Between hosting "Bill Nye the Science Guy" and serving as CEO of The Planetary Society, Bill Nye's career as a science educator means that he is also, inherently, an activist when it comes to combating climate change. Nye joined Jeremy Binckes on "Sa...
Between hosting "Bill Nye the Science Guy" and serving as CEO of The Planetary Society, Bill Nye's career as a science educator means that he is also, inherently, an activist when it comes to combating climate change. Nye joined Jeremy Binckes on "Salon Talks" to discuss his efforts raising awareness around climate change over the years, and to present a new documentary film, "Bill Nye: Science Guy," which chronicles his rise from lively children's show host to national science defender and advocate.
"Bill Nye: Science Guy" looks back on his 1990s TV show,and why climate change education has not reflected policy change. "I am a failure!" Nye exclaimed when reflecting back on the shows he created over two decades ago about the Earth's warming. He blamed the fossil fuel industry for creating the schism between climate deniers and believers, saying "they have worked so hard to introduce doubt." He went on to say that he believed climate change was discovered in the 1970s, "and we've done virtually nothing about it all this time."
Nye implored the public to take a stand against climate deniers. "What I tell everybody is vote," he said. "We don't want everybody to be a scientist; that would be unwieldy. We need accountants and artists, filmmakers, journalists - but we want everybody to appreciate science," and appreciate "the value of science to your everyday life, to the economy of whatever country you live in and to the future of humankind as we face the biggest challenge so far."