As part of its "Socratic Stage" speaker series, New College of Florida will host a discussion called "Can Science Save the World? An Evening with Bill Nye and Michael Shellenberger" at the Sarasota Opera House on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Nye is popularly known as "Bill Nye the Science Guy" and is a beloved engineer, comedian, bestselling author and inventor. He will be joined by author and journalist Shellenberger for a discussion about how people can improve the world through science. The discussion and audience Q&A will be moderated by Mark Bauerlein, a New College board member and English professor emeritus at Emory University in Atlanta.

Nye, 68, is the recipient of 18 Emmy Awards for his work as creator and host of Bill Nye the Science Guy, a show that introduced the millennial generation to science and engineering in an entertaining and accessible format. The show, which ran from 1993 to 1998, was the most-watched educational TV show in the United States during its run. He remains a prominent figure in science and media, and is a champion for scientific literacy.

Shellenberger, 53, is an investigative journalist and the author of San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities and Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All. He serves as CBR chair of censorship, politics and free speech at The University of Austin, where he is described as a "pro-human environmentalist,"and is the founder of Public, a Substack focusing on news and politics.

The event with Nye and Shellenberger is the first in this year's Socratic Stage series, which "seeks to advance civil discourse and engagement through facilitating events that foster open discussion and debate on relevant public policy issues," according to a press release from the college.

"Can Science Save the World? An Evening With Bill Nye and Michael Shellenberger" will take place 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Sarasota Opera House, 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota. Tickets start at $100 for general admission, with discounted $25 tickets available to local students with ID and additional VIP packages available. Current New College students, faculty and staff can reserve complimentary tickets. All tickets include valet parking. For more information, click here.