World-leading US scientific voice throws support behind university merger

The world-leading American astrophysicist has dubbed the university merger “a win-win” ahead of his Adelaide speaking appearance.

Professor Neil deGrasse Tyson is speaking at the Convention Centre on Tuesday. (Dan Smith/FOX)

One of the world’s leading scientific voices has thrown his support behind the merger of the universities of Adelaide and South Australia.

Astrophysicist and author Professor Neil deGrasse Tyson labelled the university merger “a win-win all around” in an interview with The Advertiser ahead of his speaking appearance at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Tuesday.

“If you merged the resources of multiple institutions, I think it’s only a win-win all around,” Prof. Tyson, 64, said.

The Advertiser on Saturday night revealed the long-vaunted merger of the universities of Adelaide and South Australia had the green light after being backed by both councils and almost $450m in state government funds.

“I would relish in what the combined course catalogue would look like,” Prof Tyson said.

He earned a physics degree from Harvard University and received his PhD in astrophysics from the University of Texas at Austin.

Prof Tyson has since worked at the Princeton University Observatory and is the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Photo: Patrick Eccelsine/FOX.

He said that despite job losses being “a casualty of almost every merger there ever was throughout all of time”, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

“Is the point of the university to preserve faculty jobs or is the point of the university to serve the students?”

Both universities have committed to no compulsory redundancies or retrenchments because of the new university, ahead of its expected January 2026 opening, or for 18 months after that.

Despite having sympathy for people who “value small institutions” he described the merger as “the newer, better thing”.

“We would still be in horse and buggy because you wouldn’t want the buggy driver to lose their job when the automobile came in.”

Prof Tyson said the move could even attract and retain top scientists in the state, who might have otherwise moved interstate to larger institutions.

“Academics, while we care that we are paid … what we care more about is having resources in the laboratory.”

Prof Tyson, who is an advocate for science education, stressed the importance of funding STEM.

“There is no gross economy, going forward that isn’t somehow touched, pivots on innovation in science and technology.”

He is appearing at the Convention Centre as part of his Cosmic Perspectives on Civilisation tour, where he will “hit some highlights of recent cosmic discovery”.

Prof Tyson will also take “a fresh look at civilisation through a cosmic perspective” which will touch on issues such as “gender and identity, colour, race, law and order”.

He even took a cheeky dig at Taylor Swift, who is not visiting Adelaide on her tour, ahead of his appearance.

“I heard a funny story where people were trying to get tickets to me and they were put on hold because the server was delayed because of the Taylor Swift tickets.

“I’m not snubbing Adelaide, how about that?” Prof Tyson said.

“Other places prioritise Taylor Swift and Adelaide prioritises a scientist, okay that’s a start, that’s a good sign.”