By Taylor Adams, News correspondent

The so-called ‘climate generation’ of young people must find innovative scientific solutions to the global climate problem in order to change the world, said television personality William ‘Bill’ Nye in a speech at Blackman Auditorium last night.
He added that those who succeed will undoubtedly enjoy the added benefit of becoming ‘Ikea-guy rich.’
The scientist, comedian and inventor, best known for his role in the celebrated educational program ‘Bill Nye the Science Guy,’ managed to maintain his distinctively cheerful and energetic style while addressing complex environmental issues.
Nye said although traditional environmentalists advocate ‘doing less’ as a solution to climate change, true progress will instead involve applying science to key problem areas in order to ‘do more with less.’
He cited problems like ‘vampire fang’ power plugs featured on most appliances, which he said cause 8 percent of total power usage by needlessly supplying electricity to dormant electronics, as areas that could easily improve.
‘It’s not rocket surgery,’ he joked, and also mentioned that existing options such as solar water heaters and better window insulation could have a profound impact on reducing energy usage.
Nye gave examples of ‘in-the-box thinking’ that have hindered environmental progress, such as the failure of the automobile industry to embrace electric and hybrid vehicles, which Nye joked ‘are not made of some kind of rare ‘unobtainium.”
Despite contract issues that delayed ticket sales until yesterday afternoon, a nearly full auditorium of students turned out to laugh and applaud throughout Nye’s lecture.
‘[He’s] a very compelling speaker who practices what he preaches,’ said junior political science major Rocky Slaughter. He added that his expectations of Nye performing as more of a ‘television artist’ had been surpassed.
Sophomore pharmacy major Quinn Bott, who said that he remembers learning the ‘Science Guy’ theme song while still in preschool, said that he appreciated Nye’s use of personal anecdotes and experiences to bring the issue of climate change ‘down to earth level.’
‘ This accessibility was the main motivation for choosing Nye as a speaker, said’ Dan Abrams, director of marketing and public relations for the Husky Energy Action Team.
The organization co-sponsored the event with Kappa Sigma and the Resident Student Association as part of an annual ‘Do It In the Dark’ energy-saving campaign and competition.
‘We wanted to get somebody that everyone in the whole student body would be excited to have,’ Abrams said.
Abrams said he hopes that Nye’s ideas will appeal to a broader base than just’ those already interested in environmental issues.
‘We hope this will get people engaged and more active,’ he said.
Nye repeatedly stressed the need for a new and enthusiastic generation of not only scientists and engineers, but also of supportive attorneys, entrepreneurs and other professionals to help them succeed.
‘Science is the best idea humans ever had,’ he said near the conclusion of his remarks. ‘And it is through science that we will address global climate change.”