lawyers, he said.

An asteroid will swing fairly close to Earth's orbit in 2029, and he recently had a conversation with a planner who was trying to determine how far the West Coast population would need to be relocated to avoid the tsunami that would happen if the asteroid landed in the Pacific Ocean (Tyson does not believe that will happen).

"Don't ask how far can I run from it," he said. "Ask how can I deflect it."

Ask how to divert hurricanes and control volcanoes, he said.

"I'd rather not have the problem in the first place," he said, rather than try to figure out how to clean up after it.

During his speech to a sold-out crowd, Tyson read a happy birthday letter he wrote to NASA, because both of them were "born" in early October 1958. In the letter, he pointed out how he - a black man - wouldn't have been welcome in NASA's ranks in the early days.

He said Marshall Space Flight Center only hired a proportionate number of blacks after the federal government said it had to. Now, NASA - from its senior management to its astronauts - is a much more accurate reflection of what America looks like.

And now, Tyson serves on the agency's prestigious advisory council and gets to have some input into "the greatest quest that ever was."

When introducing Tyson to the audience, Teledyne Brown Engineering president Rex Geveden remarked how Tyson had been selected the "Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive" by People magazine in 2000. (No other astrophysicist has been so recognized since.)

Noting that there aren't that many other astrophysicists who are well-known by the public, Tyson said, "Yes, I beat out Stephen Hawking."

In an interview before the chamber meeting, Tyson - who was involved in competitive rowing, wrestling and Latin ballroom dancing while in college - said he'd initially been wary of the designation, and he asked a People editor if the plan was to have him clothed for the photo shoot. Yes, but not in his own clothes. The magazine wrinkled its nose at his wardrobe.

He said his inclusion in the publication was innocent and fun, and because he'd already well-established himself as a serious scientist, there was no backlash from the academic community. He acknowledged it was good to get some publicity for the field of astrophysics, "but I'd rather do that by discovering cosmic objects."



Tyson looks to future Astrophysicist tells chamber we need more scientists Wednesday, January 23, 2008 By PATRICIA C. McCARTER Times Staff Writer patricia.mccarter@htimes.com The renowned astrophysicist did an odd thing Tuesday at the luncheon where Huntsville kicked off its celebrations of the 50th anniversary of man's journey into space. He suggested the citizenry no longer revere the city's icon - the Saturn V rocket - but see it, instead, as something of a disappointment because it hasn't been surpassed since it first took man to the moon. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City and the host of PBS's "NOVA scienceNow" series, said people don't put the first cell phone or radio or internal combustion engine on a pedestal to be glorified because all of those technological marvels have been improved upon. Tyson said he looks forward to the day that the science world wants to pinch the cheek of the Saturn V, call it cute and put it on a museum shelf. "That we're still in awe of it shows that we haven't moved forward in the past 40 years," he said at the Chamber of Commerce of Huntsville/Madison County's annual membership meeting at the Von Braun Center. And Tyson is all about moving forward. He was the astrophysicist who, in 2006, got Pluto downgraded from a solar system planet and grouped it instead with its "other icy brethren" of dwarf planets. "That got me a lot of hate mail from angry third-graders who said Pluto was their favorite planet," said Tyson, who was named one of Time magazine's most influential people of 2007. "Pluto's demotion wasn't our intent ... but I don't invoke my philosophy on the universe, regardless if what I discover doesn't always make you feel good." The author of eight best-selling books on the universe, Tyson said he's writing "The Pluto Files," which will include his data on what got Pluto demoted as well some of those angry letters. Tyson, who works to make the field of science more appealing to students, said seeking life on other planets is the "hot" topic in astrophysics and he believes that future study will prove it's out there, even if not exactly in the form of humans. "We're made up of the most common ingredients," he said. "It would be inexcusably egocentric to think there's not (any other life forms) out there." It concerns him that America isn't producing more young people who can help illuminate that question. He said China graduated 500,000 students last year with degrees in science and engineering; America graduated 60,000. The same year, the United States had 500,000 graduating from law school. But the country has a more practical need for scientists instead of lawyers, he said. An asteroid will swing fairly close to Earth's orbit in 2029, and he recently had a conversation with a planner who was trying to determine how far the West Coast population would need to be relocated to avoid the tsunami that would happen if the asteroid landed in the Pacific Ocean (Tyson does not believe that will happen). "Don't ask how far can I run from it," he said. "Ask how can I deflect it." Ask how to divert hurricanes and control volcanoes, he said. "I'd rather not have the problem in the first place," he said, rather than try to figure out how to clean up after it. During his speech to a sold-out crowd, Tyson read a happy birthday letter he wrote to NASA, because both of them were "born" in early October 1958. In the letter, he pointed out how he - a black man - wouldn't have been welcome in NASA's ranks in the early days. He said Marshall Space Flight Center only hired a proportionate number of blacks after the federal government said it had to. Now, NASA - from its senior management to its astronauts - is a much more accurate reflection of what America looks like. And now, Tyson serves on the agency's prestigious advisory council and gets to have some input into "the greatest quest that ever was." When introducing Tyson to the audience, Teledyne Brown Engineering president Rex Geveden remarked how Tyson had been selected the "Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive" by People magazine in 2000. (No other astrophysicist has been so recognized since.) Noting that there aren't that many other astrophysicists who are well-known by the public, Tyson said, "Yes, I beat out Stephen Hawking." In an interview before the chamber meeting, Tyson - who was involved in competitive rowing, wrestling and Latin ballroom dancing while in college - said he'd initially been wary of the designation, and he asked a People editor if the plan was to have him clothed for the photo shoot. Yes, but not in his own clothes. The magazine wrinkled its nose at his wardrobe. He said his inclusion in the publication was innocent and fun, and because he'd already well-established himself as a serious scientist, there was no backlash from the academic community. He acknowledged it was good to get some publicity for the field of astrophysics, "but I'd rather do that by discovering cosmic objects." © 2008 The Huntsville Times © 2008 al.com All Rights Reserved.