NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON
APRIL 22 7:30 PM
SPOTLIGHT SPONSORS SPONSORED BY Don & Myra Wilhite
CORPORATE SPONSORS
ABOUT
There is no view of the world as emotionally potent as the one granted by a cosmic perspective. It’s one that sees Earth as a planet in a vast empty universe. It profoundly influences what we think and feel about science, culture, politics, and life itself.
BIOGRAPHY
Neil deGrasse Tyson was born and raised in New York City where he was educated in the public schools clear through his graduation from the Bronx High School of Science. Tyson went on to earn his BA in Physics from Harvard and his PhD in Astrophysics from Columbia.
In 2001, Tyson was appointed by President Bush to serve on a twelve-member commission that studied the Future of the U.S. Aerospace Industry. The final report was published in 2002 and contained recommendations (for Congress and for the major agencies of the government) that would promote a thriving future of transportation, space exploration, and national security.
In 2004, Tyson was once again appointed by President Bush to serve on a nine-member commission on the Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Policy, dubbed the “Moon, Mars, and Beyond” commission. This group navigated a path by which the new space vision can become a successful part of the American agenda. And in 2006, the head of NASA appointed Tyson to serve on its prestigious Advisory Council, which guides NASA through its perennial need to fit ambitious visions into restricted budgets.
In addition to dozens of professional publications, Dr. Tyson has written, and continues to write for the public. From 1995 to 2005, Tyson was a monthly essayist for Natural History magazine under the title Universe. And among Tyson’s fifteen books is his memoir The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist; and Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution, co-written with Donald Goldsmith. Origins is the companion book to the PBS NOVA four-
part mini-series Origins, in which Tyson served as on-camera host. The program premiered in September 2004.
Two of Tyson’s other books are the playful and informative Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries, which was a New York Times bestseller, and The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet, chronicling his experience at the center of the controversy over Pluto’s planetary status. The PBS NOVA documentary The Pluto Files, based on the book, premiered in March 2010.
In February 2012, Tyson released his tenth book, containing every thought he has ever had on the past, present, and future of space exploration: Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier.
For five seasons, beginning in the fall of 2006, Tyson appeared as the on-camera host of PBS NOVA’s spinoff program NOVA ScienceNOW, which is an accessible look at the frontier of all the science that shapes the understanding of our place in the universe.
During the summer of 2009 Tyson identified a cadre of professional standup comedians to assist his effort in bringing science to commercial radio with the NSF-funded pilot program StarTalk. Now also a popular Podcast, for three years it enjoyed a limited-run Television Series on the National Geographic Channel. StarTalk combines celebrity guests with informative yet playful banter. The target audience is all those people who never thought they would, or could, like science. In its first year on television and in three successive seasons, it was nominated for a Best Informational Programming Emmy.
Tyson is the recipient of twenty-three honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest award given by NASA to a nongovernment citizen. His contributions to the public appreciation of the cosmos have been recognized by the International Astronomical Union in their official naming of asteroid “13123 Tyson.” And by zoologists, with the naming of Indirani Tysoni, a native species of leaping frog in India. On the lighter side, Tyson was voted “Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive” by People Magazine in 2000.
In 2017, Tyson published Astrophysics for People In A Hurry, which was a domestic and international bestseller. This adorably readable book is an introduction to all that you’ve read and heard about that’s making news in the universe—consummated, in one place, succinctly presented, for people in a hurry.
That was followed in 2018 by Accessory to War: The Unspoken Alliance Between Astrophysics and the Military, coauthored with Avis Lang, in 2019 by Letters
from an Astrophysicist, both New York Times Bestsellers, and in 2021 by Cosmic Queries: StarTalk’s Guide to Who We Are, How We Got Here, and Where We are Going, coauthored with James Trefil.
Tyson served as Executive Science Editor and on-camera Host & Narrator for Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey, the 21stcentury continuation of Carl Sagan’s landmark television series. The show began in March 2014 and ran thirteen episodes in primetime on the FOX network, and appeared in 181 countries in 45 languages around the world on the National Geographic Channels. Cosmos won four Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, two Critics Choice awards, as well as a dozen other industry recognitions. Tyson reprised his role as on-camera host for the next season of Cosmos—Cosmos: Possible Worlds, which premiered on the National Geographic Channel in March 2020 and on the FOX network in September 2020.
Tyson’s latest books are Starry Messenger: Cosmic Perspectives on Civilization and To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery, coauthored with Lindsey Nyx Walker, both New York Times bestsellers.
Tyson is the fifth head of the world-renowned Hayden Planetarium in New York City and the first occupant of its Frederick P. Rose Directorship. He is also a research associate of the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History.
Neil deGrasse Tyson lives in New York City with his wife, a former IT project manager with Bloomberg Financial Markets.
CORPORATE SPONSOR STORY
For more than 89 years, Liberty First Credit Union has remained dedicated to revolutionizing the banking experience for its members. Functioning as a not-for-profit financial institution, their core mission revolves around extending low-cost loans and offering high-yield savings products to individuals who either work, reside, worship, or study in Lancaster or Seward County, as well as those connected to eligible members. A dedicated board of volunteer directors oversees the credit union, ensuring that decisions prioritize the well-being of the members, rather than focusing on shareholders.
Presently, the institution boasts four conveniently located branches in Lincoln, along with one in Seward, one in Omaha, and one in La Vista. These branches offer an extensive array of banking services, encompassing checking and savings accounts, auto and personal loans, credit cards, money market accounts, IRAs, and mortgages. Liberty First Credit Union's global network includes over 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs, providing unparalleled accessibility to members, and over 5,600 shared branching locations that allow seamless transactional experiences even when traveling.
Beyond its commitment to financial services, Liberty First operates an impactful "Banking in the Schools" program, partnering with four elementary schools in Lincoln. This initiative plays a crucial role in educating young minds about the significance of saving money and mastering fundamental money management skills.
The credit union's involvement extends beyond financial literacy. It actively supports diverse programs at the Lied Center, catering to audiences of all ages. Additionally, Liberty First is deeply involved in raising funds for the Children's Miracle Network through the "Credit Unions for Kids" initiative. All proceeds remain within the Nebraska community, contributing to the Children's Hospital in Omaha. Furthermore, the credit union has secured the naming rights for the Liberty First Credit Union Arena in Ralston. This strategic move is designed to facilitate the delivery of high-caliber entertainment and community activities to the areas it serves.
Liberty First firmly believes that the arts have the power to enrich lives by nurturing traits like adaptability, creativity, responsibility, and collaborative spirit. These are qualities the credit union actively endeavors to cultivate among its members. Reflecting on their support for the Lied Center, Angie Schreiner, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Liberty First, emphasizes the significance of this partnership: "The Lied Center nurtures the latent dreams within each individual, inspiring everyone touched by the arts to explore their inner selves and marvel not only at the performances on stage but also at the treasures within them."
In essence, Liberty First Credit Union stands as a steadfast champion of financial empowerment and community enrichment, guided by a vision that transcends traditional banking to embrace the broader aspects of personal and collective growth.
SPOTLIGHT SPONSOR STORY
Don & Myra Wilhite
We are impressed with the diversity and quality of programming offered each year by the Lied Center. There is literally something for everyone! As Spotlight Sponsors again this year, we are excited to support the Neil deGrasse Tyson program. His lecture will enhance science literacy across a broad spectrum of students, faculty, and the public.
The Frederick Group