Neil DeGrasse Tyson and "South Park" honored by Hollywood Skeptics at Annual Awards CeremonyThe IIG Awards recognizes artists for promoting scientific values, and encouraging critical thinking. The awards presentation were held on September 10th 2012, at the Steve Allen Theater at the Center for Inquiry-Los Angeles. In attendance at the ceremony were celebrity presenters including comedian and actor Ron Lynch, British comedian Matt Kirshen, performer Gary Stockdale as well as representatives of the winning shows, VIP guests and Friends of the Center for Inquiry. A special honor bestowed by the IIG for exceptional achievement in educating the public through entertainment is induction into the Houdini Hall of Honor. This year's inductee is Neil deGrasse Tyson. Mr. Tyson is currently the Frederick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space and a research associate in the department of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. He has helped make science more interesting and accessible, so it is fitting that he will be hosting a new sequel to Carl Sagan's Cosmos: A Personal Voyage. His name joins Harry Houdini, Carl Sagan, Isaac Asimov and others. For more information on the IIG Awards, the 2012 winners and the awards ceremony, including video of the event, see: http://www.iigwest.com/iigawards/index.html The Independent Investigations Group (IIG) is a group of volunteers, established by James Underdown in 2000 as an adjunct to the Center for Inquiry -- Los Angeles. The charter of the group is to investigate claims of the supernatural and paranormal and to disseminate the results to the public. The IIG offers a $50,000 prize to anyone who can demonstrate such abilities under proper observing conditions. Members of the IIG consist of people from all walks of life: Engineers, scientists, doctors, entertainers, teachers, students, homemakers, and many others, but all having a rational and inquiring mind.
