For Immediate Release

Washington, February 13, 2018 – Bill Nye, best known as the television personality from the popular PBS series Bill Nye the Science Guy, will speak at the 2018 NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a scientist, best-selling author and inventor, Nye continues his mission to help people everywhere understand and value the importance of science in our world. He will address the conference on Wednesday, May 30.

Nye is a widely recognized and respected advocate for science, and his television series Bill Nye the Science Guy became one of the most-watched educational shows in the United States. Currently, he hosts Bill Nye Saves the World on Netflix, an original series focusing on exploring scientific issues that touch all our lives.

As an ambassador for science education, Nye travels across the country, working with multiple schools and education organizations and committees. He is also a passionate advocate for the important role education plays in increasing scientific literacy and raising the living standards of women and girls across the world. He frequently speaks out on the issue of climate change and the value of critical thinking and reasoning in today’s world. Nye serves as the chief executive officer of The Planetary Society, a nonprofit organization focused on space education and exploration.

“International educators are committed to ensuring all students have the tools to think critically about the world around them and the encouragement to reach their truest potential,” stated Esther D. Brimmer, NAFSA Executive Director and CEO. “Bill Nye is not only a strong advocate for science and reasoning but also a beloved educational figure for many. I am confident his insights and experiences will prove inspiring and motivating for our members.”

Nye is a New York Times best-selling author of multiple books, including Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation, Unstoppable: Harnessing Science to Change the World and the recently published Everything All at Once: How to Unleash Your Inner Nerd, Tap into Radical Curiosity, and Solve Any Problem. He holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University.

This plenary session featuring Bill Nye is sponsored by Lehigh University. Learn more about all the plenary speakers at www.nafsa.org/ac18plenaries.

About the NAFSA Conference

NAFSA’s 70th Annual Conference & Expo is the world’s largest gathering of professionals in international education with an expected 10,000 attendees from more than 100 countries. The conference offers a wide array of learning and networking opportunities for international educators, and features more than 200 sessions and workshops focusing on the most crucial topics in international education and exchange and global learning.

A major highlight of the conference is the International Education Expo Hall, which features more than 400 exhibitors representing hundreds of organizations from around the world, including colleges and universities; study abroad and intensive-English programs; embassies and government agencies; and more. The conference theme for 2018 is “Diverse Voices, Shared Commitment.” It will be held in Philadelphia, May 29–June 1, 2018.

Learn more at www.nafsa.org/philadelphia.

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About NAFSA: With more than 10,000 members, NAFSA: Association of International Educators is the world's largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education. Visit us at www.nafsa.org/press. To learn more about our advocacy efforts on behalf of international education, visit www.ConnectingOurWorld.org and @ConnectOurWorld on Twitter. Resources to guide our members on these issues can be found at www.nafsa.org/reginfo.