Tyson, Neil de Grasse

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Neil de Grasse Tyson
1958–

Astrophysicist, writer

Neil de Grasse Tyson, an astrophysicist and writer, is the Frederick P. Rose director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. He is also a research associate in the Department of Astrophysics in the museum. Tyson's position brings him full circle in a career which can be argued to have begun with his childhood visits to the Hayden Planetarium. His commitments to academic inquiry and public service in the field of astrophysics have brought him national recognition. In fact, his contributions to the general public's understanding of astro-physical phenomena have elevated his profile in the media. His publications include both works devoted to general understandings of astrophysics, especially for young adults, and scholarly works. He has commented on scientific issues on national news programs and twice has been appointed to presidential commissions.

Neil de Grasse Tyson was born on October 5, 1958 in New York City, and was raised in the Bronx. His mother, Sunchita Feliciano Tyson, is a gerontologist, a specialist in aging, for the Department of Health and Human Services. His father, Cyril de Grasse Tyson, is a retired sociologist. In his 2004 memoir The Sky Is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist, Tyson explains that his elementary school teachers said that young Tyson showed more interests in social interaction with his classmates than in his lessons. His visits to Hayden Planetarium and his participation in classes for young adults at the planetarium helped to ground him. These experiences drew the young Tyson to astronomy and physics. He became more focused in his studies and determined to be an astrophysicist.

During the 1970s, Tyson traveled to Africa and Europe on scholarship. He attended the Bronx High School of Science where he emphasized astrophysics. In high school, he began wrestling and served as captain of the varsity wrestling team. He graduated from the high school in 1976. He attended Harvard University where he majored in physics. He continued to wrestle and was a member of Harvard's varsity wrestling team. He gradu-ated with a BA. in physics in 1980. In 1983, he earned his MA. degree in astrophysics from the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. His area of research was star formation models for dwarf galaxies. In 1988, Tyson married Alice Young, a mathematical physicist. They have two children. In 1991, Tyson earned his Ph.D. in astrophysics from Columbia University in New York. His area of research was galactic bulge-chemical evolution, abundances, and structure.

While in Texas, Tyson began doing radio commentary on phenomena in outer space. He also began writing a column for Star Date magazine in which he responded to questions on space and science. In 1987, he accepted a position as lecturer for the Department of Astronomy at the University of Maryland at College Park. After completing his doctoral studies, he accepted a postdoctoral position as research associate in the Department of Astrophysics at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. From 1994 through 2003, he worked at Princeton University, initially as a visiting research scientist and lecturer and later as an associate professor in the Department of Astrophysics. He also began working for the American Museum at the Hayden Planetarium in 1994. Initially employed as a staff scientist, he later became acting director. From 1996 through 1997, he chaired the Department of Astrophysics at the museum. In 1996, he became the Frederick P. Rose director of the museum and planetarium; in addition, he is a research associate in the Department of Astrophysics at the museum.

Scholarship for Narrow and Broad Audiences

Tyson's research shows his commitment to scholarship and public awareness. His studies in astrophysics have included dwarf galaxies, the nucleus of the galaxy, star formations, star evolution, supernovae (explosions of massive stars), and the structure of the Milky Way galaxy. His research uses observations made with large telescopes located in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and the Andes Mountains in Chile. The Hubble Space Telescope has also been a source of data for his work. He has written books for the general public that explain complex phenomenon for a broad, non-academic audience. Books written for a general audience include Merlin's Tour of the Universe (1989), Universe Down to Earth (1994), and Just Visiting This Planet (1998). Merlin's Tour of the Universe was published while Tyson was still in graduate school. The book consists of articles written by Tyson for Star Date magazine. He won the American Institute of Physics 2001 Science Writing Award for the book he wrote with Charles Lui and Robert Irion, One Universe at Home in the Cosmos (2000). Tyson and Lui also prepared an online version of the book with links and review questions. In 2004, Tyson co-authored Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution, with Donald Goldsmith. This book is a supplement to the PBS Nova series on cosmic origins. The book discusses different subjects related to science and astronomy, including the origins of life and the universe. His book, Death by Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries, was anticipated to appear in 2006.

Tyson's academic papers and articles have appeared in the Astronomical Journal. From 1983 to 1998, he wrote a monthly response column for Stardate magazine. Since 1995, Tyson has written a column for Natural History magazine entitled "Universe." He has conducted colloquia on various topics related to astronomy and physics at major universities and colleges, including Yale University, Duke University, Penn State University, and Stanford University.

Tyson is a member of the National Society of Black Physicists, the American Astronomical Society, and the American Physical Society, and he is a Fellow of the New York Academy of Sciences. His contributions to the sciences have brought him appointments to national commissions, committees, councils, and boards, some of which are relevant to the national space program and to scientific studies in education. In 1997, he was appointed to NASA's Space Science Advisory Committee in Washington, D.C. From 1997 to 2002, he was a member of the Astronomy Education Board of the American Astronomical Society in Washington, D.C. From 2000 through 2003, he served on the National Science Foundation's Math and Physical Science Directorate Advisory Committee in Arlington, Virginia. He has been appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on two commissions and one committee. Tyson was a part of a twelve-member commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry. He served on this commission from September 2001 to November 2002; the commission provided recommendations for Congress and other government agencies. From 2003 to 2005, he served on a committee for the Selection of the Presidential Medal of Science. In 2004, he was a part of a nine-member presidential commission on the Implementation of the United States Space Exploration Policy.

Tyson has provided expert commentary on national news programs. Since 1995, he has made several appearances on national news programs, including CNN's American Morning, ABC's Good Morning America, NBC's Today Show, ABC's World News, and CBS's Evening News. He has provided insight into topics such as the research for other life and planets in the universe, NASA's budget, and missions to the moon and Mars. In 2004, Tyson hosted and provided commentary for Origins, the PBS Nova four-part mini series.

Chronology

1958: Born in New York, New York on October 5
1976: Graduates from the Bronx High School of Science in Bronx, New York
1980: Receives B.A. in physics from Harvard University
1983: Receives M.A. in astronomy from University of Texas in Austin, Texas
1987: Serves as lecturer in the Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland
1988: Marries Alice Young, a mathematical physicist
1991: Receives Ph.D. in astrophysics from Columbia University, New York; appointed postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Astrophysics, Princeton University
1994: Serves as visiting research scientist and lecturer in the Department of Astrophysics, Princeton University
1995: Serves as Frederick P. Rose director and astrophysicist for the Hayden Planetarium of the American Museum of Natural History in New York
2001: Wins the American Institute of Physics, 2001 Science Writing Award for One Universe at Home in the Cosmos; appointed by President George W. Bush to a twelve-member commission to study the future of the United States Aerospace Industry
2003: Continues as director of the Hayden Planetarium and also accepts position as research associate, Department of Astrophysics, American Museum of Natural History in New York
2004: Appointed by President George W. Bush to nine-member commission on the Implementation of the United States Exploration Policy

At the Hayden Planetarium, Tyson acts as director, research, and teacher. He teaches classes such as the ones that inspired him as a child. As director of the planetarium, he has contributed to the facility's growth. In 2000, the planetarium was enlarged. The new 300,000 square-foot facility was designed to attract more visitors. Tyson has been awarded numerous grants to fund scientific programs, especially educational programs. He has also received an honorary doctor of science degree from several universities and colleges in recognition of his valuable contributions to academe. He was recognized by Crain Magazine in 2001 as being among the top one hundred most influential technology leaders in New York. He also was recognized by Crain Magazine in 2003 as one of one hundred most powerful minority business leaders in New York. Tyson's commitment to research and to education is evidenced by his continued research, teaching, service, and publications.