Role Model for Communication 3

Role Model for Communication 1

Running head: ROLE MODEL FOR COMMUNICATION

Role Model for Communication: Bill Nye The Science Guy

Jered McClure

Walden University Role Model for Communication 2

Abstract

This paper attempts to demonstrate that William S. Nye, Bill Nye the Science Guy, is a role model for communication. Examples are given of different circumstances in which Bill has shown himself to be a competent communicator. Bill’s actions are compared against the NCA credo for ethical communication as well. In the end, Bill is shown to live the NCA credo, and over all, be a very good example as a role model of communication. Role Model for Communication 3

Role Model for Communication: Bill Nye The Science Guy

A role model is a person that people can look to for guidance on how they should act or live; this paper will display such a role model, for communication. William S. Nye a.k.a. Bill the

Science Guy, is most commonly known for his portrayal of the whimsical scientist in the popular television series Bill Nye The Science Guy that aired from 1992 to 1998 (Nye, Curriculum Vitae,

2010). This television series was targeted to engage a young audience in order to bring about a passion and understanding for the sciences. During the show, Bill would use models, pictures, and demonstrations in an effort to communicate whatever topic he was discussing. He would generally try to speak in as simple terms as possible, without undermining the science behind what he was saying.

Communicator

Bill is an excellent communicator, he engages with his audience in a clear and down to earth manner. An example of this is shown when on July 14, 2010 Bill appeared on CNN (2010) and used a plastic bottle with tubing and cardboard in order to demonstrate how BP, an energy company (2010), were going to seal the oil leak in the gulf of Mexico (Wikipedia The Free

Encyclopedia, 2010). The demonstration was done in such a way that an average person, without any knowledge of engineering would be able to understand. During the interview, Bill also steers away from any jargon, using common words and phrases to explain his model.

Bill is an ethical communicator showing empathy through his writing. In January of 2009 he wrote a public letter to the president of the United States, Barack Obama, which was posted in the Huffington Post (Nye, My School Days -- The Crazy Luck, 2009). In this letter, Bill argues for the president to take action about the public school system in the United States. Giving Role Model for Communication 4 examples from his own life growing up in Washington D.C., Bill at one point states “It was about hope. Unlike me, the bussed-in kids didn’t have any hope – or not much” (Nye, 2009).

This is an example of him identifying and sympathizing with other people’s feelings. Bill also uses inclusive communication, language that does not discriminate any part of society. You can also see inclusiveness in many of his episodes of Bill Nye The Science Guy; his cast and crew were made up of people from numerous ethnicities and various walks of life.

Bill communicates with academic integrity. During an interview with CNNfyi Chat

(2000) Bill is asked whether Mr. Wizard, Don Herbert (2010), was an inspiration for his Bill Nye

The Science Guy show. Bill states “Oh, yes. As I said, Mr. Wizard, Don Herbert, sent this country to the moon” (Cable News Network, 2000). Later, in the same interview, Bill gives credit to his past teachers when asked who his influences were. Both of these instances are examples of Bill giving credit where credit is due, and being honest about where his ideas have come from.

The National Communication Association (NCA) credo for ethical communication is a set of guidelines on which to base any form of communication (2010). Bill lives the credo in several ways; he promotes access to communication resources by using multiple and alternative forms of communication to send out his messages. He has used the television for both science and comedy; he has used the internet for personal web logs, journals and entertainment; he has also used the scientific community at large through advisory boards and in his role as vice president to the Planetary Society (2010). Bill is a great supporter for information sharing as well. In his role as Science Guy, Bill has helped to spread the knowledge of science through a quirky but very communicative television show. He has also been a writer and host for five other television series, as well as had a hand in two more (Nye, Curriculum Vitae, 2010). Role Model for Communication 5

Closing

Bill is an effective, active, and motivated role model of communication. His life and work are examples of this as well. Bill is clear, concise, ethical, and truthful; although he may not be aware that he is doing so, he lives the NCA credo through his actions. Bill is most certainly a role model, already, to people throughout the world. He is definitely a role model for this author. Role Model for Communication 6

References

BP. (2010). BP at a glance. Retrieved August 3, 2010, from BP:

http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=3&contentId=2006926

Cable News Network. (2000, September 11). Bill Nye the Science Guy on science and technology.

Retrieved August 3, 2010, from edition.cnn.com:

http://edition.cnn.com/COMMUNITY/transcripts/2000/9/11/nye/

Mr. Wizard Studios, Inc. (2010). Home Page. Retrieved August 4, 2010, from Mr. Wizard Studios:

http://mrwizardstudios.com/index.htm

National communication Association. (2010). NCA Credo for Ethical Communication. Retrieved August 4,

2010, from National Communication Association: http://www.natcom.org/index.asp?bid=514

Nye, B. (2010). Curriculum Vitae. Retrieved August 1, 2010, from Bill Nye the Science Guy:

http://www.billnye.com/

Nye, B. (2009, January 21). My School Days -- The Crazy Luck. Retrieved August 2, 2010, from The

Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-nye/bill-nyes-school-days_b_159818.html

Nye, B. (2010, July 14). 'The Science Guy' weighs in on BP tests. (J. King, Interviewer) Cable News

Network. CNN.com.

The Planetary Society. (2010). Bill Nye Biography. Retrieved August 3, 2010, from The Planetary Society:

http://www.planetary.org/about/bill_nye.html

Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. (2010). Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Retrieved August 3, 2010, from

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill