Bill Nye at CU Boulder Nov. 4: How do we solve big problems?

What happens when one of the country’s best-known science educators sits down with a leadership scholar to ask how we solve problems too big for any one person—or discipline—to handle?

Bill Nye will take on that question at CU Boulder on Wednesday, Nov. 4, in a conversation with Stefanie Johnson, director of CU Boulder’s Center for Leadership, professor in the Leeds School of Business and bestselling author of “Inclusify.”

The event, part of the Leo Hill Leadership Speaker Series presented by the Center for Leadership, begins at 7:30 p.m. in Macky Auditorium. It is open to students, faculty, staff and the public.

Nye and Johnson will explore the connections between leadership and scientific discovery, from advancing research and encouraging innovation to confronting climate change, sustainability and the future of science education. They will consider what it takes to make sound decisions when the problems are complicated, the stakes are high and the answers are not always obvious.

For generations of viewers, Nye is the familiar face behind “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” the Emmy Award-winning television series that made science feel less like a school subject and more like an invitation to look closer. As an engineer, television presenter, author, educator and advocate, he has spent decades making scientific ideas accessible—and making the case that science belongs in everyday conversations and public decisions.

Nye currently serves as chief ambassador and vice chair of The Planetary Society, the world’s largest nonprofit space advocacy organization. He has been a prominent voice on scientific literacy, evidence-based decision-making, environmental stewardship and the need to address climate change through research, policy, technology and public engagement.

His work has earned numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards. He is also a New York Times bestselling author.

The Leo Hill Leadership Speaker Series brings prominent thinkers and practitioners to CU Boulder for conversations that challenge assumptions, connect ideas across disciplines and examine what leadership requires in a changing world.

Tickets will be available online at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6. More information to come. Tickets are $5 for CU students, $10 for CU faculty and staff, and $30 for the general public.