Astrophysicist, bestselling author Neil deGrasse Tyson to speak at UB

Neil deGrasse Tyson, host of PBS's NOVA scienceNOW, will speak at the University at Buffalo at 8 p.m. today (Wednesday, March 31) in Alumni Arena on the North Campus as part of UB's Distinguished Speakers Series.

F.P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, Tyson's professional interests include star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies and the structure of the Milky Way.

In 2004, he was selected as one of the 50 Most Important African-Americans in Research Science.

Tyson earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Harvard and his PhD in astrophysics from Columbia. He is the recipient of nine honorary doctorates as well as the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, and is the author of 11 books, including "The Sky is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist" and "Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of Cosmic Evolution," among others.

During his lecture, audio and/or visual photography, as well as still photography, will be limited to the first five minutes of the program.

Working media may reserve tickets for the program by contacting Christine Vidal in the Office of University Communications, at 645-4607 or vidal@buffalo.edu no later than noon today (Wednesday, March 31, 2010). Reserved tickets may be picked up at the will-call window in Alumni Arena prior to the lecture. Media may be required to show press credentials in order to be admitted to the lecture.

Press arrangements: Ellen Goldbaum onsite at 771-9255.