TWIST Conversations: Neil deGrasse Tyson on Science Literacy and the Future of Work

Welcome to TWIST Conversations, where we chat with members of the Guild Community exploring current trends in learning, performance, and technology.

Photo via NASA HQ PHOTO http://bit.ly/1ujnMYJ

In this episode of TWIST Conversations I chat with renowned astrophysicist, Director of the Hayden Planetarium in NYC, and Critic’s Choice Award-winning host of this summer’s hit series Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Neil deGrasse Tyson. He will be the featured keynote speaker at the DevLearn Conference and Expo taking place October 29 – 31 at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas. In our conversation, we discuss the connection between science literacy and the future of work, why STEM fields are key to the future economic growth, the keys to helping bring “boring” content to life, and the critical importance of curiosity in learning.

Here are a few highlights from our conversation:

When I speak of STEM, I speak of STEM in any sector of society at any human age you happen to be.

I claim science literacy is more about “How is your brain wired for thought?” When you see something, what is your first thought?

What is the state of curiosity that leads to your daily learning?

In the workplace it’s almost always not what you know, but what are your problem solving talents in the face of what you know?

There seems to be a disconnect between what the educational system thinks you need, and what the rest of life knows you need in terms of how to be successful in the workplace.

To learn more about the keynote that Dr. Tyson is giving at DevLearn, or any of the other sessions taking place at DevLearn this October, please visit the DevLearn Conference and Expo website.

If you have a speaker or topic that you would like to see featured in a future episode of TWIST Conversations, please let me know.