Adam Savage was one of four people conferred with an honorary doctorate at UT's 50th anniversary celebration last Friday. He received his doctorate – alongside his colleague Jamie Hyneman – for making science popular through the scientific experiments he carries out in Mythbusters, a show on the Discovery Channel watched by millions across the globe. Marloes van Amerom had a chat with him just after the ceremony.
Many congratulations on receiving your doctorate, Adam. How does it feel to be a doctor?
I feel truly humbled. This is just so moving and also rather astonishing. I never thought something this would happen. Jamie and I never set out to do something worthy. We just wanted to follow our curiosity and have fun.
But I know enough about the academic world to understand how hard professors and lecturers work and feel enormously honored to be included among them.
Have you always been interested in science?
Yes, definitely. Perhaps because my two favorite teachers at school were both science teachers. If I asked a difficult question I had been breeding on for a while and they did not know the answer, they would simply admit to that instead of making false promises to save their egos. That gave me some real confidence and a real interest in science, as a subject with little place for speculation.
What are your impressions of the UT?
Unfortunately, I did not have much time to look around, but the fact alone that the UT Board would single us out for an honorary doctorate, indicates to me me that they this university takes the promotion of science very seriously: it is not just interested in doing science, but also in tickling people's interest in it. Even when that means looking into and including alternative sources of communication, like our television show. Yesterday I dined with the rector and many of the tales he told me also highlighted this keen interest to get young people involved in science.
You still seem to enjoy your time at Mythbusters a lot. If you had to go for a new challenge, what would it be?
Together with Jamie I am currently working on two new shows for the Discovery Channel, which will hopefully be aired in the near future. Thinking out new concepts along these lines keeps me pretty busy and inspired. Jamie and I just love the process of making the world more accessible and I feel that we're doing that right now, not just by hosting but also by producing.
Marloes van Amerom
