Carl Sagan, "Cosmos; A Personal Voyage", PBS, 1980
Course Materials
At this site, you will find all reading and supplemental materials for the course "Cosmos" Updated, a two-term course offered January through May, 2017, at the University of Southern Maine's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). Students in this course watch and discuss the 2014 television series, Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.
The menu at the right side of this page provides links to readings for each episode.
INTRODUCING Neil deGrasse Tyson, host of "Cosmos"
In February 2017, Neil deGrasse Tyson was on NPR's "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" Listen to it (or read it) HERE.
Watch this video of Neil deGrasse Tyson, speaking on the crisis facing science in the United States.
The host of this television series is a scientist — not an actor, not a journalist, not an historian of science, not a philosopher of science, but a working scientist who can talk about science as a participant or practitioner. Practically no actors or journalists and very few historians and philosophers of science have ever set foot in a scientific research laboratory, and thus are not equipped to talk about science from experience. A sideline observer, no matter how deeply interested, misses much of what goes on in science, and will always have serious gaps in their understanding of how science works. In addition, sideline observers are usually deaf to the provisional language that underlies all scientific discourse.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is not a sideline observer.
Neil deGrasse Tyson is currently Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space, and Research Associate in the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. He lists his research fields as physical astronomy and astrophysics. Physical astronomy entails using the tools of physics, such as detailed analysis of energy (such as light) received through telescopes, antennas, or other kinds of detectors, to study astronomical objects like planets, stars, and galaxies. Astrophysics is the study of the physics of astronomical processes themselves, such as the mechanisms of energy production in stars, and the gravitational effects that produce stars, planetary systems, galaxies, and larger structures. Tyson has been involved in research on star formation, exploding stars, and the structure of galaxies, including dwarf galaxies and our home, the Milky Way galaxy.
Tyson's education includes a degree from The Bronx High School of Science; BA in physics, Harvard University; MA in astronomy, University of Texas; and MPhil and PhD in astrophysics, Columbia University, New York. He has been involved in research at Princeton University, the University of Maryland, and Hayden Planetarium, where he established a research wing that began with 15 full-time research scientists. He says, “Right now the public stuff takes up most of my time. But I want to get back to more research. That’s what fuels me.”
To learn more, see the following:
Neil deGrasse Tyson's curriculum vitae.
Neil deGrasse Tyson at Wikipedia.
An article about Tyson by Rebecca Mead, entitled "Star Man", appeared in the September 17-24, 2014 issue of The New Yorker (subscription required for online access).
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INTRODUCING Seth MacFarlane, executive producer of "Cosmos"
From Wikipedia:
MacFarlane served as executive producer of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, an update of the 1980s Carl Sagan-hosted Cosmos series. The new series, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, debuted in March 2014. MacFarlane was instrumental in providing funding for the show, as well as securing studio support for it from other entertainment executives. Besides serving as one of the executive producers, MacFarlane also provided voices for characters during the animation portions of the series.
To learn more about the versatile Mr. MacFarlane, see the following:
Seth MacFarlane at Wikipedia
Want to watch episodes at home?
Borrow, Buy or Stream Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey.
We will watch all episodes of Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey in class. If you miss a class or want to watch an episode at home, borrow the DVD series from the OLLI office, 210 Wishcamper Center, USM Portland Campus. You can also purchase your own copy of the series from Amazon, on DVD or Blu-ray disks, for less than $20. If you already subscribe to Netflix Streaming on your smart TV or streaming device (such as Roku), you will find the series there.
