With the lunar eclipse fast approaching leading many Golden Flashes to take a new look at the moon and beyond, Kent State Today is taking a look back at the day the country's most well-known astrophysicist came to campus and wowed the crowd with insights into what's really going on outside of the earth.
Neil deGrasse Tyson spoke to a capacity crowd Sept. 25, 2013, in the Kent Student Center ballroom at Kent State University as part of the Presidential Speaker Series.
High demand claimed all tickets to the free talk within days of Tyson’s announced Kent State appearance. To accommodate the strong interest in the event, Tyson’s talk was simulcast in the Kent Student Center Kiva, which also was filled to capacity.
He began his day with a visit to science students in the planetarium at Williams Hall and then ended with a memorable speech. Here are some of the highlights.
The event was sponsored by Kent State’s College of Arts and Sciences and the Division of Research and Sponsored Programs.
For five seasons, Tyson appeared as host of PBS’s NOVA ScienceNOW.
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 B.A. in physics from Harvard and his Ph.D. in astrophysics from Columbia.
Tyson’s professional research interests are broad, but include star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies and the structure of our Milky Way.
Look for upcoming news in Kent State Today about the university's programming and other guidance related to the April 8 eclipse.