Science dude: Bill Nye, whose Emmy-award winning "The Science Guy" continues to inspire on DVD and video, talks with Jon Runnalls and his science students from Helena Middle School in Montana. Plus: How to use the Science Guy to bring new excitement to your classroom!

Instructor, March, 2004 by Jon Runnalls

The afternoon my students and I were scheduled to talk with Bill Nye, my room was abuzz with excitement. The kids had spent weeks preparing questions, and they were eager to interview the Science Guy himself. As the time drew near, however, the room got quiet--I share many of Nye's videos in my classes (see "Teaching with Bill Nye" on page 25), and my students appreciate him as both a celebrity and a scientist.

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During our conversation, Nye loosened us up by talking about everything from microscopic DNA to unexpected explosions. I snuck in a few questions about teaching, too--to get an even better idea of how I could use Nye's popular programming to improve my curriculum. Here's what the wacky scientist had to say about curiosity, humor, and passion in the science classroom:

HELENA MIDDLE SCHOOL: Hello, Mr. Nye! We're calling you from Helena Middle School in Helena, Montana.

BILL NYE: The capital.

Q Yes, it's the capital. Mr. Nye, we're sitting here in our lab coats and bow ties, just like what you wear on TV, and we're wondering what field of science you find the most interesting.

BN: It's changed over the years, but these days I'm fascinated with DNA and genetics.

Q Oh yes! We've seen your show on genetics. Why is it your favorite?

BN: Well, when it comes down to the molecular level, there's very little difference between us all. My hope is that science can help people to stop making comparisons between different groups.

Q Wow. We hope that happens, too. Speaking of DNA and genetic makeup, we heard you won a Steve Martin look-alike contest. Are you related?

BN: Ha! That was a long time ago! Actually, though, Steve Martin influenced my sense of humor quite a bit.

Q How so?

BN: His jokes are brilliant. On one level, they're about nothing, but on another, there's so much going on--they make you think. I spend a lot of time honing my jokes, so that they're funny and informative at the same time.

Q What about science teachers? Did you have any that particularly influenced you on the road to becoming "Bill Nye, the Science Guy?"

BN: Well, I had several amazing science teachers along the way, of course. But Mr. Flowers stands out.

Q Why's that?

BN: Well, Mr. Flowers had a spigot hanging from his classroom ceiling with water coming out of it. Do you know how he did that?

Q Everyone here has their hands up! Did it have something to do with siphoning?

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BN: Right! It's an old scientific trick. Anyway, the great thing about Mr. Flowers was that he never said anything about it.

Q He didn't mention that there was water coming out of the ceiling?!

BN: Nope. He just wrote things on the board, would explain ocean currents to us, you know, but he never talked about that spigot. He made us curious.

Q That's great! We want to know about the biggest surprise you've had in your lab.

BN: Boy, that's tough. It's science--there are always surprises. Have you ever made a rocket using a film canister and Alka-Seltzer?

Q Yes, we've performed that experiment in class before.

BN: One time I decided to do this with a five-gallon paint bucket. When it went off, it blew off the top of the workbench. The whole surface actually came unnailed from the legs!

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Q Whoa!!

BN: It was surprising to see how powerful it was. You have to have a lot of respect for science.

Q That's the truth! What do you think makes a good book about science?

BN: Well, the thing that always disappoints me in a science book is when the experiments don't work.

Q Oh, we've had that happen in our lab. It's annoying to spend all that time on an experiment and then have nothing happen!

BN: It definitely is. A good science book is reliable. I also like books about one topic--oceans, dinosaurs, germs.

Q Like most of your books, right?

BN: Right. I don't want to try to cover everything in one book. And I guarantee that every experiment works.

Q We'll remember that. Mr. Nye, if you were addressing a group of new teachers today, what would you tell them is the most important thing about teaching science?

BN: I would say to just let your P B and J come through: the passion, beauty, and joy of science.

Q What do you mean by that?

BN: Well, there's nothing in the room where you're sitting, nothing that you can see that is not the product of science. Light bulbs, metal, desks, pencils, paper--all these things were created by people who understood the universe in such a way that they could change it.

Q What a great message for our students. Thanks so much for talking to us today, Mr. Nye.

BN: Thank you.

RELATED ARTICLE: Meet Bill Nye

Motto: Leave the world better than you found it.

Number of bow ties: Six dozen.

Favorite science experiment: Inflating a balloon without using your breath by the classic vinegar-and-baking-soda-makes-carbon-dioxide-gas reaction.

Advice to young scientists: Try things and clean up after yourself. Then try some more things and clean that up, too.