Renowned scientist Bill Nye visited Pittsburg, Kansas on Thursday as part of the H. Lee Speaker Series. He is most commonly known for his educational documentary series – “Bill Nye the Science Guy.”
During a press interview before, Nye was quick to crack jokes, but always expressed what was important to him.
“We want people to be able to think critically,” said Nye. “It’s never been more important.”
Nye received a standing ovation as he took the stage to speak with Pittsburg State University President Thomas Newsom. Newsom asked a variety of questions, including questions about his hit television show “Bill Nye The Science Guy.”
Nye explained that before his television show aired in 1993, television programming was apprehensive to market scientific content as entertaining. He said he was insistent that there had to be a change to engage audiences who watched the show.
“Yeah it’s educational,” said Nye. “but it has to be entertaining, so we made every effort to make it entertaining, and people of all ages like things to be funny.”
Fans packed the Linda and Lee Scott performance hall to hear Nye speak. One super fan dressed up like a scientist, with a lab coat and cardboard cutout of a scientific flask.
The renowned scientist is the first of two speaker series this year. Last year’s speaker series were writer Thomas Friedman and comedian Melissa Villaseñor.
Nye spoke with Pittsburg State University students in campus leadership for a pre-show panel.
He’s spoken at many colleges throughout his career, including Arizona State University, University of Missouri. He said college kids are the future.
“It’s really good to talk with them,” said Nye. “I got the impression that everybody's a little worried, like what’s happening with the world? With the economy? With climate change? Everybody’s a little anxious.”
Nye also spoke about why it is so important to trust scientific evidence, and how it is constantly questioned today.
“There’s a relationship between not getting sick and vaccines,” said Nye. “We have somehow stumbled upon a belief that that is not the case, and that is very troubling for all of us, so we’re gonna push back.”
Nye didn’t stray away from hot button issues and spoke openly about the current condition of the United States.
“Take it seriously,” said Nye. “We are living in the weirdest time I’ve ever lived through here in the U.S.”
He recalled his memory of former President Richard Nixon's resignation from the presidency following the infamous watergate scandal.
“You guys it was a big deal,” said Nye. “The President of the United States just quit, but that was a comedy joke compared to what’s going on now.”
Voting was also a key point that Nye was eager to speak about, and gave his advice to the audience to “vote with the climate in mind”.
“Everybody depends on agriculture, everybody depends on the weather, everybody depends on the climate, especially right here in Kansas, so please vote, and vote responsibly.” Said Nye.
Nye has a long list of achievements - writing three New York Times best selling books, receiving the 2025 Presidential Medal of Freedom, and serving as the CEO of The Planetary Society.
The next entry in the H. Lee Scott Speaker series is scheduled for May 8th. Entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star, Daymond John, is set to take the stage at the Bicknell Center.
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