Swank-mo-tron here. We have another new robot debuting today with his first guest post. His name is Cassidy Ward and his robot name is Neverbot.
Neverbot was on hand for the Cosmos panel at San Diego Comic-Con and gives us a first hand look at it:
Growing up in Utah my education wasn’t exactly what I would have hoped were I to go back now and design it for myself. Certain elements were emphasized while others were downplayed, this necessitated a re-education of sorts during my early twenties. This is when I discovered Cosmos and Carl Sagan. The series, and Sagan’s work in general helped shape the new way in which I see the world, this led to many new passions including Star Trek, comic books, and a general love of science.
During the San Diego comic-con a few weeks ago I had the pleasure and privilege of attending a panel surrounding the re-launch of Sagan’s seminal series, re-branded Cosmos: A Space-time Odyssey.
This new incarnation will be hosted by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. For those of you unfamiliar with Dr. Tyson’s work he is the director of the Hayden Planetarium, former adorable little kid and current badass. He has also hosted a number of Nova Science Now specials.
He was joined on the panel by Ann Druyan (Sagan’s widow and co-creator of Cosmos) as well as Brannon Braga (Star Trek: The Next Generation). I’ve long been a fan of Dr. Tyson as well as Ann and was excited to sit in the same room with them and hear them speak about this project. This alone was enough to get me planted in a seat as close to the front as possible. That was before Bill Nye walked in. The little kid in me, leapt out of his seat and I don’t think I stopped chanting “Bill, Bill, Bill- Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill” for the rest of the week.
I DID share air with you Bill, and it WAS the tightest shit.
The panel was introduced and after a few moments the lights dropped and the trailer for the upcoming series debuted. I’ll let it speak for itself.
The visuals are stunning and the use of graphic novel style animation during some of the stories seems interesting. Needless to say I’m excited for it to begin. Science breeds art, and art science. This can only be good for us.
The rest of the hour block was filled with question and answer time wherein the role of the show was discussed as well as the role of the individual in spreading scientific literacy. Laughs were had, insights shared, and tears shed. The atmosphere in the room was electric, I’ve never quite felt anything like it.
It’s fair to say that much of the stories we love today were at least in part inspired by scientific literacy and interest. Dr. Tyson remarked:
“If Comic-Con people ruled the world, the future would be invented daily and warfare would be nothing more than bar fights with toy lightsabers. That is the world I want. “
Well Neil, that’s the world I want to live in as well and I thank you for doing your part in bringing it to fruition.
As Sagan said:
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known”
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait.