Nationally renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson will speak at UF on April 3.
Known for his research on star formation, dwarf galaxies and the structure of the Milky Way, Tyson also hosted NOVA “ScienceNOW” on PBS from 2006 to 2011.
The event, hosted by Accent Speakers Bureau, starts at 8 p.m. at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Doors open at 7 p.m. Following his speech will be a Q-and-A session.
Tickets are free and can be picked up at the Phillips Center box office starting at noon on April 2.
Tyson is being paid $45,000 to visit UF, said Accent Chairman Josh Holtzman.
He said Tyson was chosen because he is not only a highly regarded scientist, but he is also fun. Tyson has appeared on “The Colbert Report,” “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”
“Personally, I find his way of teaching science and talking about the scientific community to be not just informational but also enjoyable,” the 22-year-old political science and history senior said.
Sarah Saiz is also excited.
“I follow his Twitter, and I’ve always been interested in astronomy,” the 21-year-old anthropology junior said.
Contact Alexa Volland at avolland@alligator.org.
