Bas Haring
A Dutch philosopher who masterfully translates complex scientific ideas into engaging stories and TV shows, making the profound accessible to everyone.
Born 1968 (age 58)·Dutch philosopher·Birthday: April 23·Generation X
Biography
Bas Haring has made a career out of dismantling the ivory tower. Since the early 2000s, this Leiden University professor has operated with a simple, radical mandate: to foster the public understanding of science. He doesn't just lecture; he tells stories. His bestselling book 'Plastic Panda's' used evolutionary biology to pose deep questions about humanity's place in nature, while his children's books tackle philosophy with a light, inquisitive touch. Haring's true breakthrough into the Dutch cultural mainstream came with his self-titled television program, where he wandered landscapes and chatted with experts, breaking down ethical dilemmas and scientific concepts with calm, conversational clarity. He represents a new kind of academic—one who measures impact not just in citations, but in the number of ordinary people he can get to think, question, and wonder about the world around them.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Bas was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Bas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Appointed full professor of 'Public Understanding of Science' at Leiden University in 2007, a chair created for his work.
- Wrote the bestselling popular science book 'Plastic Panda's' which won the Dutch prize for best science book of the year in 2002.
- Hosted the successful Dutch TV program 'Haring' which explored philosophical and scientific questions for a broad audience.
- Authored multiple children's books that introduce philosophical concepts, such as 'Kaas en de evolutietheorie' (Cheese and the Theory of Evolution).
Did You Know?
His doctoral thesis was in computer science, specifically on evolutionary algorithms.
He presented a lecture series titled 'The University of the Netherlands' where he explained complex topics in short online videos.
He is a frequent columnist and contributor to Dutch newspapers and magazines.
“Philosophy is for everyone, not just for dusty libraries.”
