http://sites.google.com/site/piezas001/carl-sagan-identity

Sagan opened my eyes to the wonder and possibilities that were out there. And I sought out his other books and books by other authors. He rekindled a flame that had been all but extinguished by some unthinking teachers and adults who didn’t get the geeky kid who was more interested in the stars and planets than football and rodeo.

Do I worship him? No. He was a man. Do I admire him? For his ability to turn science into poetry, I do.

I only wish I could have met the man to thank him for giving me back the gift of scientific curiosity.

Why is “Carl Sagan Day” being celebrated on the 7th, and not on his birthday, the 9th?

Even the website – http://www.carlsaganday.com/ – says “This November 7, 2009, we will celebrate the life and contributions of the great astronomer, author, and philosopher, Carl Sagan, on the 75th anniversary of his birth.”

So even the website is wrong.

I did email them and asked, but have not heard yet.

“Curiosity not only that inspired many of today’s scientists, but everyone who has paused to marvel at the Universe, thanks to him.”

Carl Sagan did write a lot of inspiring stuff. But if he’s the only one who inspired you, then you haven’t been around much. There’s more to getting interested in science than any single person. There’s more to it than just people. Whence came Carl Sagan’s curiosity? Surely he didn’t see himself on TV and say, “I want to be just like him when I grow up.”

And what about all the less than honorable episodes in his life? Are you aware that he as much as disowned one of his sons one day (insinuated to the mother that he and the son didn’t look like each other) just to get out of spending some time with the young man? What about how he treated his first wife, Lynn Margulis? She was just as well-educated as he was. She was a working scientist. Yet as far as he was concerned, changing diapers and keeping the floor swept was pretty much her job- not so much his.

Curiosity not only that inspired many of today’s scientists, but everyone who has paused to marvel at the Universe, thanks to him.

Dan

I <3 Cosmos.

What about all the other role models? What about the other scientists who inspired people to take interest in science? Where’s the special party for people to get together and celebrate Faraday? He not only made science cool in the eyes of the Public with his popular lectures, he did science that revolutionized Civilization. So where’s his special event? Where’s the sadness that he’s no longer with us? Or what about Marie Curie? She made science cool by promoting it tirelessly.

I could mention Lise Meitner, but she was a rather private person and didn’t spend her time promoting science. All she did was science itself, such as leading the team that discovered nuclear fission. No party for her.

#26 Daniel: While your point about Darwin is a valid one, I don’t think the same reasoning can be applied to Sagan. Notwithstanding all the important work he did in astronomy and planetary science, we are celebrating him here as a populariser of science. I doubt if any other person of his era – and certainly none since – has done as much to educate the public on the wonders of the Universe. Can we even imagine how many of today’s younger astronomers were inspired by him?
I, for one, don’t hesitate to say that the world is a poorer place without him.

“If I gotta worship somebody and emulate them, I don’t mind it being Carl Sagan at all.

We all need heroes, okay? At least we know Sagan was real.”

You don’t gotta worship anyone, real or not. I’ve learned a number of valuable things from Carl Sagan’s writings. I’ve also learned much from a lot of other people; for example, nearly everyone else I’ve eve known. I’ve also learned from more than just what people have to say. There’s food for thought to be found in all experience. So why would Sagan be so deserving of my, or your, admiration? If you want badly to celebrate some special person in your life, why not set aside a day to remember your parents? They made all things possible for you.

And if you need a hero, then look to yourself. Be a hero, in the truest sense of the great myths. Learn from life. Transform yourself. Become more than you were.

Plus side, during my PHYS178 Planets and Planetary Systems tutorial today, when we were going over the Drake equation, I mentioned to my friend that it’d be great to see that clip from Cosmos about it – and then the tutor put it on XD

Sagan as a boy: “What are stars?”

Typical Brooklyn response, “They’re lights in the sky, kid!””

Actually, Sagan himself told the following story. In the local library, he asked for a book
about stars. The librarian gave him one—Humphrey Bogart, James Stewart etc. He
said that that’s not what he meant, and she smiled and gave him a book about real stars.

“This guyyyyy calls to us… if we do not destroy ourselves.”

@TommyBoy – I think we don’t want to finish up like the Objectivists, with their devotion bordering on worship of Ayn Rand.

We all need heroes, okay? At least we know Sagan was real.

Sagan as a boy: “What are stars?”

Typical Brooklyn response, “They’re lights in the sky, kid!”