An interesting new science series with one of my favorite scientists, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, premiered on Fox last week. It is an attempt to promote science literacy and bring sound scientific information, like that of climate change, to an audience that may have doubts. Neil DeGrasse Tyson expressed the ability to air a show like this on Fox as a way to educate those that are not part of the choir. Tyson has been vocal about his frustrations of the media using the excuse of providing viewers with an equal and balanced presentation of the “facts” of climate science to promote political agendas. “The media has to sort of come out of this ethos that I think was in principle a good one, but it doesn’t really apply in science,” Tyson said. “The ethos was, whatever story you give, you have to give the opposing view. And then you can be viewed as balanced.” In regard to this topic, Tyson emphasizes a point that President Obama made last about not giving time to the “flat earthers”. He uses the idea of not talking any more about the very old idea that the earth was once flat versus the fact of it being round to compare to the political debate of climate scientists and the climate deniers of today. “Plus, science is not there for you to cherry pick…You can decide whether or not to believe in it but that doesn’t change the reality of an emergent scientific truth.”
If you missed the first episode, you can check it out here: http://www.cosmosontv.com/watch/195050051992.