Bill Nye the science guy.

Page 2 of 6 [ 96 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Next

Previous topic | Next topic

IsabellaLinton
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 1 Nov 2017
Gender: Female
Posts: 72,422
Location: Chez Quis

11 Jun 2024, 5:51 pm

I forgot to say funny, as well.

_________________
I never give you my number, I only give you my situation.
Beatles

blitzkrieg
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Jun 2011
Age: 114
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 17,820
Location: The line in the sand

11 Jun 2024, 6:10 pm

I have read some of his Wikipedia article and apparently his highest academic achievement (excluding his honorary doctorates) is a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering gained in... 1977.

His pinnacle scientific achievement is inventing a "hydraulic resonance suppressor tube used on Boeing 747 airplanes".

He is a failed astronaut having applied to NASA four different times and having been rejected with those applications.

His published works consist not of peer-reviewed scientific papers in respectable scientific journals, but 'books' - books that make money.

He is a climate change alarmist despite seemingly having no academic background in geological or climate science.

His profile makes him look like someone who profits monetarily from being a media personality whilst dumbing his 'scientific' subject matter down to the point where probably a lot of the original science is lost.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Nye#

Last edited by blitzkrieg on 11 Jun 2024, 7:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

TwilightPrincess
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 28 Sep 2016
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Posts: 29,212
Location: Hell

11 Jun 2024, 6:17 pm

blitzkrieg wrote:

His profile makes him look like someone who profits monetarily from being a media personality whilst dumbing his 'scientific' subject matter down to the point where probably a lot of the original science is lost.

Children and people who haven’t had a decent education in science or who haven’t studied it in decades need something basic, not scientific articles intended for peers. Having engaged with some of his work, it’s not without substance.

Also from the Wikipedia article you referenced:

Quote:

In the early 2000s, Nye assisted in the development of a small sundial included in the Mars Exploration Rover missions. Known as MarsDial, in addition to tracking time, it had small colored panels to provide a basis for color calibration. From 2005 to 2010, Nye was the vice president of The Planetary Society, an organization that advocates space science research and the exploration of other planets, particularly Mars. He became the organization's second Executive Director in September 2010 when Louis Friedman stepped down.

Nye is a fellow of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, a U.S. nonprofit scientific and educational organization that promotes scientific inquiry, critical investigation, and the use of reason in examining controversial and extraordinary claims. Interviewed by John Rael for the Independent Investigation Group (IIG), Nye said that his "concern right now ... [is] scientific illiteracy ... you [the public] don't have enough rudimentary knowledge of the universe to evaluate claims."

Since 2013, Nye has been a member of the Advisory Council of the National Center for Science Education.

I have a lot of respect for people who make science accessible for children and average people.

_________________
"I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.” — Elton John

IsabellaLinton
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 1 Nov 2017
Gender: Female
Posts: 72,422
Location: Chez Quis

11 Jun 2024, 6:20 pm

A failed astronaut who couldn't get into NASA?

Good grief - Shame on him. / :lol:

_________________
I never give you my number, I only give you my situation.
Beatles

utterly absurd
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 7 Feb 2024
Age: 19
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 1,646
Location: Wisconsin

11 Jun 2024, 6:21 pm

Dumbing things down is different from explaining them in a way that everyone can understand. Most people don't have PhDs and can't understand raw science, but everyone still should know a reasonable amount of science without having to go to school for ten years.

_________________
Diagnosed ASD/ADHD age 5. Finally understood that age 17.
Have very strong opinions so sorry if I offend anyone--I still respect your opinion.
Neutral pronouns preferred but anything is fine.
Feel free to PM me--I like to talk about most things other than sports.

DuckHairback
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 27 Jan 2021
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Posts: 4,670
Location: Durotriges Territory

11 Jun 2024, 6:21 pm

In the UK we had Johnny Ball Reveals All. Surprised none of it appears to have made it onto YouTube.

_________________
The Andaman Sea, the Andaman Sea, I'd like to be, on the Andaman Sea.

bee33
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Age: 60
Gender: Female
Posts: 3,862

11 Jun 2024, 6:22 pm

blitzkrieg wrote:

I have read some of his Wikipedia article and apparently his highest academic achievement (excluding his honorary doctorates) is a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering gained in... 1977.

His pinnacle scientific achievement is inventing a "hydraulic resonance suppressor tube used on Boeing 747 airplanes".

He is a failed astronaut having applied to NASA four different times and having been rejected with those applications.

His published works consist not of peer-reviewed scientific papers in respectable scientific journals, but 'books' - books that make money.

He is climate change alarmist despite seemingly having no academic background in geological or climate science.

His profile makes him look like someone who profits monetarily from being a media personality whilst dumbing his 'scientific' subject matter down to the point where probably a lot of the original science is lost.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Nye#

His role is to be a public person knowledgeable about science who disseminates information and generates interest in learning about science. You've completely omitted what he actually does and what his job is from his bio! Same with other scientists whose primary role is to inform and excite the public about science, like Neil DeGrasse Tyson and Michio Kaku. I really can't listen to crap about Bill Nye , of all people, who is the best of the best of the good guys. You seem to have no idea who he is. He may not be well known in the UK.

