Scientists’ group rips Bill Nye over SOTU attendance: He ‘does not speak for us’

A female scientists’ organization is harshly criticizing Bill Nye, saying “the Science Guy” does not “speak for science” by attending President Trump’s first State of the Union address on Tuesday.

In a new blog post published on Scientific American’s website, the group slams Nye for accepting the invitation to attend the speech as a guest of Rep. Jim Bridenstine, (R-Okla.), Trump’s nominee to head NASA.

500 Women Scientists, a group that describes itself as a grass-roots organization dedicated to “making science open, inclusive, and accessible” to a diverse population, condemns Nye’s decision to attend the speech and accuses him of putting his “personal brand over the interests of the scientific community at large.”

“As scientists, we cannot stand by while Nye lends our community’s credibility to a man who would undermine the United States’ most prominent science agency,” the piece reads. “And we cannot stand by while Nye uses his public persona as a science entertainer to support an administration that is expressly xenophobic, homophobic, misogynistic, racist, ableist, and anti-science.”

Bridenstine’s nomination has faced pushback from members of both parties over his lack of formal scientific training.

Nye, who has criticized the Trump administration in the past, has faced backlash from environmentalist groups over his decision, but defended himself in a statement on Friday, saying that he has “enjoyed a productive working relationship” with Bridenstine on issues related to space exploration.

{mosads}“At the State of the Union address, I hope to hear the president present plans for an ambitious, science-driven space exploration agenda,” Nye said. “Space exploration brings out the best in us. It brings the nation together as we solve problems that have never been solved before and learn more about the cosmos and our place within it.”

The Planetary Society, of which Nye serves as CEO, in a Tuesday statement sought to emphasize “that attending the SOTU as Bridenstine’s guest does not mean that either Bill Nye or The Planetary Society is endorsing his nomination.”

“Our relationship with Bridenstine and his office goes back years due to his involvement in the House Space Subcommittee, which has oversight over NASA. The Society makes an effort to engage with every legislator directly involved on NASA issues regardless of their party or ideology,” the group said on its website.

The 500 Women Scientists’ piece attacks Nye for proclaiming to represent the science community while “tacitly [endorsing] climate denial, intolerance and attacks on science” by attending the event with Bridenstine.

“No number of shiny new satellites can undo the racist policies that make our Dreamer colleagues live in fear and prevent immigrants from pursuing scientific careers in the United States,” the piece reads. “And no new mission to the Moon can make our LGBTQ colleagues feel welcome at an agency run by someone who votes against their civil rights.”

The group also points to some of Nye’s recent activities publicly debating climate change deniers as an example of what they say are harmful actions to a progressive scientific community.

“Nye’s TV persona has perpetuated the harmful stereotype that scientists are nerdy, combative white men in lab coats — a stereotype that does not comport with our lived experience as women in STEM,” the group continues. “And he continues to wield his power recklessly, even after his recent endeavors in debate and politics have backfired spectacularly.”