Neil deGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist & Director, Hayden Planetarium
About
Neil deGrasse Tyson is an American astrophysicist, author, and science communicator who has served as director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space since 1996. He studied physics at Harvard and earned his doctorate in astrophysics from Columbia. Through his podcast StarTalk, his hosting of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, and countless public appearances, he has become one of the most recognizable science communicators of his generation. He has moderated the annual Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate since 2001, convening experts on topics from dark energy to artificial intelligence.
Key Contributions
- Director of the Hayden Planetarium since 1996, overseeing its $210M reconstruction
- Hosted Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey and Cosmos: Possible Worlds
- Created and hosts StarTalk, bridging science, pop culture, and comedy
- Moderates the annual Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate at AMNH
- Named to TIME 100 most influential people; authored numerous bestselling books