And the term "climate alarmist" is so incredibly disgusting I am about to VOMIT!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! We're done talking. I am never engaging with you ever again.

utterly absurd
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 7 Feb 2024
Age: 19
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 1,646
Location: Wisconsin

11 Jun 2024, 6:23 pm

Um, yeah. As if the climate is not worth being alarmed about.

blitzkrieg
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Jun 2011
Age: 114
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 17,820
Location: The line in the sand

11 Jun 2024, 6:32 pm

bee33 wrote:

blitzkrieg wrote:

And the term "climate alarmist" is so incredibly disgusting I am about to VOMIT!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! We're done talking. I am never engaging with you ever again.

That seems like a very 'over the top' response.

I didn't mean to imply climate change isn't real, I just meant that Bill Nye isn't qualified to be talking about it, or to be making money from talking about it.

TwilightPrincess
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 28 Sep 2016
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Posts: 29,212
Location: Hell

11 Jun 2024, 6:34 pm

I wonder if someone hasn’t engaged with his work, perhaps especially as a kid or young person, and isn’t from the general area if they’d have trouble seeing how important and influential his work has been. :chin:

IMO, it doesn’t get much more important than getting kids excited to learn about science and critical thinking. You don’t need to be the world’s leading scientist to do those things. If the top scientist in the world decided to reach out to kids, he wouldn’t do much good if he was boring and/or used terminology kids didn’t understand.

It’s typically a good idea to engage with someone’s work before criticizing it using ad hominem/the credentials fallacy.

_________________
"I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.” — Elton John

Last edited by TwilightPrincess on 11 Jun 2024, 6:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

utterly absurd
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 7 Feb 2024
Age: 19
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 1,646
Location: Wisconsin

11 Jun 2024, 6:37 pm

blitzkrieg wrote:

bee33 wrote:

blitzkrieg wrote:

And the term "climate alarmist" is so incredibly disgusting I am about to VOMIT!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! We're done talking. I am never engaging with you ever again.

Well then I guess politicians aren't qualified to be trying to stop it ... so it's a good thing they aren't. Too bad scientists who are qualified don't have any actual power.
/sarc

IsabellaLinton
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 1 Nov 2017
Gender: Female
Posts: 72,422
Location: Chez Quis

11 Jun 2024, 7:05 pm

TwilightPrincess wrote:

IMO, it doesn’t get much more important than getting kids excited to learn about science and critical thinking. You don’t need to be the world’s leading scientist to do those things. If the top scientist in the world decided to reach out to kids, he wouldn’t do much good if he was boring and/or used terminology kids didn’t understand.

It's almost like saying Sesame Street failed at teaching Reading, since they never won a Nobel Prize in Literature.

_________________
I never give you my number, I only give you my situation.
Beatles

blitzkrieg
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Jun 2011
Age: 114
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 17,820
Location: The line in the sand

11 Jun 2024, 7:13 pm

IsabellaLinton wrote:

TwilightPrincess wrote:

It's almost like saying Sesame Street failed at teaching Reading, since they never won a Nobel Prize in Literature.

I think you have made a false equivalency there.

Scientists who talk about scientific subjects such as climate change and other subjects really do need to know their stuff to relay accurate information that can be objectively identified. It's not a "credentials fallacy" to point out that someone is ill suited to be taking on domains of a particular subject that they have no formal training or academic achievement in.

Reading is an elementary skill that works up to higher levels. Reading itself is a skill, not a subject. And Sesame Street hopefully wouldn't be taken too seriously by many people.

TwilightPrincess
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 28 Sep 2016
Age: 40
Gender: Female
Posts: 29,212
Location: Hell

11 Jun 2024, 7:16 pm

^ Have you actually read or listened to Nye address climate change or are you just going off of what you read on Wikipedia? People are free to discuss climate change or any other topic that’s not in their field of expertise. We are also free to evaluate the claims and perform our own research on the topic. You don’t need to be a scientist to have an informed opinion.

_________________
"I think Jesus was a compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems.” — Elton John

Last edited by TwilightPrincess on 11 Jun 2024, 7:19 pm, edited 2 times in total.

blitzkrieg
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Jun 2011
Age: 114
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 17,820
Location: The line in the sand

11 Jun 2024, 7:17 pm

This is a funny excerpt from the Wikipedia article on Bill Nye:

"On Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on May 12, 2019, he (Bill Nye) discussed climate change and the proposed Green New Deal, and said:

Here, I've got an experiment for you—safety glasses on. By the end of this century, if emissions keep rising, the average temperature on Earth could go up another 4 to 8 degrees. What I'm saying is the planet's on f*****g fire. There are a lot of things we could do to put it out. Are any of them free? No, of course not—nothing's free, you idiots. Grow the f**k up. You're not children anymore. I didn't mind explaining photosynthesis to you when you were 12, but you're adults now and this is an actual crisis. Got it? Safety glasses off, motherf***ers."

"What I'm saying is the planet's on f*****g fire".

He sounds like more of a demagogue than a scientist with this quote. :lol:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Nye#

IsabellaLinton
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 1 Nov 2017
Gender: Female
Posts: 72,422
Location: Chez Quis

11 Jun 2024, 7:17 pm

I'm talking about his role as a children's Science educator and not about climate change.

He's known as a teacher of fundamentals, first and foremost.

_________________
I never give you my number, I only give you my situation.
Beatles

Page 2 of 6 [ 96 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Next

Jump to:

Bill Nye the science guy. Post Reply New Topic

Bill Nye the science guy.