March 5, 2012
April Wefler
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An iconic childhood television personality is coming to UCCS. Bill Nye, known to many as the guy who made science cool – or at least bearable – will share his knowledge on science, innovation and communication.
Any child of the ‘90s would probably hear the name Bill Nye and automatically add “the science guy!” His hit show, “Bill Nye, the Science Guy,” attempted to get children interested in science and arguably succeeded.
Jordan Mathews, a graduate student in student affairs and higher organization and graduate assistant in the Office of Student Activities (OSA), agreed that Nye was a staple of his childhood in the ‘90s. For Mathews, Nye helped make science cool for all the kids back then.
“I like him better than Beakman; Beakman kind of freaked me out,” said Mathews.
A graduate of Cornell University, Nye’s mission has been to turn on not only kids, but also the general public to the “way cool” wonders of science. Growing up in Washington, D.C., Nye discovered he had a talent for tutoring and spent afternoons and summers attempting to explain mathematics to his fellow classmates.
According to The Planetary Society, of which Nye is currently the executive director, he earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and spent several years as an engineer. After graduation, he moved to Seattle and took a job with Boeing.
It was while living in Seattle that Nye decided to combine his love of science and comedy. After Nye quit his engineering job, he took the job as comedy writer and performer on Seattle’s local television program “Almost Live.”
Eventually, “Bill Nye, the Science Guy” was created and became a household name. The show ran from 1993-1998 and garnered 11 Daytime Emmy nominations and six wins.
Following “Bill Nye, the Science Guy,” Nye also created “100 Greatest Discoveries” and “The Eyes of Nye.” According to his official website, Nye has been making science entertaining and accessible for most of his life.