When the first notes of the “Bill Nye the Science Guy” theme song began echoing through the Titan Student Union Portola Pavilion, students didn’t miss a beat. They sang along to the popular chorus — “Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill” — as the world-famous scientist and educator took the stage for the “Beyond the Conversation” series at Cal State Fullerton.
Hosted by Associated Students Inc., the signature series invites notable speakers to campus to share their stories and spark dialogue among students. Bill Nye, who spoke to the Titan community on Oct. 7, joins a star-studded lineup of previous “Beyond the Conversation” speakers, including Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan, and Emmy and Grammy Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo.
As the co-creator and host of the Emmy Award-winning ’90s television series “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” Nye has emerged not only as an entertaining educator but also as an influential advocate for science and facts in an era of misinformation.
His lifelong commitment to advocacy has earned him various honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, inclusion in the Time 100 Health list, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.
Nye has made science and engineering education entertaining and accessible for generations of viewers. He shared his story with Cal State Fullerton students and imparted a few pieces of advice and encouragement to help them on their academic journey.
Getting a college education gives you a way of looking at the world that is essentially priceless. You are going to go out there and dare I say it, change the world. — Bill Nye
A college education is priceless
“You guys are going to graduate from Cal State Fullerton with this degree, and it will be worth more the day after you graduate than the day you graduate. I guarantee you,” Nye said.
“Getting a college education gives you a way of looking at the world that is essentially priceless. You are going to go out there and dare I say it, change the world.”
Always employ critical thinking
With the rapid expansion of social media and artificial intelligence, Nye acknowledged that students have access to a wealth of information about science, the environment and sustainability. He said the key to consuming and identifying reliable information is critical thinking.
As a scientist who has spent his career asking questions and investigating the wonders of the world, Nye said critical thinking isn’t about questioning everything and assuming everything is wrong. It’s about evaluating evidence before deciding if a claim is true.
“What we want everybody to embrace is what is nowadays called critical thinking. It used to be called logic or logical reasoning, but we want everybody to be in the habit of evaluating evidence,” Nye explained.
Don’t be afraid to get started
For students who are preparing to launch their careers, Nye said it’s important to lead with passion and curiosity and to take that first step.
“My advice is to just get started. You don’t know where it’s going to lead, but find something you want to do or something that you wouldn’t mind doing, and get started,” Nye said.
“The thing that goes wrong is when you have so many things to do, you just can’t get going. Just get started. You’re going to change the world.”
Nye was interviewed by Nathan Hoang, a fourth-year business administration student and student programmer for ASI’s student programs and engagement team.
“Events like ‘Beyond the Conversation’ inspire students to see themselves in these figures and empower them to believe maybe they can one day be on that stage as well,” Hoang said. “What stood out to me about Bill’s interview was how he kept the conversation fun, but still didn’t shy away from pointing out our responsibilities as young adults and the potential we have to shape the future.”