This past Sunday marked the premier of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, a show that hopes to spark a new generation of explorers with a hunger for knowledge.
Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, is so much more than just another science documentary; it is an open door to the world of wonder and seeking knowledge. Rather than bombard viewers with endless facts and figures, Cosmos looks to instill a sense of curiosity about the world around us and drive us to search for answers to our questions. Paying wonderful homage to the original Cosmos, as presented by Carl Sagan, the new series updates more than just the special effects.
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First I must say that I truly admire Neil deGrasse Tyson for he has become a figurehead of the science community not because he is the smartest (although he is an incredibly brilliant man) but because he is a scientist of the people and a gifted communicator. Tyson does not want science to be something practiced beyond the reaches of the everyman; rather he wants everyone to share in the excitement and progress that comes only through scientific discovery. It is this burning passion to share knowledge and a love of learning that makes Tyson a perfect successor to Carl Sagan in hosting this series.
If young minds are never shown just how amazing learning really is, then a bleak future is all but set in stone.
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Sagan was known the world over for being a brilliant scientist and a gifted communicator, and so it made perfect sense to have him host the original Cosmos. It was over three decades ago that the first episode of Cosmos: A Personal Voyage aired and, as Tyson expresses in the opening moments of the new show “launched hundreds of millions of us on a great adventure”. This adventure started in front of the television and spurred countless boys and girls into scientific pursuits, and to quote Tyson again, “It’s time to get going again.”
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As a teacher and lover of science, it deeply saddens me to see a culture that looks down on academic achievement and downplays the importance of science. Many of my students are direct products of a culture that has taught them that doing well in school is something to be made fun of and that asking questions about the world around us is pointless. It may not happen in every school, but on a larger social level it’s obvious that scientific inquiry is far from many people’s minds.
Our world desperately needs science; none of the things we have come to love would be possible without it. The minds of our youth are being pulled away from academia by a relentless barrage of empty entertainment options, which coupled with the increasing pressures from the above social stigmas, could lead to a pretty scary future. If young minds are never shown just how amazing learning really is then a bleak future is all but set in stone.
It’s a trend that needs to be stymied before it gets out of hand, and Cosmos could be a big part in doing just that. The next generation of discoverers and scientists is currently sitting in classrooms and homes around the world, the only thing missing is the knowledge required to make a difference. We can all help fill them up, we just have to be willing to do the work to encourage and share it ourselves. Watching a TV show may not seem like much, but who knows what kind of impact such a simple action could have. Maybe an idea slips from the screen to you to your child or student, of the organizations behind the show get better funding, or any number of other outcomes that can arise from being willing to open our minds to the vastness of the cosmos.
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Even if you aren’t a science buff, check out Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey and be prepared to have your mind blown, because we live in a fascinating universe that never ceases to amaze. Neil deGrasse Tyson and the writers have taken great strides to make sure the information is accessible to the masses, so don’t count yourself out for not having a Ph.D. I certainly don’t have one, but it didn’t stop me from loving the first episode nor does it stop me from being excited for the rest of the series.
Cosmos airs every Sunday 9/8c on Fox and every following Monday on NatGeo 10/9c. Also full episodes are put on the show’s website, here, soon after the premier.
–Photo: Trailer