[Ethan Clive Osgoode]

In short, Nye is an all-around science-educator kind of guy

These days, it's easy to confuse actors, stand-up comedians, TV entertainers, and "all-round science-educator type guys" with scientists.

[BroJoeK]

Ethan Clive Osgoode: "it's easy to confuse actors, stand-up comedians, TV entertainers, and "all-round science-educator type guys" with scientists."

The usual definition of "scientist" requires only "expert" knowledge of a scientific subject.
Holding "expert" knowledge means:

"1.Having, involving, or demonstrating great skill, dexterity, or knowledge as the result of experience or training."

For a summary of Nye's years of work as a scientist, you might start here.

Clearly, Nye is more of a science-educator & popularize than working scientist.
But isn't education precisely what Nye's debate with Ham was all about?