Tyson and Sabato to speak at Jefferson Educational Society's Global Summit XVII this fall

ERIE — The Jefferson Educational Society has announced two distinguished speakers for its upcoming Global Summit XVII this fall, featuring world-renowned astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson and respected political analyst Dr. Larry Sabato.

Tyson, a celebrated science communicator, will headline the summit with his lecture titled "This Just In: Latest Discoveries in the Universe" at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center. The event offers various seating options, with early bird general admission priced at $25, preferred seating at $75, and platinum seating at $250, which includes a signed copy of one of Tyson's books.

As the fifth head of New York City's prestigious Hayden Planetarium since 1935, and the first occupant of its Frederick P. Rose Directorship, Tyson has established himself as one of America's foremost scientific voices. He also serves as a research associate of the Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History.

Dr. Tyson's academic credentials include a Doctorate in Astrophysics from Columbia University in New York City, a Master of Philosophy in Astrophysics also from Columbia, a Master of Arts in Astronomy from the University of Texas in Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Harvard University. His research has focused on observations in cosmology, stellar evolution, galactic astronomy, bulges and stellar formation.

Throughout his career, Tyson has authored 17 books, with his most recent titles including "Merlin's Tour of the Universe," "To Infinity and Beyond" and "Welcome to the Universe."

The summit will also feature Dr. Larry Sabato, who will deliver his lecture, "The Medium is the Message: Media's Impact on National Politics”at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14. The location for Dr. Sabato's presentation is yet to be determined. Early bird general admission priced at $25, with preferred seating at $50.

Sabato serves as the Robert Kent Gooch Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, where he founded and directs the Center for Politics. The center works to promote civic engagement and participation and is responsible for publishing Sabato's Crystal Ball, an online newsletter and website providing free political analysis and electoral projections.

A New York Times best-selling author and four-time Emmy winner, Sabato is recognized as one of the nation's most respected political analysts and is frequently interviewed by various media sources. His presentation will examine how politics and media have intertwined over the years, from the first TV ad to the 24-hour newscast, offering an inside look at the media's impact on politics as 2025 draws to a close.

The Jefferson Educational Society's Global Summit XVII promises to bring thought-provoking discussions to Erie this fall with these two distinguished speakers. Ticket information and additional details about the events can be obtained by visiting jeserie.org — hover on “Global Summit” and click on “Global Summit XVII.”