TV Host Steps Up To Executive Director Of The Planetary
Society
Bill Nye ... yes THAT Bill Nye known to millions of television
viewers as "The Science Guy" ... will take the helm as the new
Executive Director of the Planetary Society, the group announced
Monday. Louis Friedman, co-founder and Executive Director since the
organization began 30 years ago, is stepping down in September,
2010, but will remain closely involved with the non-profit space
group, continuing to direct its solar sail project -- Lightsail-1
-- and other Planetary Society initiatives.
Planetary Society Executive Director Bill Nye
"We are very excited that Bill is taking this position," said
Friedman. "He will do a terrific job directing the Planetary
Society into the future, and I look forward to seeing where he will
lead the organization that I was privileged to serve for so
long."
A member of the Planetary Society's Board of Directors for more
than a decade, Nye has been its Vice-President since 2005. Heidi
Hammel (pictured, below), Senior Research Scientist and Co-director
of Research at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, CO, will
become the Society's new Vice-President after Nye assumes the role
of Executive Director.
Heidi Hammel
"As my astronomy professor Carl Sagan used to say, 'When you're
in love, you want to tell the world,'" said Nye. "I'm a Charter
Member of the Planetary Society. Now as Executive Director, I've
been given the chance to share the passion, beauty, and joy of
space exploration with other members and the world." Nye credits
Planetary Society co-founder Sagan with introducing him to the
wonders of astronomy during a class at Cornell University, where
Nye earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering.
As a scientist, engineer, comedian, author, and inventor, Nye
wants to make science as entertaining and accessible as possible.
His first job after college was working as an engineer at the
Boeing Company. However, an early love of entertaining led him to
moonlight as a stand-up comedian. Eventually, the night job became
his day job when he joined Seattle's comedy show "Almost Live" as a
writer and performer. That's where "Bill Nye the Science Guy" was
born.
Leading the world's largest space-interest organization will be
a new direction for Nye, but it will also allow him to do what he
loves best -- involve the public in the adventure of scientific
exploration. Nye is especially interested in engaging younger
generations in space science in general and the Planetary Society's
programs in particular because they will provide the scientists and
engineers of our future.
Jim Bell, President of the Planetary Society, said "Bill Nye has
the curiosity of a scientist, the problem-solving acumen of an
engineer, and the passion of an educator. He is a great choice to
take over the helm of Planetary Society leadership that Lou
Friedman has so capably held since our beginning."
Hammel has been a member of the Planetary Society's Board of
Directors since 2005. She primarily studies outer planets and their
satellites, with a focus on observational techniques. Hammel is an
Interdisciplinary Scientist for the Hubble telescope's successor,
the James Webb Space Telescope, which is scheduled for launch in
2011.
"Heidi is a well-respected and experienced planetary scientist
and a strong advocate for public engagement in science and space
exploration," said Bell.