2024 Honoree

Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist and the author of the #1 bestselling books Starry Messenger and Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. His latest book, To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery, debuted at #4 on the New York Times Best Seller list. He is the director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, where he has served since 1996.

He is the two-time host of the beloved TV series Cosmos — rebooting the original 1980 series hosted by Carl Sagan. He is also the host and cofounder of the popular Emmy-nominated podcast StarTalk and its spinoff StarTalk Sports Edition, which combine science, humor, and pop culture.

Dr. Tyson is a recipient of 23 honorary doctorates, the Public Welfare Medal from the National Academy of Sciences, and the Distinguished Public Service Medal from NASA. Asteroid 13123 Tyson is named in his honor. He lives in New York City.