AMES, Iowa -- Scientist, engineer, comedian, author, inventor and a man with a mission. Bill Nye fosters a scientifically literate society by helping people everywhere understand and appreciate the science that makes our world work.

Nye will bring his brand of entertainment and accessible science to Iowa State University on Friday, Sept. 21. His talk, "You Can Change the World," will be at 7 p.m. in Stephens Auditorium. It is part of Iowa State's Engineers Week 2012 and is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.

A mechanical engineer by training, Nye began his career in Seattle at Boeing where he developed a hydraulic pressure resonance suppressor that is still used in the 747. After winning the local Steve Martin look-alike contest, Nye developed dual careers as an engineer by day and a stand-up comic by night.

He eventually developed the character and TV show, "Bill Nye the Science Guy®" (1992-98), combining his love of science with his flair for comedy. While working on the Science Guy show, Nye won seven national Emmy Awards for writing, performing and producing. The show won 18 Emmys in five years.

Nye has hosted several television series, including “The 100 Greatest Discoveries” (Science Channel), “The Eyes of Nye”(PBS stations) and "Stuff Happens" (Planet Green). He is a frequent guest on Disney's "Mickey Mouse Club" and "Late Night with David Letterman," and has guest-starred in several episodes of the crime drama "Numb3rs." And Nye is the author of five children's books about science.

Nye is the executive director of The Planetary Society, the world’s large space interest organization. He has been a visiting professor at Cornell University (his alma mater), and received honorary doctorate degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Goucher College and Johns Hopkins. Nye holds patents on two educational products – a magnifier made of water and an abacus that does arithmetic like a computer. He has patents pending on a device to help people learn to throw a baseball better, and an improved toe shoe for ballerinas.

Nye's presentation is cosponsored by Engineers Week, the George Gund Lecture Fund and the Committee on Lectures, which is funded by the Government of the Student Body. More information on ISU lectures is available at http://www.lectures.iastate.edu, or by calling 515-294-9935.