Bill Nye is well known as “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” but he started his career as a mechanical engineer for Boeing Company in Seattle.
There he found his love for combining science and comedy and started his dual careers as an engineer during the day and a stand-up comedian at night.
Now Nye is the host of three TV shows “The 100 Greatest Discoveries” on the Science Channel, “The Eyes of Nye” on PBS stations and a show called “Stuff Happens” on Planet Green.
Each year the Student Government Association, President’s Office and the MSU Foundation host the Presidential Lecture series and focus on a high profile speaker, and this year’s speaker is Nye.
The presidential lecture series is a chance for students to learn more about academic colleges or departments. Students and guests also have the opportunity to stay for a lecture from a high profile speaker.
Nearly a year ago, the SGA posted on its Facebook and Twitter asking students who they would want to speak at the presidential lecture.
“Bill Nye just kept popping up and he was someone we knew students would like to see,” said Jeremiah Johnson, SGA president. “For many, we grew up watching Bill on TV and when Campus Activities Board saw the opportunity to possibly have him at MSU, we jumped on it.”
Nye is also the Executive Director of The Planetary Society, the world’s largest space-interest group. He has also delivered environmental awareness lectures and commencement addresses at universities across the U.S.
His last lecture was in September 2012, where he spoke at Northern Michigan University about the seriousness of environmentalism.
Though Spike Lee spoke last year, the SGA was not a part of the presidential lecture series.
In March of 2012 it pulled its support from the lecture series, but have returned this year to help fund the lecture.
Aside from members of the SGA and President’s Office, many students are also excited to have Bill Nye visit this year.
The lecture will start at 8 p.m. in the CSFB Center and Nye’s topic will be called “Hey Earthlings, Let’s Change the World.”
Torri Joyner, freshman from Panorama City, Calif., is excited to see a one of her childhood heroes speak at Murray State.
Said Joyner: “When I was a kid, ‘Bill Nye the Science Guy’ was one of the coolest shows to watch, and I think it will be a neat experience to actually go see him speak as an adult.”
Story by Brandon Cash, Staff writer