Science writer Keith Kloor has a comprehensive story on his Discover blog about the apparent change-of-mind by popular science commentator Bill Nye, who is well known for expressing concern about the supposed ‘hidden dangers’ posed by genetically modifying foods. The spur for his change? A visit to Monsanto and meetings with the company’s top scientists. Nye hasn’t yet announced in what ways his views may have changed–he promises all will be revealed when the paperback version of his current best-selling book, Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation, comes out this fall. Here are brief highlights of Kloor’s post:
*****
A decade ago, Bill Nye, aka The Science Guy, did a segment on GMOs for his TV show. “It was weightily anti-GMO, something I wouldn’t have expected from Bill Nye,” one writer has noted.
Greenpeace, which campaigns against genetically modified crops, has given the Nye GMO episode a thumbs up. Rodale, a well known organization also opposed to agricultural biotechnology, heartily endorsed the segment, as well. “Bill Nye knows the truth about GMOs,” Rodale crowed.
Nye has recently published a new book that contains a short chapter on GMOs. I have read the chapter and can tell you that it closely reflects what he said on his TV show in 2005, which can be summed up as: Some people are understandably scared about a new technology that could be harmful to the environment.
Related on the SLP
Yet the ground beneath his feet appears to have have shifted of late.
The shift in question starts at 3:36.
Read full original story: Bill Nye Had a Fixed View on GMOs. Then Something Happened.
