Stakeholder #1

STAKEHOLDER # 1: BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY

Schipul, Ed. "Nye orating in October 2010" 12/21/2010 via Wikipedia. Creative Commons Attribution License.

                He’s a staple of the middle school science classroom. His narrow face is accented so wonderfully by his bow tie, and his well-groomed hair is graying so eloquently.  He moves excitedly when and speaks enthusiastically when giving a presentation, and through his movement it is evident how much he cares and enjoys communicating. And his public speaking skills are through the roof; if they weren’t, how would he have gotten to star in his own exciting show geared towards young students about science? This man had the ability to interest all the kids in concepts like chemistry and basic physics. His theme song ensured that it was gonna be a good day in science class. He’s a little quirky in the show, but he’s more than just the comedic “science guy”. Outside of the classroom set for the show, Nye is an educator, mechanical engineer, author, and inventor. His work includes contribution to the design of a sundial used in the Mars Rover as well as a climate lab in California. He holds multiple patents, including one for a more comfortable ballet pointe shoe. Finally, he wrote a book about the evidence for the theory of evolution. Clearly, Bill Nye has a wide variety of interests, but you can bet that if it’s related to science, he’s there.

“We can't raise a generation of students whodon't understand the fundamental idea in all of life science, any more than youwant to raise a generation of kids who don't understand chemistry or physics orarithmetic.” This quote plays on emotions and it’s very convincing. Parents or people involved with the younger generations would not be happy at the thought that kids aren’t being educated properly. He doesn’t site specific facts, but it’s true that children should be taught properly.

“The facts and process of science have enabled the UnitedStates to lead the world in technology and provide good health for anunprecedented number of our citizens. Science fuels our economy. Without it,our economic engine will slow and eventually stop.”  This quote is likely very true based on the impact our technology and science has on other countries. Everything from innovations in space, in the auto industry, in engineering; certainly the country’s economy may be harmed if science wasn’t such a vital role. This does tie into the debate in that Nye talks so much about science, not only evolution. This plays on our emotions because no one would want our economy to slow to a stop – that would be terrible for all of us.

[2:41:35 – 2:42:04 of the embedded video] “If we abandon all that we’ve learned . . . the process by which we know it . . . if we stop driving forward, stop looking for the next answer to the next question, we in the United States will be out-competed by other countries. . .” The Space Race and the Arms Race are excellent examples of this. Because Americans pushed on, we experienced victory. Americans wouldn’t want to lose to other countries, so like the quote above, it appeals to our emotions and our patriotism.

Bill Nye is on the complete opposite viewpoint from Ken Ham, the other top stakeholder in this debate, so they have the least in common. Ken Ham doesn’t agree with Nye’s claims about science, because he thinks most of what we need in life can be answered by the Bible. However, Nye’s claims are perfectly aligned with the majority of those in the scientific community, which is another stakeholder. He is a good representative of the general consensus about the scientific method and evidential science, of which evolution is a part.