Bill Nye and The Planetary Society Join GameDesk

Bill Nye the Science Guy, recently joined the GameDesk team to build a library of digital science curriculum and games. Most recently, he has been working with us to build version 2.0 of the aerodynamics game, Aero!, for the iPhone. Bill has been helping the team understand how wings deflect air, proper equations required for a correct simulation of flight, and the coupling of yaw and roll. “O, it was big fun. I’m having a great time working with the Institute. Lucien and his team know what they’re doing. They’re top-notch, first-cabin, and are serious about complex science learning.” Bill has joined the Board of Directors for the GameDesk school and stated that he and GameDesk are now planning a series of science learning games and apps for release in 2012 and a Geo-science X-box Kinect game for launch in the winter of 2012.

Bill with the Aero Dev. Team at GameDesk

Scientist, comedian, teacher, and author, Nye became a household name with his innovative, fast-paced television series, Bill Nye the Science Guy. His work has been to help foster a scientifically literate society, to help people everywhere understand and appreciate the science that makes our world work. As a student at Cornell University, Bill Nye was introduced to the wonders of astronomy in a class taught by Carl Sagan, one of the original founders of The Planetary Society. Nye’s mission for many years has been to turn on the public in general, and kids in particular, to the wonders of science. Nye earned a degree in mechanical engineering at Cornell University and spent several years working as an engineer at Boeing until he combined his dual love of science and comedy to create the Science Guy.

While working on the Science Guy show, Bill won seven national Emmy Awards for writing, performing, and producing. The show won 18 Emmys in five years. He is the host of three currently running television series. “The 100 Greatest Discoveries” airs on the Science Channel and “The Eyes of Nye” airs on PBS stations across the country. Bill’s latest project is hosting a show on Planet Green called “Stuff Happens.” Bill Nye is a graduate of Cornell with a Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He holds three Honorary Doctorate degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Goucher College, and Johns Hopkins University. Bill is currently the Executive Director of The Planetary Society, the world’s largest space interest organization.

The Planetary Society was founded in 1980 by Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray, and Louis Friedman, and is a worldwide non-profit organization that inspires and involves the world’s public in space exploration through advocacy, projects, and education.  It is the largest and most influential public space organization, made up of scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, educators, parents, corporate and foundation leaders, planetarium, museum, and science directors and policy makers from over 125 countries.  Bill and the Planetary Society have agreed to lead and coordinate content expertise for the curriculum and Bill Nye has agreed to help with science content and entertainment design.


GameDesk is a 501(c)3 nonprofit research, development, and outreach organization that seeks to rethink learning through play, making, and interaction.

We look to transform the learning experience, help close the achievement gap, and deeply engage students in learning core curriculum.

The organization (originally developed out of research and support at the University of Southern California's IMSC) has now been in development, practice, and/or evaluation for over four years in various schools, learning centers, and homes nationally.