Great Minds

Carl Sagan
Astronomer, Astrophysicist, Author, Cosmologist, Science popularizer

“It is far better to grasp the Universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.”

I can safely say that Carl Sagan was one of the most significant individuals of modern times. Where Sagan stood out was not in his brilliance, or scientific achievements, but it was his presentation of science to the layman, and his passion to teach anyone willing to listen. When he co-wrote and co-produced the show Cosmos, with Ann Druyann, he revolutionized science education and brought the world to a greater understanding of the our world. Cosmos, a show made in 1980, remains one of the most watched series in the world, seen by over 500 million people worldwide. Most any science educator today will credit Sagan for inspiring them. Even more astonishing is that Carl made such accurate, well educated, and well articulated ideas that 30 years couldn’t invalidate how profound his words were.  I believe Carl helped move humanity as a whole just that little bit closer to being a space-faring species.

Richard Dawkins
Ethologist, Evolutionary biologist, Author
“There’s real poetry in the real world. Science is the poetry of reality”
An outspoken atheist author and evolutionary biologist, Dawkins has been one of the most vocal critics of Intelligent Design, Creation Science. He is passionate about humankind moving beyond superstition and “feel good rationality”. He is quoted for many of his articulate comments and observations about our world. While I don’t always agree with his aggressive anti-religion stance, I feel he makes valid and powerfully true claims. In a world where religion seeks to push any science which conflicts with their views out of everyday life, he feels he must push back.

Richard Feynman
Physicist, 1965 Nobel Prize in Physics
“It’s all really there … But you gotta stop and think about it … to really get the pleasure about the complexity; the inconceivable nature of nature.”
Feynman was a brilliant physicist who often entertained the debate about religion in a world filled with science. In the book ‘The Pleasure of Finding Things Out’ a quote of his stood out dramatically for me : “It’s all really there“. These 4 profound words so accurately describe the nature of science and reality. It’s real, it’s everywhere, it’s right in front of you, and you can see it, touch it, experience it, and learn about it. I think if more people saw just how much science is in everything we think and do, more would cease to deny it.

Niel deGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist, Science educator, Director of the Hayden Planetarium
“If you’re scientifically literate, the world looks very different to you … and that understanding empowers you… If you’re not scientifically literate, you are in a sense disenfranchising yourself from the democratic process. And you don’t even know it.”
Tyson is one of the best contemporary science educators we have and arguably the closest the we have to Sagan today. His lighthearted, down-to-earth, and sometimes silly demeanor may give the impression he’s more a character than a scientist, but if you listen to enough of his talks and lectures you’ll find he’s as inspirational or moreso as many others on this page. One of Tyson’s strengths is his understanding of those whom he’s trying to teach. He is often quoted with extremely articulate ideas about the universe and why people should care about science.

Sam Harris
Non-fiction writer, Scientific skepticism advocate
“Where we have reasons for what we believe, we have no need of faith; where we have no reasons, we have lost both our connection to the world and to one another.”

A.C. Grayling
Professor of Philosophy
“In this world of ours now, to be an informed participant in the great conversation of mankind, is to have an alert awareness and understanding of what’s happening in the world.“

Michael Shermer
Editor in Chief of Skeptic Magazine, American science writer, Historian of science, Founder of The Skeptics Society
“Through no divine design or cosmic plan, we have inherited the mantle of life’s caretaker on the earth, the only home we have ever known.“

James Randi
Scientific skepticism advocate
“I want to be, if I can, as sure of the world–the real world–around me as is possible. Now, you can only attain that to a certain degree, but I want the greatest degree of control. I’ve never involved myself in narcotics of any kind, I don’t smoke, and I don’t drink because that can easily just fuzz the edges of my rationality–fuzz the edges of my reasoning powers–and I want to be as aware as I possibly can. That means giving up a lot of fantasies that might be comforting in some ways, but I’m willing to give that up in order to live in an actually real world, or as close as I can get to it.“

Penn Gillette & Teller
Atheist, Objectivism advocate, Scientific skepticism advocate
“Believing there’s no God means I can’t really be forgiven except by kindness and faulty memories. That’s good; it makes me want to be more thoughtful. I have to try to treat people right the first time around”
It goes without saying, Penn and Teller are controversial guys. I can’t say I see eye to eye with them on many issues, but 2 issues I think I can agree with them on most counts on is Atheism and Objectivism. They tend to be vulgar and poignant about their points, but they aren’t exactly making their show for children. While the stage magician/illusionist duo may seem unqualified for their opinions, their profession brings them face to face with the same level of deceptions and illusion games that religion and pseudo-science plays.

Bill Nye
Science educator, Mechanical engineer

Stephen Hawking
Theoretical physicist

Jacob Bronowski
Mathematician, Biologist, Writer & Presenter of “The Ascent of Man”
“Science is a very human form of knowledge. We are always at the brink of the known. … Science is a tribute to what we can know, although we are fallible.“

David Attenborough
Naturalist, Documentary narrator

Robert Jastrow
Astronomer, Physicist, Cosmologist