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WETA Special Events

"Cosmic Conversation" with Neil deGrasse Tyson

NOVA Science Now

March 11, 2010
7:00pm

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Join us for a fascinating discussion with astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the American Museum of Natural History’s Hayden Planetarium and charismatic host of the PBS series NOVA scienceNOW, about the controversy surrounding the institution’s reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet.

George Washington University, Lisner Auditorium
21st & H Streets, NW
Washington, DC 20037

Tyson, the author of The Pluto Files, is featured in a March NOVA episode based on his book. He will be joined by Paula Apsell, senior executive producer of NOVA and NOVA scienceNOW, for a conversation and then Q&A with the audience. This free event takes place at The George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium. Seating is limited, and reservations are required.

NOVA: The Pluto Files

Airs March 2 at 8:00 p.m. on WETA TV 26

Since its discovery in 1930, Pluto has held a warm place in the public imagination. So, when the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium stopped calling Pluto a planet, director Neil deGrasse Tyson found himself at the center of a firestorm led by angry, Pluto-loving elementary school students. But what is it about this cold, distant rock that captures so many hearts? NOVA joins Tyson as he follows the amazing story of its discovery and the captivating science that surrounds this former planet, including the possibility of finding more Pluto-like planets in the mysterious Kuiper belt - an area of icy rocks at the edge of the solar system. From the scientists trying to classify Pluto, to die-hard "Pluto-philes," Tyson meets a fascinating cast of characters with one thing in common: strong opinions about Pluto. Based on Tyson's book of the same name, NOVA: The Pluto Files is an exciting and entertaining look at the solar system's best-loved non-planet.

WETA is the leading public broadcasting station in the nation's capital, with four digital television channels and Classical WETA 90.9 FM. Under the direction of Sharon Percy Rockefeller, WETA enlightens and entertains audiences with a range of programs from science and cultural shows to news and public affairs programming. NOVA airs Tuesday nights at 8:00 p.m. on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD. Now in its 37th season, PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines. Along the way, NOVA programs demystify science and technology and highlight the people involved in scientific pursuits. Funding for NOVA is provided by ExxonMobil, Pacific Life, David H. Koch, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and public television viewers. Funding for the local broadcasts of NOVA and for the event is provided by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson is the host of NOVA scienceNOW and an astrophysicist, author, and the Frederick P. Rose director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History. Tyson is one of the world's most popular lecturers on astronomy, and he has authored seven books, including his memoir, The Sky Is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist and, most recently, The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet.

Paula Apsell is the senior executive producer of NOVA and NOVA scienceNOW and director of the WGBH Science Unit. Apsell has overseen the production of hundreds of acclaimed science documentaries. Today, NOVA is the most-watched primetime science series on American television, reaching an average of five million viewers weekly. Under the direction of Apsell, the series has received every major broadcasting award, including an Emmy, Peabody, and duPont-Columbia Gold Baton.

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