Bill Nye the “Science Guy” to Speak at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Bill Nye, a popular scientist, engineer, author, inventor and comedian, will speak at The University of Alabama’s Moody Music Concert Hall Monday, Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.

The lecture is presented by the Blount Speaker Series and the Alabama Lectures on Life’s Evolution, or ALLELE, series in the College of Arts and Sciences at UA.

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available, free of charge, Thursday, Sept. 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Alabama Museum of Natural History in Smith Hall, on Friday, Sept. 25 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Oliver-Barnard Hall, and on Wednesday, Sept. 23 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Ferguson Center Theatre.”

No tickets will be available at the door.

Nye was first introduced to many through his educational television show “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” in which he explained scientific concepts in a kid-friendly manner.

Since the show’s conclusion in 1998, Nye has been a part of many scientific, educational and entertainment-related endeavors, including becoming executive director of The Planetary Society, producing another science education program called “The Eyes of Nye” and competing on “Dancing with the Stars.”

He was trained as a mechanical engineer at Cornell University.

At UA, Nye will speak about the importance of teaching evolution in schools. Nye has supported the cause in recent years, from his debate with creationist Ken Ham in 2014 to the release of his book on the topic, “Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation.”

Nye has now taken to the college lecture circuit to rally for more science education at the elementary level and a greater focus on evolution at the secondary and post-secondary levels.

Blount Undergraduate Initiative students, as part of the Blount Speaker Series’ sponsorship of the lecture, will have guaranteed access to tickets to the event. They will also have the opportunity to attend a meet-and-greet with Nye.

For more information, visit www.blount.as.ua.edu/blount-academics/speaker-series or www.evolution.as.ua.edu.

Support for this lecture was provided by The University of Alabama’s College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Academic Affairs, Office of University Programs, Blount Speaker Series and ALLELE lectures series.

The Robert C. McMillan Endowed Lecture Fund, the J. Granger Danford Sr. Endowed Lecture Fund, and the Stan and Star Bloom Endowed Lecture Fund also supported the lecture.

UA’s College of Arts and Sciences is the University’s largest division and the largest liberal arts college in the state. Students from the College have won numerous national awards including Rhodes Scholarships and Goldwater Scholarships.