Bill Nye takes a selfie at the White House in this image available on his website, billnye.com.
The 38th anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens will be marked by a visit from another well known scientific spectacle — Bill Nye the Science Guy.
“This is not a drill: it has never been more important to embrace science and take action on climate change, and Bill Nye is coming to Portland for the first time ever to talk about what you can do to help save the planet,” read an event bulletin on the Mount St. Helens Institute website. “Come celebrate the power of critical thinking and why now, more than ever, we should work together to move mountains.”
Nye, famous for his former kid-friendly, science-based television show on PBS as well as a recent series on Netflix, will make his presentation at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland on May 18. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Mount St. Helens Science Institute, which aims to connect people with the unique volcano landscape that serves as the backdrop to Southwest Washington.
“Bill has been on our board since, I believe, 2005,” said Ray Yurkewycz, director of the Mount St. Helens Institute. “We’re all about engaging people in science and Mount St. Helens is a great place to engage in science, and of course Bill Nye has been a science advocate so it just made sense. Plus, the timing was perfect.”
Yurkewycz noted that Nye visited Mount St. Helens in 2010 and delivered a similar, if smaller, presentation at that time. Yurkewycz says that it is likely the show will sell out or be near capacity, adding that Neil deGrasse Tyson drew large crowds on back-to-back nights recently for a similar event.
“Bill Nye’s level of popularity just out and about from the Netflix show to the original PBS show, and his Facebook following is about five million, so he’s got a little bit more reach than we do,” said Yurkewycz, who noted that Nye has an ability to comprehensively explain complicated concepts to children and adults alike.
“I think it’s going to be a mixture. He’s not necessarily like his old television personality. He’s changed his approach somewhat over the years,” said Yurkewycz. “I think it’s going to be accessible to everybody.”
Tickets to the show range from $40 to $60 for general admission. There are also VIP ticket packages available that include premium seats, a meet and greet with Nye and a signed copy of his book.
Yurkewycz added that the Johnston Ridge Observatory is slated to open in mid-May, right around the same time as the eruption anniversary.
Additional information on the Bill Nye presentation can be found on the Mount St. Helens Institute website at mshinstitute.org/billnye/billnyelive-landing.html.
