NEW YORK — For decades, Bill Nye the Science Guy has imparted a simple message to generations of kids and adults: “Science rules!” The catchphrase took on a new meaning Thursday, as Nye critiqued Health and Human Services chief Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his views and decisions on science and vaccines.
“We really try in planetary science to stay away from the politics,” he said. “But man, it’s really hard right now — this is so extreme.”
The much-beloved Planetary Society CEO spoke passionately about the importance and necessity of research and science at STAT’s Breakthrough Summit East. Talking about Kennedy, he said, “He’s a guy who doesn’t believe in vaccines! Dude, pasteurized milk, I mean, come on, this is a couple centuries old. I went to elementary school with a guy who had polio. You don’t want polio. Polio, bad! That there’s a guy who doesn’t understand that is really something.”
Nye didn’t save his ire for Kennedy alone. He also spoke about Dave Weldon, whose support for anti-vaccine theories doomed his candidacy to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“This guy is so nutty that even our Congress couldn’t hire him,” he said.
Nye’s comments came during a panel about his work and history with ataxia, a rare movement disorder often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis. In recent years, the science communicator has taken a more outspoken stance in bringing awareness to the disorder that has riddled his family and thousands of others for generations.
Nye’s co-panelist Andrew Rosen, chief executive officer of the National Ataxia Foundation, similarly spoke about the worries of conducting science in the current federal environment. Ten years ago, he said, there was scant pharmaceutical interest in developing treatments for ataxia. Now, thanks to Nye’s advocacy, interest has bloomed. But their research community is under attack.
“We give away a couple million dollars a year in research grants, and we’re proud of that,” said Rosen. “You’d be hard pressed to find an ataxia researcher in the world that hasn’t received a grant from us over the years. We’re proud of that, but we can’t match what’s happening at a federal level, where programs are under attack.”
As the panel ended, Rosen pointed out Nye’s Presidential Medal of Freedom pin on his suit jacket.
“You got that pin because you have educated the world on science, and I don’t know if there’s ever been a time where we need that more,” he said, garnering a cheer from the audience.
Nye finished off the panel with more education, telling the audience that the U.S. Constitution explicitly directs Congress to promote the progress of science.
“I think the pendulum is going to swing,” said Nye. “I think there’s only so much incompetence we’re going to put up with.”