Internationally-acclaimed astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson will visit Chattanooga State Community College on Tuesday, October 25, 2011. Invited to participate in a variety of interactions with students, Tyson will conclude his Chattanooga State visit with an evening presentation in the college’s Humanities Auditorium. The lecture, which begins at 6 p.m., will be held on Chattanooga State’s main campus, located at 4501 Amnicola Highway. The event is open to the public.

Tyson is director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and the former host of the PBS television show NOVA scienceNow. An unyielding and enthusiastic advocate for science education, he is the author of numerous books. His most recent publications are the playful yet educational Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries, which became a New York Times bestseller, and The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet, which chronicles his experience at the center of the controversy surrounding Pluto’s status as a major planet. In 2013, Tyson will expand his broadcast career to the Fox network and continue the legacy of the late scientist Carl Sagan by hosting the sequel to Sagan’s television series, Cosmos: A Personal Voyage.

Legendary for his unrestrained style and warm personality, Tyson is also highly revered for his ability to effortlessly explain complex, abstract scientific concepts. According to Dr. James Catanzaro, president of Chattanooga State, Tyson will introduce students to science with an approach that is entertaining, refreshing and accessible. “Neil deGrasse Tyson is a distinguished scholar who commands an unparalleled respect within the scientific community for connecting the public to the profound wonder of our universe,” notes Catanzaro. “Furthermore, Dr. Tyson’s visit demonstrates the college’s commitment to improve science literacy among all students. We want to open up the multi-verse to our students. Without doubt, Dr. Tyson’s lecture will captivate and marvel everyone who attends.”

Born and raised in New York City, Tyson received an undergraduate degree in physics from Harvard University, a master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin, and a doctorate in astrophysics from Columbia University. Obtaining his data from the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as from telescopes located in California, New Mexico, Arizona, and the Andes Mountains of Chile, his professional research includes star formation, exploding stars, dwarf galaxies, and the structure of the Milky Way.

In addition to his earned academic credentials, Tyson is also the recipient of twelve honorary doctorates and the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest honor awarded by NASA to a non-governmental citizen. Because of his determined promotion for a broad understanding of science, the International Astronomical Union acknowledged his contributions by naming an asteroid, “13123 Tyson” in his honor.

His recognition as one of the most prominent American astrophysicists extends into the mainstream media. Popular television shows, such as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report, rely on Tyson for commentary, especially when the worlds of politics and science collide. And in 2000, People magazine responded to Tyson’s celebrity status by declaring him the "Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive.”

Tyson resides in New York City with his wife and two children.