Neil deGrasse Tyson, a world-renowned science orator known for dreaming the impossible and urging it into reality, will be the keynote speaker for UW–Madison’s inaugural Senior Day on Thursday, May 10.

deGrasse Tyson

His free appearance, at 3 p.m. on the Memorial Union Terrace, was coordinated by the senior class officers and the Distinguished Lecture Series.

Time magazine named Tyson one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2007, and People Magazine named him “the sexiest astrophysicist alive.” The first Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium, Tyson is a frequent guest on the popular “Colbert Report,” and “Daily Show.” He is author of the New York Times bestseller, “Death By Black Hole and Other Cosmic Quandaries,” as well as his recently published book, “Space Chronicles: Facing the Ultimate Frontier.”

Steven Olikara, senior class president, says the event is the long-awaited result of years of work to organize an all-graduates sendoff event with a world-class speaker.

“The Wisconsin Idea is now global, and we had a vision to reflect that position in our graduation activities” Olikara says. “As a fitting capstone to the Year of the Wisconsin Idea, Dr. Tyson has inspired millions of young people to Think Big and Change the World. I believe this event is a major step forward in promoting the university’s missions of public service, leadership, innovation.”

Senior Day will also include special performances and activities for the graduating class before the talk. A book signing in the Memorial Union will immediately follow Tyson’s speech. The event is free and open to the public.

In the event of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the Wisconsin Union Theater. If it rains, only UW–Madison students with IDs will be allowed into the Union Theater, on a first-come, first-served basis.