Celebrating science and neurodiversity

Thanks to the Nimoy-Knight Foundation

On Saturday, I got an unexpected message from David Knight who is the son-in-law of Leonard Nimoy. He and Nimoy’s daughter, Julie, have formed The Nimoy-Knight Foundation to celebrate Leonard’s legacy and catalyze societal changes that honor his values. Those values are a commitment to science and to neurodiversity. Nimoy was not autistic, but because so many autistic people, including me, find connection to Mr. Spock, they have dedicated part of their efforts to supporting people who are helping other autistic folks.

The foundation has begun recognizing people they feel embody Leonard’s values with the “Live Long and Prosper” award, which David told me they wanted me to accept. I said, “well, for someone who still sleeps in a blue Star Trek shirt every night, I guess I should.”

Trekkie for life

As a nerdy kid in the 1970s, Star Trek coming on every day at 5 pm in syndication was crucial. It hurt when I missed it. There weren’t a lot of Trekkies at my school, but in 1975 when I went to a camp for what we used to call “gifted” kids, I met people who made my fandom look mild. The other kids had all the books, including the novelizations of all the episodes by James Blish, and we sat around looking at them and talking about Trek whenever we had free time.

So I ended up collecting all the stuff, too, and it didn’t wear off. In high school when I got my first computer (a TI-994A), the first thing I did was program a Star Trek game that I made up.

And, of course, I identified with Mr. Spock. Like other autistic people, his command of science and his adherence to logic and not emotion were a refuge. But Nimoy’s characterization did more than that, because — long before we knew much about the double-empathy problem and how autistic people are longing for connection even though we may not appear to be doing so — he portrayed Spock in a way that clearly showed he also craved human interaction.

There’s another thing I learned, which was how to be a second-in-command. When I left UNC as chancellor to go to WashU as provost was right when the second JJ Abrams film came out. There’s a scene where all of the starship captains are called to Star Fleet Command along with their first officers. The visual of that put me in the right mindset to go to WashU to be a provost after spending five years as a chancellor. When people asked me how I was able to go from being a chancellor to being a provost, I used to say, “Easy. Just take off your gold Star Trek shirt, and put on your blue Star Trek shirt” (that’s when I started sleeping in one).

Spock also created the first time I heard the words “Science Officer.” Companies and countries have many science officers, but I sometimes think of my role at Science as one of those (among many), so I kept my shirt when I came to DC.

I also learned some important lessons from Captain Kirk. The main one is that if you are forced to choose, the crew of the Enterprise always comes before Star Fleet Command. The fact that I believe this has frustrated many of my bosses, and especially the boards, that I have worked for over the years, but it’s a good mantra to live by. People I work with are used to hearing me say, “Well, all we have to do is decide what’s best for the 432 crew members of the Starship Enterprise.”

LLAP

So, the call from David Knight was pretty full circle. The list of other honorees is impressive, and it’s an honor to join them in bringing attention to the work that Nimoy-Knight is doing for two of my favorite causes. There are folks who have promoted science and people who have done extraordinary work making life better for autistic folks. I’m particularly proud to join Temple Grandin and Keivan Stassun who have helped me so much on my own autism journey.

Here I am with my LLAP T-shirt and pin:

And here’s the quote that I gave to the foundation:

I’m honored to receive the “Live Long and Prosper” Tribute Award presented to me by David Knight and Julie Nimoy with the Nimoy-Knight Foundation.

As an undiagnosed autistic boy in the 1970s, Star Trek airing on weekdays at 5 pm was a focal point of every day. I collected the plans to the Enterprise, the Star Fleet Technical Manual, and all the James Blish novelizations. Leonard Nimoy created a character as Spock in which so many people like me could see ourselves. And not just in his quest for a life ruled by logic, but one in which human connection was still possible, something all autistic folks crave. He made it desirable for many of us to aspire to the title of “Science Officer.” And for those of us who have served as second-in-command, he also showed how to be deferential to leadership while calmly providing factual bases for decisions. Leonard Nimoy generously understood the effect that his character had on people, and he didn’t shy away from engaging with fans and making his own new human connections. I am so grateful to be recognized by the Nimoy Knight Foundation with the Live Long and Prosper Award and admire greatly their efforts to promote science and awareness of neurodiversity. These are goals that embody Leonard Nimoy’s generosity as a touchstone for so many people.

Live Long and Prosper, y’all.