Who was the 2017 “Humanist of the Year” of the American Humanist Association?

Adam Savage won the Humanist Association’s 2017 “Humanist of the Year” award at the AHA’s 76th annual conference in June, in Charleston, South Carolina. In his acceptance address, Savage noted that, "Systemic and institutional bias and privilege are, in my opinion, currently the greatest threats to human progress.”

Adam Whitney Savage was born on July 15, 1967, in New York City, and was reared in Sleepy Hollow, Westchester, New York. A member of San Francisco's skeptic community, he resides by the bay with his wife, Julia, and their twin sons.

Savage and Jamie Hyneman hosted “Mythbusters” on the Discovery Channel from its inception in January, 2003, through its last episode in March, 2016.

Previously, he had worked in the US television and film industries, specializing on special effects. His work can be seen in more than 100 TV commercials and a double-handful of feature films, including “Star Wars: The Phantom menace”, “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones”, “Galaxy Quest”, “Terminator 3”, and “A.I.”

Savage has helped develop toys, made a number of short films, appeared, as a young boy, in a “Mr. Whipple” TV ad for Charmin toilet paper, and in the music video of Billy Joel’s “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)”. Currently, he produces and stars in material for “Tested.com”, teaches, lectures, and sculpts.

More Info: americanhumanist.org

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9 Comments

George Oliver Prince

Just proves that a lot of us pick the first or last answer, didn't even know there was such an award

William Laughlin

Drew Johnson, I suppose you believe Drumpf is a better president and human being than Obama simply by virtue of political affiliation! That idea is laughable. Drumpf, a Republican, has spent more money on Secret Service protection because of his more than monthly vacations to Mar-a-lago in one year than Obama did in two full terms. His staff seems to be in a revolving door with a higher turnover rate than McDonalds. Obama had an eight year, scandal free administration. One can hardly say the same of 45, with more than a dozen sex abuse accusations and multiple affairs during each of his three marriages. Drumpf is politically naive and doesn't seem to realize how powerful the ramifications of his ill-advised actions and reckless Tweets can be. He cares very little for the welfare of the American public (check the level of concern he's demonstrated considering restoring water and power to Puerto Rico) and actively works to curb benefits to anyone who is not like him because he is the only one he really cares about. He has rigged the new tax schedule to avoid inheritance taxes and lower his own tax rate, while cutting benefits for the middle and lower classes. He continues to profit from his presidency by violating the two emoluments clauses of our constitution. He is an egomaniacal, misogynistic, sexist, bigoted ignoramus of the first order. Even Republicans can do better. He won the election (gerrymandered electoral college) by making promises he never intended to keep to his uninformed and gullible base. He is the reason 37 seats in Congress have already flipped from red to blue in just over one year. I'm sorry, but mere political affiliation does not make someone a good or bad person. Drumpf is living proof of that. If I were to judge all Republicans by their champion, I'd have to assume Hillary Clinton was right when she labeled his supporters deplorables. I know there are good, well meaning, caring, intelligent people on both sides of the aisle. Apparently, you don't. You only judge them by their parties. It's a shame you get to vote. An educated electorate usually leans more to the left.