Starting tonight, HoustonPBS will begin engaging the community and students at Cullen Performance Hall as it introduces its four-part annual Elevate Lecture series presented by the John P. McGovern Foundation.
Created in response to viewer requests for more intellectual events in the spirit of HoustonPBS programming, the series features personalities and academics from various scientific fields. Tonight’s lecture features Director of the Hayden Planetarium and host of NOVA ScienceNOW, Neil deGrasse Tyson.
"We are excited to be opening our lecture series with Tyson," HoustonPBS general manager John Hesse, said. "I think he is the perfect lecturer to kick off the series here in ‘Space City.’ I think our audience will come away with a greater understanding of his vision and for his love of science and its everyday applications."
Tyson earned his bachelor’s in physics from Harvard University and his Ph.D. in astrophysics from Columbia University. As an astrophysicist, he was appointed the Frederick P. Rose director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in 1995.
Tyson is also a respected author, with research in star formation, dwarf galaxies and the structure of our galaxy.
HoustonPBS will also create an interactive Web site so participants can access additional information after the lectures.
The introductory lecture starts at 7 p.m. tonight at Cullen Performance Hall. Tickets are $20 for students and HoustonPBS members, $25 for general admission. For tickets, visit HoustonPBS.org or call (713) 743-8459.
