Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate

The late Dr. Isaac Asimov, one of the most prolific and influential authors of our time, was a dear friend and supporter of the American Museum of Natural History.

In his memory, the Hayden Planetarium is honored to host the annual Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate, generously endowed by relatives, friends, and admirers of Isaac Asimov and his work, bringing the finest minds in the world to the Museum each year to debate pressing questions on the frontier of scientific discovery.

Portrait of a young Isaac Asimov, wearing glasses and a suit with a bowtie. Isaac Asimov, 1965.
Phillip Leonian/New York World-Telegram & Sun

The Asimov debate is not a formal panel but is conceived as a free flowing, adversarial conversation such as what might occur in the coffee lounges of academia. Think of yourself not as a member of an audience but, rather, as an eavesdropper on the scientific process.

2025 Debate

Past Debates: 2024-2010

Video 2024 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Did the James Webb Space Telescope Change Astrophysics? How did the earliest galaxies form, and what implications does that have for fundamental laws of physics? Video 2023 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: The Future of Energy What will fuel the future of civilization? Video 2022 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Space Pollution What is the environmental impact of commercial space exploration? Video 2020 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Alien Life In the 2020 installment of the popular Isaac Asimov Debate series, Neil deGrasse Tyson and panelists discuss alien life. Video 2018 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Artificial Intelligence Are we ready for the future of A.I.? Video 2017 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: De-Extinction Can we, and should we, bring back the mammoth? Video 2016 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Is the Universe a Simulation? From sci-fi idea to serious debate.  Video 2015 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Water, Water Experts discuss the past, present and future of H20.  Video 2014 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Selling Space Experts discuss the business of space. Video 2013 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: The Existence of Nothing The concept of nothing is as old as zero itself. Video 2012 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Faster-Than-Light Neutrinos Physicists consider evidence for faster-than-light neutrinos. Video 2011 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: The Theory of Everything Physicists consider the possibility of a single, unifying theory. Video 2010 Isaac Asimov Memorial Debate: Is Earth Unique? On the Rose Center's 10th Anniversary, panelists ask "Is Earth Unique?"

Past Debates: 2009-2002