Neil deGrasse Tyson was born today in writing history, October 5. Celebrate the author’s birthday by learning more about his life and contributions to the writing world. Aspiring writers should also use this opportunity as a writing exercise. Look for inspiration today in writing history.
Today in Writing: October 5: Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Birthday
Neil deGrasse Tyson was born on October 5, 1958. He is an astrophysicist known for his role as a science communicator. Through his work in Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, and StarTalk, Tyson aims to spread scientific awareness. He has become a well-known representative of the scientific community.
Tyson remains an outspoken advocate of scientific advancement and literacy, authoring several works aimed at helping readers understand science. Tyson’s books have attained well-known popularity despite the sometimes dense subject matter. Find inspiration in the stories, works, and words of this installment of Today in Writing: October 5.
Writing Prompts for Today In Writing: October 5
Please take this opportunity to learn more about Neil deGrasse Tyson and his contributions to the writing world. The astrophysicist’s passion for spreading science awareness fuels his writing and outreach. Tyson is a decorated and beloved figure for his role in exciting the public about the wonders of science.
What led Neil deGrasse Tyson to be an astrophysicist? Where did he find the inspiration to tell his stories? And what helped the writer create his passionate writing style? Find inspiration about Tyson, learn more details about her life, and write!
Neil deGrasse Tyson Biography
Neil deGrasse Tyson was born in Manhattan, New York, on October 5, 1958. His father, Cyril deGrasse Tyson, was a sociologist and worked as a human resource commissioner for New York City’s mayor, John Lindsay. His mother, Sunchita Maria Tyson, was a gerontologist for the US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Neil came from a family oriented toward public outreach.
Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Education
Tyson grew up in the Bronx borough of New York City. Throughout his childhood in public schools, he showed a profound aptitude for science. Neil deGrasse Tyson attended The Bronx High School of Science. In this specialized public high school, he would serve as editor-in-chief of the Physical Science Journal. He graduated in 1976.
Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Inspiration
Tyson credits his tremendous scientific interest to a trip to the Hayden Planetarium when he was nine. According to Neil deGrasse Tyson, his inspiration from the night sky was “so strong […] I’m certain that I had no choice in the matter, that, in fact, the universe called me.” He would attend night classes at the planetarium, where he found inspiration in the teaching style of Director Mark Chartrand III.
By the age of 15, he was giving lectures on astronomy, attracting the notice of the scientific community. Astronomer Carl Sagan tried to recruit Tyson to undergraduate studies at Cornell University. He invited the aspiring writer to spend a day with him on campus in 1975. On meeting the renowned Sagan, Tyson reflected, “I already knew I wanted to become a scientist. But that afternoon, I learned from Carl the kind of person I wanted to become.”
A Passion for Science
Neil deGrasse Tyson would attend Harvard University, where he majored in physics and graduated with a BA in 1980. His passion drove him onward through higher education. In 1983, he obtained an MA in astronomy from the University of Texas in Austin. Seeking more knowledge, Tyson would eventually graduate from Columbia University in 1991 with his Ph.D. in astrophysics.
A Career in Science
Tyson’s research has focused on observations in astronomy, including stellar evolution and galactic astronomy. Throughout his career, the astrophysicist has held numerous positions at institutions such as Princeton University and the American Museum of Natural History. Neil deGrasse Tyson is best known for his work with the Hayden Planetarium.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Hayden Planetarium
Tyson would return to the Hayden Planetarium in 1994 as a staff scientist. He was appointed director of the planetarium in 1996 and oversaw a massive $210 million construction project. The Rose Center for Earth and Space is a staple landmark in New York City. Tyson reflected on his role as director, saying, “when I was a kid… there were scientists and educators on the staff at the Hayden Planetarium… who invested their time and energy in my enlightenment… and I’ve never forgotten that. And to end up back there as its director, I feel this deep sense of duty, that I serve in the same capacity for people who come through the facility today, that others served for me”.
Neil deGrasse Tyson, Writing Style
Tyson has contributed writing pieces and columns to several scholarly publications beginning in 1995. His voice has become a well-known staple of the scientific community. Neil deGrasse Tyson hosted many science-oriented television programs like Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, a sequel to Carl Sagan’s program in the 1980s. The astrophysicist’s fame has obtained celebrity status.
Neil deGrasse Tyson was a vocal supporter of Pluto’s declassification as a planet in 2006. The astrophysicist would author two popular books: Death by Black Hole in 2007 and Astrophysics for People in a Hurry in 2017. Through his writing, Tyson aims to make science more assessable to everyone.
Selected Neil deGrasse Tyson Writing
Merlin’s Tour of the Universe (1998)
Universe Down to Earth (1994)
Just Visiting This Planet (1998)
One Universe: At Home in the Cosmos (2000)
Cosmic Horizons: Astronomy at the Cutting Edge (2000)
City of Stars: A New Yorker’s Guide to the Cosmos (2002)
My Favorite Universe (a 12-part lecture series) (2003)
The Sky Is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist (2004)
Death by Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries (2007)
The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet (2009)
Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier (2012)
Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (2017).
Letters from an Astrophysicist (2019)
Today in Writing: October 5 – 10 Neil deGrasse Tyson Quotes
Neil deGrasse Tyson writes about a topic he is extensively familiar with and unabashedly passionate about. His childhood introduction to the cosmos inspired a life-long endeavor to help the public better understand the universe around them. Aspiring writers can find inspiration in his informative writing.
10 Neil deGrasse Tyson Quotes
1. The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.
2. Somehow it’s O.K. for people to chuckle about not being good at math. Yet if I said, ‘I never learned to read,’ they’d say I was an illiterate dolt.
3. There is no greater education than one that is self-driven.
4. Rational thoughts never drive people’s creativity the way emotions do.
5. No one is dumb who is curious. The people who don’t ask questions remain clueless throughout their lives.
6. Dreams about the future are always filled with gadgets.
7. Perhaps we’ve never been visited by aliens because they have looked upon Earth and decided there’s no sign of intelligent life.
8. Everyone should have their mind blown once a day.
9. We live on this speck called Earth – think about what you might do, today or tomorrow – and make the most of it.
10. The history of exploration has never been driven by exploration. But Columbus himself was a discoverer. So was Magellan. But the people who wrote checks were not. They had other motivations.
Today in Writing: October 5 – Daily Writing Exercise
Now that you have done some reading, it is time to write. Aspiring writers should look to the stories from Today in Writing: October 5 and Neil deGrasse Tyson’s life for their own inspiration. Check through his quotes to spark an idea, or read his books to get a sense of his writing style.
Find a topic from and freewrite for 10 minutes. The writing of Neil deGrasse Tyson comes from a place of enthusiastic education. In Tyson’s words, “Science literacy is the artery through which the solutions of tomorrow’s problems flow.” Aspiring writers should look for inspiration in the author’s educational words and start writing.
Don’t let any opportunity to write go to waste. Aspiring writers: Practice your writing today. Celebrate Today in Writing History October 5.
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